Treehouse Museum

After visiting the Ogden Temple Open House, we all went to the Treehouse Children's Museum there in Ogden.  Ogden has these fun, painted horses around town.  There were three right by the museum, so we took a few photos of the girls with the horses.

Michelle is a goofball!

There's a stage for putting on plays...and while the girls tried, a whole group of rowdy boys came and interrupted their acting.  They soon gave up and headed somewhere else.

Howdy, partner!

Ella and Aelora do the math problems that Miss Michelle assigns them.

It is a fun museum and it was especially fun to be there with friends!

Ogden Temple Open House

On Wednesday, August 12, we went to the Ogden Temple Open House. My dear friend Brenda and her daughter Aelora were able to come with us.  I felt the spirit as we watched the video explaining why we build temples and what they are used for.  The temple was so beautiful and peaceful.  Ella and Aelora held hands through much of it and whispered to each other...hopefully at least a bit of their whispering was related to the temple.  I wanted to spend a bit more time in the tent afterward, reading the displays but the girls were anxious to be outside and to head to the Treehouse Children's Museum.  I hope that Brenda was able to have the spirit touch her as she was inside the temple.  She asked a couple of questions, but not much.  But I am glad she came.

I took many more photos on my phone, but I can't figure out how to download them onto my computer or upload them to the internet or anything...so I am not sure I can share any other photos.  If I figure it out, I will add them.

Tuacahn

While in St. George, we were able to see a show at Tuacahn with my aunts, uncle and grandpa.  We saw The Wizard of Oz.  I hoped my children would like it, but I wasn't sure.  But they LOVED it!  They did get pretty tired near the end, but it was such a great show.  I liked that it was kind of a mix of the book and the movie (we listened to the book on CD last summer)...and they had added some real humor and a few pop references (like referring to Simba in the Lion King).   It was amazing!!   I hope to go back again next year or if not next year, then soon.

Even though we were there to watch The Wizard of Oz, my girls wanted their pictures taken in the Little Mermaid cutouts.

Gabby, my grandpa, Elaine, Brent, Diane

Cove Fort

We took a trip to St. George as a family.  My aunt Elaine, my maternal grandpa Floyd, and my aunt and uncle Brent and Diane met us there.  On our way to St. George, we stopped at Cove Fort.  I have been before, but it has been many years.  My husband and children have never been before.  I am so glad we stopped.  First, we watched a film that told about the Hinckley family's call to settle at Cove Fort and the many guests they had there.  The film shared some of their experiences.   Then we were able to actually walk through the fort with the missionary that was guiding us.  

This tree has lived twice as long as its typical life expectancy.  But it is dying.  Our guide told us that the Church would be pulling them down in a couple of weeks, so they won't be there next time we visit. 

 This room was the telegraph office.  One reason that towns were built about every 35 miles throughout Utah is that is how far a telegraph could be relayed.  So there were telegraph offices every 35 miles or so.  It was neat to see it work for just a minute.

The dining room

The missionaries that serve at Cove Fort have a large garden that helps provide for the missionaries that serve there.  The Hinckleys also had a large garden when they lived at Cove Fort.  As I learn about the early Saints, I am so humbled by their goodness, fortitude, faith and sacrifice.  I look forward to the day when I can meet them face to face and express my thanks for their example and their sacrifices...it is because of them that I have the gospel in my life today.  I loved seeing some of the items they would have used to cook, clean, sew and care for their family as well as the many visitors that came to Cove Fort.  I was happy to learn that they developed friendly relations with the Native Americans who lived nearby and that Cove Fort was never attacked.  I felt the spirit as we walked through the fort and I feel so grateful to be able to learn more about the early Saints.

Back to School Night/First Day of School

Jackson had their Back to School Night on Thursday, August 21.  I had a Relief Society activity that night so we went to Back to School Night quickly and then headed home.  Ella will be in fourth grade with Mrs. Darden.  She will also have a Student Teacher this year (whose name I have forgotten.)

 Gabby will be in first grade with Miss Finerfrock (English) and Ms. Mary Lou (Spanish).  Ms. Mary Lou just had surgery on her foot and she will be out for the first week or two, so she wasn't at Back to School Night.  But we got to see Miss Finerfrock and give her the Teacher Survival Kit we made her.

Michelle is going to Hunter Elementary this year for 6th grade.  She is very excited.  Her homeroom teacher is Mrs. Pate, and Kate and Olivia are both in her homeroom.  Hunter doesn't have a Back to School Night, so I won't get to meet her teachers until SEP's.  

The first day for all of us was Monday, August 25.  Here are the first day of school photos.

This Place is For the Birds

No, quite literally...Tracy Aviary is for the birds. And we love it! We enjoyed visiting the aviary on a Tuesday afternoon with our Pass of All Passes. The girls were amazed by the huge pelicans. On this trip, we went the opposite way from our normal path which allowed us to see the birds that we usually see at the end on our way in.

The girls enjoyed feeding the ducks.

We were pretty amused by this guy who followed us along the fence.

Uh-oh!  It's Ellafish and Gabafish for lunch!

These two looked as if they were kissing.

Look!  It's Blue from Rio!

I think the Scarlet Ibis is so pretty.  And I'm not sure I have ever seen them up in a tree before.

When Gabby got tired of walking, Ella gave her a piggy back ride.  Ella is almost always willing to do this even though Gabby weighs almost as much as she does.