Temple Square

Day 2 - Family Retreat Today we headed downtown to Temple Square. We decided to attend church service inside the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. There is a chapel on the 2nd floor, and the ward we attended was the ward President Hinckley attended when he was home in Salt Lake. We have had the opportunity to attend many different wards in different parts of the country and world as we've traveled, and we love doing it. Though the people, languages, and circumstances may be different, the ordinances and structure of Sacrament Meeting is always the same (whether there is 30 people or 300). We go to Sacrament each week to renew our baptismal covenants, and though the girls were not used to elderly men passing the sacrament, we were able to do that and to partake of the warm and comforting Spirit that is present when we renew covenants. From there we headed across the street to the South Visitor Center on Temple Square. There is a new exhibit there that we were very anxious to see.



The new exhibit is shown below via our weak camera. It is a replica of the inside of the Salt Lake Temple. Anyone who has ever wondered what the inside of a temple, and specifically the Salt Lake Temple looks like, can now view this amazing exhibit. The west and south facades of the temple have been removed to show what lies inside and beyond those majestic granite walls.

My heart is full as I look in at the inside of the temple. The temple is literally 'The House of the Lord". We know that the Savior accepts each of these consecrated buildings which have been dedicated to Him as places where He can teach, prepare, and strengthen His children as they strive to return back to Him.

In the temple we are taught and make binding covenants with the Lord. In order to be prepared to make those covenants, our lives must be in accordance with the Commandments God has given us. Just as an earthly Father would not want his child to participate in something they have not been prepared for, our Heavenly Father desires us to have 'clean hands and a pure heart' prior to enter His house. That is why we must go through an interview to show that we have kept the lesser laws of the gospel and are ready to make further covenants.

Once we have done that, we are able to participate in the ordinances of the temple for ourselves, and then for those who have passed on before us. In God's mercy, he wants every single one of His children that received a physical body, and came down to Earth, to enjoy all the blessings He has for us and that is done through the ordinances and blessings of the temple. Robert and I went through the temple for the 1st time when we were both 20, and have subsequently been through the temple as proxy in behalf of hundreds of other people who for one reason or another, did not have the opportunity to make covenants with God while they were here on Earth. It is an amazing work and wonder that goes on in temples everyday throughout the world.The exhibit itself also gives you information about what goes on in these different rooms.

It was really cool to be able to share this with girls. We look forward to the time when we can all be in the temple together.

From there we found a big shade tree next to the Conference Center and set out our picnic blanket to plan. We tweak some things about our current jobs and set individual goals for the upcoming year. We also started a new type of family journal that we think will be beneficial to our whole family. It was a good day, a great day, and we are excited about all the fun things that lie ahead.

Snowbird Retreat

We are planners - tried and true, Franklin Covey, paper and pencil planner people. I can't imagine that we could do all that we do without planning. Each Sunday night we meet as a couple, and then as a family, to plan and discuss things that are upcoming that week. Each girl has their own wall calendar and paper planner where they can record things that involve or are important to them.
This system works well for us, but... to 'Kick off the New School Year' we decided to have a 2-day retreat to Snowbird, where we could do some heavy planning, set new goals, discuss how things are going in our family, discuss things we may need to change, alter, let go of, etc and of course, to have some fun together. We decided to start with the Fun. Snowbird is a ski resort that also has summer activities. We went swimming, ate at a yummy Mexican restaurant, chased small varmints around the grass areas, listened to a outdoor concert, and rode the Aeriel Tram to the top of the mountain.

Here's where the real fun started. This is the view from the top of Snowbird looking down into the Salt Lake Valley. Hey, I think I can see our house. Not really, but with some binoculars we could see landmarks, like temples, near our house. Though our tram tickets included a ride DOWN the mountain, as well as up, we decided to pass and just 'hike' the 4 miles down. And quite the hike it was.

Though it is was the last week of July, there were still large patches of snow and ice on the mountain, and some people (like all our children) just couldn't resist. Then we had soaked clothes, shoes, and socks, and a few hurt bums from falling, but onward we went.
Onward, and onward, and onward. See, we kinda got a little lost on our hike back to the hotel. We could see our hotel, but we kept getting farther and farther away from it. Legs were getting tired, patience was running thin, and we were headed to Alta - the ski resort east of Snowbird.

Lindsay tried to help Aubrey's tired legs by giving her a piggy back ride.

You have to click and zoom in on this picture to appreciate everyone's faces. Dad is in the lead and had just waved on a public bus driver who stopped and asked if we needed help. The girls were NOT happy and I am using laughter as the only coping mechanism I can come up with at this point. We were hot, tired, hungry, thirsty, wet and grumpy.

Being that it was July 24th, it was a good time to talk about the 'Pioneers' and the trials, struggles, and sacrifices they made to come (often by foot) to this beautiful valley. They put their faith in the Lord and were able to do 'hard things'. We learned this afternoon, that we too can put our faith in the Lord and he will carry us through the challenges we face and will help us do the 'hard things' we are called upon to do.

Well, we did finally make it to our hotel, some with enough energy to even do cartwheels.

We even found a shady bridge to rest under before we ended our 'as some people thought..endless journey'.

Here's the girls a little happier at the base of the Snowbird Trail. Good Times!

P.S. We put off the planning until tomorrow.

All-County Meet

At the conclusion of the track season there is a big meet for all the track clubs in Salt Lake County. Lindz came in 2nd for the mile. Way to go girl.

Emily won the mile event for her age division, even after running most of the race in Lane 5, instead of moving to an inward (shorter distance lane) when the pack cleared.

Here's Emi in her Salt Lake County CHAMPION shirt. I guess I should have shot the photo a little lower. She was very excited.

Kayla placed somewhere in the top 4 in all of her events - the 200m, mile, 4 x 100 relay, and the long jump - with a PR of 10'3.

Track season has now officially come to a close. Way to go girls!!!

Stuffed animals

The younger girls love their stuffed animals. They periodically line them all up and organize them into groups and families. They had a fun morning.

South Valley Track

The girls have been running with South Valley Track for the past few years. This year the program was moved to Riverton and we felt like the coaches did a great job in teaching the kids how to be better runners. The picture above shows another reason why our family loves SV Track - Great Friends! The girls run with the Sweats, Daniels, Coates, and Milligan kids and our families have formed strong friendships. Here's K taking off for a 1-mile race

And finishing a 1-miler.

Lindsay finishing a 200-meter. She's got long runner legs.

K finishing something. She likes the 200, 1-mile, and especially running the anchor leg of the 4X100 relay. She rocks at that anchor position.

Here's Lindz finishing up a race. Emi getting close to the finish line.

And finishing. I don't take very good pictures at track meets because I am thoroughly engaged in the girls running. They enjoy it and that makes us happy.

Homeward Bound

Aubrey and Kayla headed back to Phoenix with the Holts a few days before we headed back to Salt Lake. We happened to meet up with them in the Phx Airport where we had a layover (it's a bummer we can't go from Burbank to SLC direct, but oh well) We were glad to see t hem again. Nothing like being reunited with your offspring!Sharing a box of Cinnabons while waiting to board our flight.

Lindz lou ready to go.

Gotta love the tarmac boarding. We're headed to the back of the plane.

And finally meeting up with Dad in SLC and headed back home. It's fun to go away, but oh so good to be home.

Descanso Gardens

Robert and I grew up in La Crescenta, CA. Sometimes you don't realized what a wonderful place you live in until you leave. That is how we feel about La Crescenta. It is a beautiful place nestled in the foothills above Los Angeles. One of the jewels of that area is Descanso Gardens. I always enjoy taking the girls there for quiet walks and to just enjoy nature. Aubrey, our true nature photographer had already gone to Phoenix with her cousins, so we didn't get nearly as many pics as usually, but here are a few of my favorites.

LA Zoo

The Zoo. Papa and Grandma took the girls to the LA Zoo today. They had tons of fun. Aubrey especially liked the animals from Australia.

The girls also liked all the flamingos, including white ones. Emi found a pig (warthog) that she loved. She's never met a pig she doesn't love. They also saw lots of prarie dogs and buzzing bees.

Grandma go stung by a wasp. There was a lot of bees and wasp. We are so glad we got to go with Papa and Grandma. Love, Lindsay and Kayla

Zions Boot Camp

Back in La Crescenta, where we grew up, and my parents still live, they have a 'Zions Boot Camp' every Tues/Thurs night at the Stake Center. It is taught by fitness instructors and incorporates weight, cardio, running, etc. Dad's been going for just over a year now (and has lost 20 lbs. and regained his 6-pack) and loves for his girls to go with him when we are in town. We also have to play tennis with him at least once each time we are in town. Here's a few pics from those adventures. Me and Barb finishing up tennis.

Getting ready to start boot camp. Still looking fresh and clean.

This must have been taken before as well, cause I know I was sweating a lot more after running around that building a billion times, and the teacher knows me now, so she makes me run hard.

One more shot of the tennis pro. I don't think I ever get better at tennis, but it sure is fun to spend time being active with Dad.

P.S. In South Jordan they just call it "Workout at the Exercise Church", I'm kinda liking the 'Zions Boot Camp' name.

Disneyquake

Another day at Disneyland, but this time with our cousins. Lindsay, Anna, Emi, Megan, and Brenna taking a quick break.

The lunch crowd. We took up a few tables. I got my favorite chicken-apple salad in the bread bowl from The Bakery at California Adventure. Yum.

Aubrey of course, likes the cupcakes.

Lindsay, Anna, and Emi riding the rapids. I think I've shared before that I don't like to get soaked because it takes me so long to dry out, so the girls were flying solo.

Mom, Barb, and Brenna on the Ladybug ride.

Barb's having a good time.

Lots of looks as we head off on It's a Bug's Life

Grandma and Emi ready to drive crazy.

Megan and Brenna meeting Mickey, one of the highlights of the day.

B loves any carousels, but especially this one with sea creature animals.

Glasses on for the Toy Story ride. It was just as we were getting off this ride that there was a 3.2 earthquake. We didn't feel it, but they had to shut down all the rides for a time and cancelled the nighttime 'Wonders of Color' show that we were looking forward to seeing.
You may notice there aren't many pictures of the older kids, they were all off together doing their own rides.

Barb and Megan - ready to go. It was so fun to be able to spend the day (2 days for the older kids) at Disneyland with our cousins. It's not something we get to do much, and the kids had a blast together.