Pioneers and Presidents

So I have to say that Wyoming and South Dakota

are really quite pretty!

We stopped on our way home at Martin's Cove

where the Martin handcart company was rescued

We pulled a handcart while  hearing the story of the pioneers

(the kids gave up early--if we had been pioneers

we would have had to stay behind in Nauvoo)

A monument with the rescuers' names, as well as those in the handcart company

Looking out from Martin's Cove, where the company found shelter

while waiting for the rescuers

There is actually a lot to do here--

Afton wanted a prairie diamond,

but we had to get back on the road.  

We definitely recommend a stop here.

And in South Dakota, we saw Mount Rushmore

It was actually very cool--the National Park Service has done a 

great job--lots of displays and information.

As well as a great little snack place and souvenir shop

(our kids love souvenir shops!)

Our stops were well worth the time it added to our drive home.

I love to see our history and where we come frome

and I love to show that to the kids

Last Utah Post

Our trip was winding down,

but we wanted to go to This is the Place State Park

(figured we'd leave Utah with our visit to the spot the Pioneers arrived)

We met Jordan, Garrett and his Grandma Patti

and had a great time!

It has grown a lot and is such a fun place to visit

The kids loved the petting zoo, pony rides, train ride,

ice cream, and souvenir shop.

We didn't see the historic buildings, but that would have 

been really interesting for the grown ups!

We will definitely go back on our next trip!

Giddyup!

One of my favorite memories growing up

is horseback riding with my grandpa.

It was just Heather and me and our grandpa

We rode all day on the "roller-coaster" trail

At the top, we'd get off and eat our lunches

Then mosey on down the mountain.

Heather rode Chuck and I rode Dapples

This summer, my kids got to go horseback riding with my grandpa

Chuck and Dapples are no longer around,

but say "Hey" to Buddy and Sandy!

It was beautiful up at the cabin

and brought back so many memories growing up

I am so glad I got to share this with my kids.

Celebrations

One of the things I miss most 

about living far from family

is participating in family celebrations

I've missed birthdays, weddings, showers, graduations

and I always feel sick about missing it all

but this year, we got to celebrate our dads' birthdays

and see lots of family for those celebrations

I love hanging out with our family

and the kids love seeing Grandma, Grandpa, 

Granny Kate and Grandpa Walker,

Great-Grandparents

aunts, uncles and cousins

thanks for including us in the parties!

Grandma Great's 80th Birthday!

While we were in Utah, we also got to celebrate

the 80th birthday of Paul's Grandma LaRue!

She is a very special lady

and it was a blessing to be part of her wonderful weekend!

We attended a birthday dinner

filled with her kids and grandkids and their spouses.

Everyone paid tribute to the beautiful person she is

and how she makes everyone feel loved and special.

Grandma Great grew up on a ranch in Nevada

outside of the small town of Pioche.

She took us on a fascinating walking tour of the town

And we then enjoyed a picnic lunch out at the ranch

with tours of the old school house and a 

visit to Grandpa Walker's grave and the family cemetery.  

It is so neat to be able to teach our

kids about their ancestors and for me to learn more about

Paul's side of the family.

This is the first time the Walker kids 

have all been together since 2006.  

It was so fun to all be together playing and catching up!

Afton was especially excited to go to this pool since it was where HSM2 was filmed!

And then a final get-together for a lunch and slide show of Grandma Great's life!

I gave the kids the camera for this party, so here's their perspective...

there were a lot of "bum" shots that I edited out 

for the benefit of those involved!

We loved catching up with aunts, uncles, and cousins

and of course Grandma Great!

She truly is a great lady and a great example to us!

Backyard Oasis

Since we moved into the house almost a year ago,

we have been working hard to make the backyard a great hangout

Paul got a firepit and croquet set for Father's Day

So we decided to roast marshmallows for FHE.

The kids loved it!

We're a little too impatient to wait for the fire to die down

so a few marshmallows got rather toasty

Nora's just happy to be here (as always)

Lately, our weather has been beautiful and we love having a 

great backyard space for our family.

The View from Here

Nora loves to pull herself up and look out the window

We have had a ton of rain the past few weeks,

so everything is beautiful and green.

We've had a brief respite of activity

since school let out on Tuesday.

Next week we start swimming lessons and summer school

then it's cub scout camp

yearly check-ups and play dates, golf outings and water parks.

It looks like it's going to be a great summer!

4th Stop--Kirtland, Ohio

We pulled out of Rochester and headed to Kirtland. I had never been there, but since we seemed to be on a church history kick, I thought we should go. The kids didn't want to get out of the car! Luckily, they are easily bribed and did agree to go on the two tours--one through the store, house, sawmill and ashery at the LDS visitors' center and another through the Kirtland Temple led by the Community of Christ volunteers. I have to say that it may be a more spiritual experience without the three kids, but I loved it anyway.

3rd Stop--Rochester Children's Museum

The official name is the Strong National Museum of Play--it is a fabulous kids' museum and my kids could have spent many more hours there. Halle especially liked the Clifford Room and the Sesame Street playset. There was a great grocery store, tinkering/building area, books everywhere for the kids to read, and many more adventures we didn't even get to. We think Ruth Ann and her kids will be spending many days there come winter!

2nd Stop-Palmyra

Because we live relatively near to Nauvoo and Carthage, it is the only church historic site I have been to out here. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit Palmyra--Joseph Smith's home, the printing press that first published the Book of Mormon, the sacred grove, and the new temple--and also the Hill Cumorah.

Ryan, Ruth Ann and kids with us in front of the Palmyra Temple

The Palmyra Temple

Walking out from the Sacred Grove--what a beautiful place!

Our happy girl--she was a trooper!
Joseph Smith's log home
At E.B.Grandin--publisher of 1st edition of the Book of Mormon

From the top of Hill Cumorah

The monument with Angel Moroni at the top of Hill Cumorah

Road Trip--1st Stop Niagara Falls

This is the Walker family first official road trip. Paul's brother and his family moved to Rochester, NY for a pediatric dental residency and we thought it was a great time to visit upstate New York. We had never been, so we invited ourselves. It was a long 10 hour drive, but we got in Friday night. Saturday, Ryan and Ruth Ann were kind enough to accompany us to Niagara Falls. It was an amazing site--you can't get a real idea of how big it is until you see it in person. We had a certain 5 year old who was terrified of the boat, so we didn't get that close, but had a fun time anyway!

Milwaukee Zoo

We tried the Milwaukee Zoo last week and it was really fun--it was a warm, muggy day and most of the animals were sleeping, but we'll definitely go back!

Halle checking out one of the three bear cubs with their mom!

Watching the sea lion get his check-up and lunch

Halle likes the hippos. I'm sure she's trying to figure out why
they don't look like the stuffed hippo she sleeps with!

Riding the train. Matt took the picture of me and Afton-not bad!