Trip to Utah

 About a month ago, right after the girls got out of school, we had the opportunity to go to Utah to visit some of my family.  Thanks to my enduring mother-in-law and her car full of teenagers going to EFY (a youth camp at BYU), my brood of three and I hitched a ride in their Suburban for an eleven hour trek from our home in California.  My sister Tausha met us in Salt Lake City at eleven o'clock at night to drive us another thirty minutes or so to my parents home.  I am so grateful to all who made this fun trip possible: those who drove us places, my parents for providing their home and warmth (love the hugs and stories), siblings and their spouses for taking time away from their normal schedules to hang out with me, friends for coming to play, and my wonderfully supportive husband who was stuck back at home working and enduring a terrible cold alone!  The girls had so much fun visiting their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and especially enjoyed the hours and hours of playing with cousins.

On memorial day we had the treasured opportunity to visit the Bountiful cemetery where 4 generations of Parkins (my madian name) are buried.  We got to place flowers on several graves including my great, great, great grandfather John Parkin, as well as my Dad's mother and father's graves.  It was wonderful to see my parents take my daughters by the hand and point out where their ancestors were buried.  On the drive back from the cemetery my dad gave me the grand tour of Bountiful/Woods Cross which included driving by the homes that his great grandfather, grandfather, and father had built, and the home he grew up in as a boy.  I just love hearing my dad's stories from his childhood...his memories are so vivid and detailed.

 On another day we got to visit the Museum of Church History and Art in downtown Salt Lake City.  There is a fantastic, interactive exhibit currently going on there that is geared specifically toward young chidren.  It is called "A Book of Mormon Fiesta: A Latin-American Celebration."  The kids had a blast...it is definitely worth checking out if you are ever in the Salt Lake area.  I think the exhibit is scheduled to run until January 2013.

The kids were excited to meet a "pioneer woman" when they first entered the museum!

 They got to fish out of Nephi's Ship on its way to the promised land.

 Eve and Sammy posing with the temple that they just built.

 Here the girls are with some of their cousins learning a Latin-American dance.  They loved the skirts!

 Savanah, Aunt Casey Anne, Ty, Sammy, Chloe, Grace and Eve in front of the Salt Lake Temple.  It is so beautiful.

 Tausha (and Sammy) giving a talk in General Conference?  It sure looks like it behind this replica of the podium at the Conference Center!

 I love this picture of the kids in front of the statue of Jesus Christ in the Temple visitors center.  When my little nephew Liam saw Christ with His hands outstretched he said, "Jesus wants to hold me."

 Daphne loved riding in between Liam and Ty on car rides.  She really took a liking to her rowdy "boy cousins."  I think she rather enjoyed their wildness...that's how she rolls.  She also really liked...

 ...the spicy chili candy they would feed her...

 Here is Daphne with her own paleta (as her cousins called it.)  She couldn't get enough of this sweet and spicy treat.  I think Aunt Miriam was very pleased that her little niece took such delight in the chili flavor...none of the other cousins lasted past the first lick!  Daphne won the prize of getting an extra paleta to bring home and enjoy.

Fun with silly Uncle Jeremy

 Another day of fun was spent at the Fun Center.  The kids got to jump on bounce houses, ride scooters in a roller rink, and play kiddie arcade games!

Love this mom shot!

Daphne saying good-bye to Ty

The kids got to spend time playing at their cousins' house and a lot of time playing at grandma and grandpa's house.  We enjoyed many large family dinners all together.  We got to celebrate my nephew Sammy's birthday. I got to go shopping and running with my sister ( I love one-on-one time with her.)  I got to visit with my dear friend Chelsea late into the night, and then have her come back to my parents' home the next day to play with her three adorable children (I'm waiting to post pictures til I can steal them off her blog!)  I also really enjoyed spending time with my mom and dad after we put the kids to bed each night...I got to hear some more of my dad's stories and we even played "31" one night.  It was a really good visit...I'm so glad we did it!