Trip to Utah - Part 4

Mike's mom and I took Sammy and Noah up to the "This is the Place" State Park. I hadn't been up there for a few years, and they have made a ton of changes. It is such a fun place! It has been turned into a mini-version of Salt Lake City after the pioneers settled there. There are all different types of houses and stores and buildings that would have been found there. Inside each there is a demonstration or activity taking place. The kids had a great time. I wish we could have spent more time there, and I will definitely go back again.

Washing clothes the old-fashioned way

Making a deposit at the bank. Sammy was trying to level the scale - she did it!

Making arrowhead necklaces

Trying on hats at the hat shop

We learned that a dunce isn't someone who is dumb, but is actually someone who has made a bad decision. I'm thinking about using a dunce cap at our house!

Meanwhile, Mike talked Megan into going on a hike with him up to Lake Blanche. This is a hike that he talked me into doing not long after we were married, and I thought I was going to die. Megan was a good sport to go, and she did great!

Here they are at the top

Another beautiful landscape picture

Our kids have been dying to go camping and fishing - something they've never done. Mike and his brother Daniel took the kids for a weekend of camping and fishing fun. The kids loved it.

The kids actually out-fished the adults. Megan caught 6 fish, and Sammy caught 4.

Trip to Utah - Part 3

Mike went mountain biking up Little Cottonwood canyon early one morning, and couldn't believe how high the water was running. He took the kids back up later that day so that they could see it too.

That's Megan on top of the rock

HUGE Dandelions

One of the things that Mike misses the most about not living in Utah is the mountain biking. So he was bound and determined to take his bike so that he could ride while we were there. I can't believe I forgot to take a picture, but we had a luggage carrier on the top of the car, and then his bike was tied up on top of that. It was quite the sight. He was able to get in a few good rides while he was there. His friend Dave coxed him into doing one that he used to like to do when he was in really good riding shape. He was nervous about it, but ended up doing great.

The camera was on the wrong setting - that's why the

picture look so blue

They were way up in the mountains - beautiful views!

We headed to Temple Square one afternoon since Noah and Sammy hadn't been there since they were so young that they didn't remember it. We took them into the Conference Center so that they could see where General Conference is at.

The reflecting pond in front of the temple is so cool

As always, the flowers were beautiful

Mike took this picture from upstairs at the Joseph Smith building

Trip to Utah - Part 2

It seems like every trip to Utah includes a visit to Hogle Zoo. I love it because you can see everything in a couple of hours. This time was great because we went later in the day, and the temperature was in the 70's, so most of the animals were out and active. We had a great time.

We also had the opportunity to go to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. It is a beautiful temple, and we were happy yet sad to realize that it is a short 5 minute ride down the road from where we used to live. What we wouldn't give for a temple drive like that now!

And what follows up a visit to the temple better than a game of miniature golf?!