A Very Busy Weekend

Going into this last weekend, it was a little overwhelming. It seemed like everything was happening in a three-day period, so we weren't sure how everything was going to go.

We were pleasantly surprised.

Friday, instead of work, Grig's job had a Lagoon day. The tickets were free (we found out later, we thought we were going to have to pay for them), and we were excited to take Kevin. It's been a couple of years since we've gone.

This year, he was just an inch taller than the 36' mark. That meant that he could go on a lot of rides that he couldn't go on before.

The first ride we did was a dinosaur drop. Grig said that, at first, Kevin was a little scared, but then after Grig told him to laugh, he began to really enjoy it. This was a big change from last time. One of the few rides Kevin went on caused him to cry because he was scared. It's fun to seeing him getting so big.

The next ride we tried was a swing ride. It was for children, so the seat-belt didn't fit me or most of the other adults I saw riding it. Kevin seemed to really enjoy that one though. 

After that ride, I really wanted to take my family on a ride called Rattlesnake Rapids. It had been one of my favorites when I had been here in jr high, but it hadn't been open the last couple years when we had come. 

It was on the far end of the park, but because of that, the line wasn't very long yet. We were able to quickly get on one of the boats. 

At first, Kevin was a little frightened.

However, as it went on, he began to enjoy it more and more. In fact, he was really getting into it...when we floated under a waterfall and he got soaked. That was the only time during the day that he cried. He did NOT like getting unexpectedly wet. 

The next ride made up for it though. On our way to the "beach," we stopped at a car ride. He wanted a blue car, and he just happened to get one. We loaded him into it, he was buckled up, and he drove away. It was on a track that just looped in a circle, so we went to the end to wait for him. 

The kid in front of him was screaming by the end of it (he didn't want to be away from his mother), but as Kevin came around the corner, we had to laugh. He was singing and jamming out as he rotated the wheel. When he came to the end of the track, he wanted to go again, but we wanted to get to the beach. He was a little disappointed, but he really liked that ride.

Next, we put on our swimming suits and went to the "beach." It was really fun. We didn't end up taking any pictures, because we were all playing in the water. Kevin loved it. As we played, clouds came up and wind began to blow, and though he started shivering a bit, he didn't want to get out of the water. 

We only had time for about an hour of fun there, and then it was time for lunch. We got dressed and headed over to one of the terraces, where we met up with the rest of the company and got free food. 

Kevin made a friend, and we enjoyed hamburgers and other things. 

Our next stop was back to some more kiddie rides. Kevin got to try bumper cars, and I think he really enjoyed that. Then, he went on the swings again with his dad. 

Afterward, Grig really wanted to go on a roller coaster, so I took Kevin to the Merry-Go-Round. I'd already gotten to swim and go on Rattlesnake Rapids, so I was satisfied. 

For the first time, Kevin really enjoyed the Merry-Go-Round.

We went on it twice while we waited for Grig, only to find out that there was a delay, and so he didn't get to go on it anyway. That was kind of sad for him, but at that point, it was time to go.

We loaded up the car and drove to Idaho to celebrate my Grandpa's 80th birthday. It was a really fun party, and I hope that my grandparents enjoyed it. We love them a lot, and they have made a huge impact on my lives. I'm so grateful that they're still around to celebrate with us.

We didn't get to sleep until after 11:30 p.m. 

The next day, we had a luncheon with my family, and afterward, Grig and I went on a date while my sister kindly watched Kevin. I don't know if we could have pried him away from his cousins anyway. He was having a really good time with them. 

Grig and I went to watch Jungle Book, which we enjoyed and were grateful that we were able to go. We went back to my sister's house to pack, and then we went to a gas station on our way back to Utah to meet my sister and pick up Kevin.

We tried to call them, but there was no answer. So, we waited. It ended up being a good thing, because at that moment, I found out that my sub for Sunday was sick and couldn't take my place the  next day. I spent the next half an hour calling around, and finally found someone. Then, after we went in to go to the restroom, we heard from my sister. They had been in an area without reception, but it worked out just fine. 

We had a nice drive back, and got home at about 11:30 p.m.

Sunday, we woke up, got dressed, and got in the car in time to make it to church in a nearby city so we could listen to two of my cousins speak in church. They did a great job. One had just come home from a mission, and the other is leaving soon.

After church, we ate lunch together, and then my dad, my brother, his daughter, and our family went to the cemetary. It was nice to have some quiet time alone with them. 

Kevin loves being around people. He really enjoyed the whole weekend, but I also think he was also tired. 

When we got home, we collapsed. Grig and I fell asleep, and Kevin played quietly in his room. 

It was a wonderful, exciting weekend. It was nice to be around family so much, and we really appreciated those who helped us out and fed us. 

It wasn't until later that we learned about the tragedy in Orlando. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. We pray that they'll be brought peace and comfort during this trying time. 

Dog Parties and Memorial Day

We've had a fun weekend! 

Friday, we had a friend come and stay with us for the weekend. She has dark hair, half-pricked ears, walks around on all fours, and sometimes whines. 

She is Arkhon's (spayed) girlfriend, and her name is Sophie.

This is possibly my favorite picture that I have ever taken.

Sophie's flexibility is impressive.

 She stayed with us from Friday -Monday. She and Arkhon had a great time. He was pretty exhausted by the time she went home. It was also really nice to have Grig home for an extra day.

Saturday, we had some friends over, and they brought Arkhon's brother along with them. For a few hours, we had four dogs in our house and backyard. It was pretty fun, but also hardened my resolve that we will never have more than two adult dogs at a time. More than that gets kind of crazy.

(I said that to my grandpa, and he told me that more than zero dogs is crazy. I laughed. He doesn't like dogs very much, but we get along just fine.)

Two brothers playing. 

Arkhon and his brother. Arkhon's brother is the one closer to the front. I gave him a haircut Friday too. 

Dakota is still the queen of the house. One bark from her, and everyone immediately calms down. 

 For the most part things went well. Occasionally, there was a bit of jealousy, but everyone played together and had a great time.

Kevin loved having Sophie over!

As always, he and Arkhon are best friends.

 Monday, we left home for a bit and went to spend time with family, both living and dead. Kevin had a really good time, which surprised me. When I was younger, I thought going to the cemetery was kind of boring. Now I enjoy it a lot more, especially since I'm beginning to know more about the people that we were visiting.

Kevin in front of some family graves. 

I had a lot of thoughts about Memorial Day, and some friends and family on my mind who I know have lost loved ones recently. I hope that the day brought joyful memories instead of agonizing pain from separation.

It is interesting how disconnecting we often are with our ancestors. We give little thought to how we got where we are today, or the people who are still influencing the way we've been raised and who've we've become.

I'm trying to learn about my ancestors. Not just their names, but who they really are. I don't always do a good job of researching, but I'm learning. The more I learn about my ancestors,the more I realize that they are real people who are quite a bit like me.

Happy Memorial Day, everyone. I hope you had a chance to honor those who've gone before and left us their legacy. I can only hope I am representing my ancestors well and that they're watching me with pride, and not shame. I'm still a work in progress, but I know as I look to their examples, that I'll keep making improvements.

Memorial Monday

Last night, we went with some family members to the cemetery in town where many of my ancestors are buried.

When I was a kid, I thought Memorial Day was kind of boring. We went to a lot of cemeteries to pay our respects to departed ancestors, and when I was a kid, it seemed like we were visiting their graves forever! Yesterday, I was pleased to discover that my attitude now is vastly different from what is was then.

Lately, I've been editing my grandfather's life history and in the process I've been learning about many of my family that used to live in this area. When we went up to the cemetery yesterday, we saw many names that I recognized. Instead of them simply being names on a rock, they were suddenly memorials of people who I knew something about.

I realized with surprise that my whole perspective of Memorial Day had changed. I don't have very many relatives who actually served in the military, but I feel like Memorial Day is also a day to remember those who sacrificed in other ways as well.

Without my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc., I wouldn't be here. They sacrificed a lot to raise their children and come to this country where they could be free to live the way they felt was right.

As I looked around at other graves as well, I felt sorrow for parents who had lost their children and children who had lost their parents. Everyone of those graves was now a person to me, no matter when they had died.

At one point as we studied a grave of a six-year-old boy who had only died last year, I was surprised to find tears in my eyes. My heart ached for the loss of this child and for his poor family.

I am so grateful that I have the Plan of Salvation so I know that death isn't permanent and our separation from family is only temporary. I don't know how people can survive loss of family without that knowledge. It would be super depressing.

I know I can be with my family forever, and eventually I will be able to meet these incredible people who made it possible for me to be alive.

As you honor your heritage today, don't just visit their graves, but maybe learn a little more about them as well. As I've learned more about my ancestors, they have become more than just names to me, they have become people that I love.

Happy Memorial Day!