Manti Pageant

They come with so many extremes, why don't they come with an instruction manual?


It's all fun and games right?! Either I have lost my mind, or I never had it to start with. Last summer I decided to start taking the kids to different things around Utah that I felt would be good for them to experience. Musems, National parks, venues of all kinds beware...We are on our way!


Three adorable heathens at the foot of the Manti Temple. This is an amazing feat that was built by Mormon Pioneers. It much resembles a castle. And if you think it is beautiful on the outside, oh, you can only imagine the inside! Every time I round the corner I feel that I have come home. What a wonderful feeling.

Ellie sitting on a knoll by the Manti Temple. Each summer the Mormon Miracle Pageant is performed here. It is a simply amazing story that encompasses generations of time and spans 2 continents! With a cast of over 500 volunteers who sing, dance, and bring to life ancient history it just can't be beat. Oh and did I mention it is free? As always it was wonderful.

Sweet Sisters by the temple entrance.

The temple is a place of refuge. In a society of crumbling values the temple stands as a firm testimony of what is good and true. Millions of faithful worthy LDS members partake of sacred works in the temples across the world. This just happens to be MY temple. This is where I was married. That makes it mine, right? Well, okay, no. In my heart it will always be special. Hopefully I can pass that love down to my heathens. Perhaps the day will come when I stand with them in the Holy Temple. What a blessed day that will be! To stand eternal. To stand tall. To stand as a family wrapped forever in the arms of love. Is there anything better?

Up the Narrows

Sam the man. We took the kids hiking up Santaquin Canyon. It is one of our favorite places to go when it is soooo hot outside. This hike is called the narrows, I am not sure why, because it ends at the narrows. To continue up you must have horses, be willing to get really wet and a HUGE sense of adventure! All perfect things for Sam.


Hiking up the trail with the kids. Always an adventure in Bear country! Come later in the summer, berries burst forth along this trail. Sam has many fond [or not so] memories of picking buckets of berries for his Mom to make jam. If the berries made it home.

At the peak of the trail, there is a nice little campround. I made that word up. Nice, huh! There is a fire ring made of stones, and benches around it from deadfall. [Trees that have fallen over] Not far is a natural spring where you can get the best drinking water in the whole world. That is my opinion. Although you should have seen my face the first time I saw Sam drink out of it! And the fast talking to get ME to drink it!


A trip is never complete without a picture of the boy. On a rock. With a picnic lunch.


Trees just off the river. Pictures just don't do it justice. There were wildflowers of yellow and blue all OVER the place. Busy bees humming and the largest yellow butterflies I have ever seen. EVERYWHERE!!! They were awsome!

All in all a nice little hike for the family. It was a nice break from the busy-ness of a typical Saturday.

Pictures fit for an 8th birthday...

Katie smiling it up for her 8th birthday!
Katie and her best friend!!!
The whole crew, eating cupcakes and having fun
Catching a few rays by the wave pool

As promised, pictures from Katie's 8th birthday. We had fun. Go read the post!

June the Loon

Oh man. June is flying fast!!! We have just spent a long weekend at Currant Creek for the annual Henstra family reunion. Ah...the great outdoors. Did I mention that I hate camping? How about dirt? Um...can anyone say bears? squeak...

Well, obviously I survived. Here I am blogging! We had fun. It was perfect weather, and company. The kids had a blast fishing, hiking, eating...um...eating, and eating!!! Sam and I enjoyed a little rest from the grind by sitting by the lake, hanging out by the campfire and trying to sleep in an itty bitty flat air mattress. Sounds great doesn't it?

The family seems to all be doing well. We all have our own concerns and problems...who doesn't? But, all in all, we had a good time getting to know each other all over again. Everyone seemed to feel that the kids, especially Katie had grown soooo much. I guess it slips past me since I see them everyday. I need to work on that! Katie caught two 14" fish much to the dismay of all the men fellow fishers in the family. Sam said an entire day spent on the lake with her was worth it. Just to be with her, and to see the looks on all the faces of the men...HA!

I should post pictures soon. Till then...Ta ta!

Its Great to be Eight!!!

Monday we celebrated Katie's 8th birthday. My how time flies! It seems like yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital. She was soooo tiny. Her eyes were large and her limbs were long. From the get go she had the sweetest disposition. And the curliest hair you ever did see!

Time has flown and she is now a beautiful little girl. She is first to offer a hug, smile and kind words of love when I am upset. Her eyes are still large, her limbs are still long... She is filled with dreams of motherhood, and of being an author/ illustrator. Always leading the kids on adventures through the back yard, she has a tendency to be a bit bossy.

She is excited about being eight because that is a special age! She is now able to be baptized. Her love for the Savior grows each day. What better way to show it than to emulate his example. She loves to read her scriptures, especially the story of David in the Lions Den. Her faith grows every time she listens for the promptings in her heart. She is looking forward to her baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost to lead and direct her in her life. It is hard to believe that she is so BIG!

Monday she took her best friend swimming at the local water park. It was a perfect day! They swam, ate cupcakes, and terrorized Ry. Ellie tried her best to keep up. We all came home sunburned and happy.

Happy Birthday Katie!