Salt Lake City Pass--Day 1

Thursday, June 25th--Nate had a BRILLIANT idea--he found that Salt Lake has a City Pass you can purchase and it includes several amazing places around Salt Lake Valley, and even beyond, for an very affordable price. He purchased a 3-day pass and from there we chose what we wanted to do every day. On this day we went to This Is the Place State Park, Lion House Pantry and Clark Planetarium.

This Is the Place State Park was AWESOME!! We had so much fun as we walked around and experienced the pioneer life as it might have been in the mid-1800's as the Salt Lake Valley was being settled. Our first thing we did was ride a train and make a stop at one of Brigham Young's homes. This home was mainly for a few of his wives. It was also surrounded by a farm. It was a pretty amazing house--one with a floor plan I wouldn't mind having (of course, with modern conveniences included!). Elise and Brady were quite intrigued by the childrens areas and the toys and other things a child of that time would use and play with.

From there we caught the train again and headed up to a main street where we went into a school house and a house where the kids sifted through dirt to find beads to make a bracelet with. Next was a walk through a petting zoo. We went into a barn where there was a brand new baby goat, the kids thought he was so cute. At the end of the petting zoo was a pony ride. Elise went on but Brady didn't want to. Then the newspaper press and from there a stop at Huntsman Hotel for a few sugar cookies--yummy! After a sweet treat we caught the train up to where there were several teepee's and clay/wood huts. Right next to them was a small train that the kids and I took around a large pond. It was pretty fun but Brady had fallen right before and seemed okay till I noticed, while on the train, he had scraped his knee pretty bad and was bleeding. Good thing mom always comes prepared for anything and had wipes and band-aids. After he was all cleaned up and bandaged he was in happy spirits again and ready to move on. In the Native American area a lady took us into one of the clay huts where the kids made arrow-head necklaces (Elise would wear hers for days afterwards!). From there we walked over to the Tithing Building where we made candles. It was SOOO cool! I really enjoyed it. Nate and Elise did too. Brady was content to just watch. I kept thinking how fun it would be to do this kind of thing at home, it was so easy! We got to shape ours. The lady helping us, Darcy, took Elise's candle and shaped it into a heart. This was the funnest activity, in my opinion. One of the things Elise was looking forward to the most was making handkerchief dolls in the Mary Fielding Smith house. Sadly, it was closed and I could tell her heart was broken. I had mentioned it to Darcy and she just happened to have a finished handkerchief doll and gave it to Elise. She was so happy! She carried that doll all over. After our fun candle-dipping we walked around a little longer and then it was time to go. There was plenty we didn't do but it was so hot that we felt we had done the things we would have enjoyed the most and it was time to sit somewhere cool and eat lunch.
Part of the City Pass included a meal and the Lion House Pantry. We were happy to be in an air-conditioned place enjoying lunch. For the most part, the selections weren't all that great but we did enjoy the fresh fruit and home-made rolls. After our tummies were full we set out to get to Clark Planetarium where we just barely made the showing of "Under the Sea" narrated by Jim Carrey. It is an IMAX 3-D show. It was pretty cool. We enjoyed the various jokes Jim threw in there too. Brady had never tried 3-D glasses before so this was his first experience. It was so funny to see him reach out his hand to things or duck. At the end there are bubbles that are on the screen and both he and Elise kept putting their hands out to try and "pop" the bubbles. Nate and I just laughed and laughed. After the show, the kids had fun walking through the planetarium and seeing various exhibits on planets and surfaces of planets. They liked predicting the weather for Channel 2 News (just for you Lindsay!).

All in all a great day!

Happy 8th Father's Day, Nate!

Sunday, June 21--I can't believe we've been parents for 8 years! Wow! Nate's Father's Day started out with a delicious hot breakfast of eggs, sausage and toast. He and the kids wanted, very badly, to open presents but I insisted we all get ready for church first and then do so. Once we were all showered, dressed and looking fabulous Nate ran over to his gifts like a giddy child and opened them up. I'm surprised both kids let him open them on his own! First, he opened a new Wii game--it's a Six Flags amusement park game. The kids were over-joyed to find this game was a 4-player game and reminded Nate and I many times over! Next was a DVD with two of his favorite horror movies on it. Then a HUMONGOUS bag of cinnamon bears. His next present was a pineapple corer (kind of a weird gift but you have to know Nate to understand his love for fresh pineapple and what a pain in the toosh it is to cut a fresh pineapple!). And finally, Nate got a t-shirt with pics of Elise and Brady on the front in their baseball outfits. He seemed pretty happy with his Father's day haul!

So then off to church where he got a fun treat (you rock, Kerri!) from Relief Society, a paper tie and a card from the kids. Then we got home and I started getting dinner in the crock pot. Nate's Father's Day dinner choice--homemade beef stew. YUM! And later on we cut into a lemon/raspberry cake, which we, uh, just had to sample last night........just to make sure it was good and all. Boy, is it ever!

Nate you are the best dad I know! It's rare to see a dad so involved and genuinely interested in his children, without-a-doubt, you are. It is amazing to witness and be apart of! Elise and Brady know how much you love them and they absolutely adore you! I am truly blessed, more than I ever expected I deserved to be. I hope we've made your Father's Day very special! Love you TONS!

I'm SOOOO thankful for all the amazing dads that touch my life everyday, especially my dad and Nate's dad. We are blessed to have strong examples of how to live life worthy of all our Father in Heaven has to offer and bless us with. I'm thankful for a dad who reminds me to remember who I am and the precious gifts I've been entrusted with (my children). I'm thankful for Nate's dad who is the best example of what a bishop and patriarch should be. Both of these noble men are amazing priesthood holders and my awe and amazement never ends as I watch and witness their faith, trust and committment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They KNOW families can be together forever and I know that's their goal for their families. Love you both!

Danika Has Her 1st Sleep-over

Friday-Saturday, June 13-14th--Nate's brother, Dustin and his wife, Crystal, decided to have a fun over-nighter at the Snowbird Lodge, to celebrate their anniversary. I was quite jealous but happily said "YES!" when they asked if we would watch 7 month-old Danika while they were gone. Bless Crystal's heart! This was her first night away from little Dani.
We had a blast! Danika had so much fun and seemed to adjust to her temporary home very well. She played with Brady and Elise and all three laughed till their bellies hurt! Nate and I enjoyed having a little baby in the house again and she even sweetened the deal by sleeping through the night! Saturday morning we got ready to go to Elise and Brady's baseball games. The weather was great and we enjoyed also having Nate's dad and our niece, Kayla, show up to watch the games. Danika loved watching her big cousins play their games for a little while then she decided it was nap time and conked out in the stroller. When the games were done we met Dustin and Crystal at "Denny's". We could tell they had a great time but Crystal was anxious to see her sweet baby again. She got her out of her carseat and held onto her tight. (yes, I remember those days too!).

We're ready for another over-nighter whenever you need one, Dustin and Crystal!

Nintendo DS Maniacs!

Friday, June 5th--Keven made sure to pack his DS so he and Elise could sit together and be DS zombies. Well, Brady grabbed Nate's DS and happily joined right in! It was SO funny to watch these three sit together and be totally oblivious to anything else but their DS games!

Oquirrh LDS Temple Open House

Thursday, June 4th--The day after Grams funeral I thought it would be nice to get some tickets to the open house of the Oquirrh Mountain LDS Temple. My parents and family up in WA don't get this chance as often as those of us in Utah do. We had the 4:20 pm time slot. I invited my two cousins, Carly and Cindy along and they happily accepted. When we got to the temple the volunteers directed us to a tent where we watched a video on temples. The video was wonderful and truly helped the viewer understand the importance of forever families. From there we were able to walk into the temple and take the tour. The various volunteers were so kind and smiled as they directed the way. Once again, just like the Draper Temple open house, Elise and Brady, now accompanied by their cousin, Keven, as well, were excited to see the baptismal font and really wanted to just jump in! This temple seemed much more simple in design than the Draper Temple. The chandeliers were beautiful but weird. My dad seemed rather quiet as we walked through the various rooms. I wondered if this was his first temple open house. I enjoyed pointing out things to Elise and Brady and was also amazed at how much they remembered from our tour back in the winter.
Unlike the Draper Temple tour, this one didn't take long at all. We got through in about 20 minutes. From there we found a spot across the street at a Stake Center where we took some precious pics. Carly and Cindy posed and looked gorgeous! Keven and Elise looked so very cute too! Brady was pretty cranky by now so he didn't want to be in the photos.
Overall, it was a pretty nice experience. It's always nice to attend with family and be reminded of covenants and promises we've made in the temple, in order to be an eternal family. Those of us in Utah have been greatly blessed by the two new temples being built within 20 minutes of each other. I'm so happy to be able to have taken my kids and share that experience with them.

Together Again!

Saturday, June 13th--In light of Grams recent passing and funeral I decided to post these beautiful photos of her and my grandpa when they were younger. My cousin, Carly, did a fantastic job scanning and repairing them. The one with my grandpa in his military uniform was torn and quite fragile and she was able to erase the tears and make it look amazing. You're wonderful, Carly! My grandpa passed away in September, 1979.

Zetta June Keyes Blackburn & Alvah Granville Blackburn

Married: October 31st, 1946

Grams Funeral

Wednesday, June 3rd--The morning came far too early. We had to be back at the funeral home at 10:15 am and it was in Taylorsville (about 45 minutes away). I also had volunteered to sing a solo so I had to practice with my sister, Amanda, playing the piano. One of Grams favorite holiday traditions, over the last several years, was to attend the play "Forgotten Carols" (something I love to do as well). Her favorite song in the play is: "I Was Not His Father, He Was Mine", a song that tells a story of a young woman walking into an area where Joseph, Jesus's earthly father, is doing his carpentry work. She asks him about Jesus Christ and what it was like to be his father and his response is the title of the song. It's a very deep, touching song but it's intended to be sung by a man so I decided to sing "Together Forever Someday". This song is sung at the end of the play and the writer of the amazing play, Michael McLean, participates in the play and then asks everyone to hold hands and sing this song at the end. I pray all of my family will be together forever someday and I know Grams always wanted that as well.

Fifteen minutes before the funeral, all of our family gathered and my dad offered a family prayer. The prayer was beautiful and very touching. Then, for the last time, we all took one last look at Grams before the casket was closed.

The funeral program seemed long but went by pretty fast. One of Grams many jobs, throughout her life, was working with some dear friends doing singing telegrams. The owner of the company spoke at the funeral and then ended with a singing telegram for Grams. It was pretty funny and seemed to lighten up the mood in the room. Four of my cousins read poems that Grams wrote. She was a published poet. Interestingly, as my aunt has been going through Grams things, she's found many more poems Grams wrote throughout the years. She use to write them during church. My mom, my sister and brother all spoke. And smack dab in the middle was my solo. Oy vey, lets just say the practicing sounded much better. I couldn't hold it together. My time to officially break down and mourn for my beautiful grandmother had come.....during the entire song! At then end of the song I asked for those that know the song to help out a little. Phew!

Once the program was over the pallbearers got up and prepared to make the LONG walk to the grave sight, carrying the casket. Fortunately, the casket was on a cart to make things much easier. Nate and my brother, Adam, were in the front and lead the way. The family followed behind. The graveside service was short and sweet with my dad dedicating the grave. The pallbearers removed the flowers from their shirts and placed them on the casket and then my sister, Alishia, had brought roses for all the girls in our family, to place on the casket. I loved that Elise very much wanted to be a part of everything---it was touching to watch her place the rose on the casket as well. After the grave sight was dedicated it was time to bring out the massive balloon bouquet. We had decided to do a balloon launch for my grams. We got 50 bright and vibrant colored ballons and a few of the men helped pass them out. Everyone got at least one and we did a countdown. The launch was amazing and so symbolic. All 50 balloons stayed together as far as the eye could see. Again, a perfect message of families staying together forever.

Before we headed back to our cars, several of us cousins took roses from the floral arrangement that was on Grams casket. We decided we would dry them and keep them in remembrance. The roses were vibrant as well--so very much like Grams.

We left and went to Grams ward building where several ladies cooked a ham dinner for all of the family---complete with funeral potato's! It was a very kind gesture and we all appreciated it very much.

I couldn't help but have a huge sigh of relief once we got home. What a week! I think many of us were emotionally drained so it was good to get home and rest. Now it's time to spend the next little while and just reflect on all the wonderful, and even not-so-wonderful, memories of Grams. Like I said, she was a special lady. I hope I inherited some of her vibrant spirit and joy in laughter. I hope she's cracking jokes, pulling pranks, doing her singing telegrams and making heaven a little chaotic right now. Love you, Grams!

Grams Viewing

Tuesday (evening), June 2nd--Grams looked amazing. A far more different appearance than the one I saw on Friday, the day she passed away. I was so honored to be able to clean and iron her temple clothing (donated by my sister, Alishia, since Grams clothing was no where to be found, not that it would fit anymore anyway). I spent quite a while ironing every little wrinkle and carefully placing each piece in a box to be taken over to the funeral home. The viewing and the funeral service took place at the mortuary and the staff treated our family so well. We decorated the viewing room with pictures of Grams at various times of her life. There was also a photo slide show with the song "Clair de Lune" playing. As most funerals and viewings are, this was quite the family reunion. It was so nice to see friends and acquaintances as well.
At first, it was sad to see Grams in her pale pink casket. Eventually, everyone stood around talking and laughing as we remembered stories of Grams. The flowers that were delivered to the funeral home were so beautiful. Alishia and I chose one of the arrangements and others were sent by various friends and family. We put out bowls of Peanut Butter M&Ms and Swedish Fish, they were Grams favorite thing to snack on.