Third Time to Utah This Summer

September 4, 2011 - September 7, 2011

My dad offered a sister in our ward a ride up to her cabin Pine Valley, UT.  It was a great excuse to continue on north and visit Rachel and Perry again.  While in Pine Valley, we stopped to check out some local history. The Pine Valley Chapel is the oldest LDS chapel still in use today.  It was built in 1868 by Ebenezer Bryce, a shipbuilder.  He used familiar techniques to him, and built it like an upside-down ship.  It was really cool.  I love going to Church history sites.  

The oldest LDS chapel that is still being used today.

Antiques!

The old Sacrament cups were glass.

The Chapel

We next went to Mountain Meadows.  "On September 11, 1857, some 50 to 60 local militiamen in Southern Utah, aided by American Indian allies, massacred about 120 emigrants who were traveling by wagon to California.  The horrific crime, which spared only 17 children age six and under, occurred in a highland valley called Mountain Meadows, roughly 35 miles southwest of Cedar City.  The victims, most of them from Arkansas, were on their way to California with dreams of a bright future."  

"James Sanders is a great-grandson of Nancy Saphrona Huff, one of the children who survived the massacre.  '...I know that the people who did this will be accountable before the Lord , and that brings me peace.' ... Brother Sanders... said that learning his ancestors had been killed in the massacre 'didn't affect my faith because it's based on Jesus Christ, not on any person in the Church.'"  (Richard E. Turley Jr., "The Mountain Meadows Massacre," Ensign, Sept. 2007)

Mountain Meadows

We made it to Orem, and had a grand old time playing the the Stotts family. Perry's band, On the Radio, played at a local crepe restaurant.  Check out their website here.  Or on facebook here.   It was fun.  The music was good.  The crepes were good.  Grant was dancing.  What can I say?  I love spending time with my family and friends. Hannah accompanied us there.  Sadly, this is the only picture I have of us from the whole summer.  

Enjoying yummy crepes!  Listening to good music.

Part of Perry's band, On the Radio.  Grant's grooving to the beat.

What a cutie! I love his big brown eyes.

Mom, Rachel, Grant and I decided to go for a hike to enjoy God's beautiful creations.  We went to Stewart Falls in Uinta National Park.  I love that hike.  It is so gorgeous with it's aspen tress (Rachel's favorite), great views of other mountains, and waterfalls at the end.  Grant learned the word for waterfall and repeated it over and over again, saying, "Wadafa, shhh."  So cute!

We made it!

Grant is fascinated with water.

Me, Mom, Grant and Rachel

What better way to end a hike than a photo-shoot of Grant.  Hehe!  Here he is at 18 months.