24th of July fun!

Chad got free tickets to the opening night of the Days of '47 Rodeo, which fell on a Monday, so we decided to make it our Family Home Evening outing and really have some fun.  The kids and I piled into the van and drove to Chad's work to pick him up.  We headed out to the South Towne Expo center first to see the floats that would be featured in the parade.

I saw this float and had to snap a picture.  Dad would be so proud!!  Go Cougars!

One of two Noah's Ark themed floats, the kids were able to play a game locating different animals in order to get a small prize.

The variety of floats was truly amazing.  Too bad some of our pictures didn't turn out!!

 There was face painting, balloon animals and other activities at the event and the children decided they wanted a balloon animal.  The cost was free, unless you count standing in line for 30 minutes (which Chad does!).

Merritt got a balloon python.

Grace got a balloon bow and arrow.  Sorry sweetie, you are holding it backwards!

Grant got a balloon bow and arrow as well, Joseph got a monkey, and Chad got a lesson in patience.  :)

 After viewing the floats, we grabbed a quick dinner at Wendy's and headed to the rodeo.  Being from Wyoming, I've seen lots of rodeos, so it was really weird to me that my kids had never been to one.  We saw calf roping (which totally disturbed Grace until she watched the first one hop right up and run off), saddle bronc riding, team roping, barrel racing, and bull riding (which was totally insane!).  Those bulls are ornery!

 

The best part was when it was announced over the loud speaker that President Thomas S. Monson, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and Elder Jeffery R. Holland were in attendance.  We gave them a great big cheer and tried to take their picture, but the cell phone camera couldn't get a good one across the arena.  What a fun night!

The BIG 1-1!

Our wonderful Merritt is now 11...yikes!  He is so big and so fun and such a great kid.  Here is a list of some of the things that Merritt likes, dislikes, and thinks about.

In his spare time, Merritt likes to draw.  He draws on his doodleboard, but he will also draw on paper and then painstakingly color (with markers and colored pencils) his latest creation.  If he has a theme, he will often gather the collection of pictures he has made and staple them into a book.

Merritt drawing at a recent trip to check up on my parent's house.

Merritt loves pizza and rootbeer and hamburgers and baked chicken and lemon bars and soup and ice cream sandwiches.

Merritt doesn't like lemony pastas (what?), carrots, any kind of berry (why?), or cereal (WEIRD!).

Merritt's favorite color is black.  He hates the color pink.  He says he won't touch anything pink unless he has gloves on.

Merritt is learning how to cook.

Merritt wants to go to Lagoon.  We plan on it every year and then something breaks down and eats our Lagoon money.

Merritt loves that he is related to Porter Rockwell.

Merritt's favorite part of our summer vacation this year was hiking through the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon.

Merritt says that his most memorable life event (other than being born) was when he was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Merritt loves Legos (Hero Factory, Pharoah's Quest, and Galaxy Squad) and his favorite tv show is Riders of Berk (the How to Train Your Dragon spin-off).  He is currently reading the second set of 39 Clues books (Cahills vs. Vespers).  He told me once that lots of boys in his class don't like to read and that he thought that was really weird.  His favorite movie is Jurassic Park (I and III).

Merritt's 11th b-day was all Hero Factory, books, and  school clothes.

Merritt's favorite cake (requested 2 years in a row now) is Peppermint Patty.

Merritt wants to be a paleontologist.


We love Merritt so much!  He is a good big brother and a wonderful son!!

July 4th and a Ride on a Float!

This year we went one town over for Independence Day because Grace's dance group had a float and she got to ride on it.  That was quite exciting and the change of venue was fun.  We found ourselves a pretty decent spot near the beginning of the parade route and set up camp.  We brought water and CapriSun packets and Otter Pops all packed in ice inside a cooler, but it was so dang hot the Otter Pops were plastic sleeves full of juice by the time we left.  This summer has been a scorcher!  I'm glad we got pictures of Grace at the beginning of the parade route.  By the time we picked her up at the end, she was sweaty and limp despite the icy water filled bottle and the best efforts of her dance teacher to mist the kids down with a spray bottle as they went along. 

There were SO MANY kids along the parade route.  The police sent out regular patrols on 4 wheelers to remind everyone to stay back past the lines in the road.  The kids were so eager to get candy they were running right next to the floats and if it weren't for the roving officers someone would have been run over sooner or later.  By the time we went home we had pockets overflowing with candy, red, white and blue beads around our necks, a tube of toothpaste, and Chad had a coupon for a free tie.  We tried to snag balls and frisbees and t-shirts too, but had no luck, which Merritt was pretty bummed about.

 

Joseph loved the horses and was excited anytime they went by.

Grant snagged the most candy: he's small and quick.

It's okay Merritt!  I didn't get a frisbee either!  But in Merritt's words, "No one pays attention to 10 year old boys!"

Heather enjoys a Otter juice-cicle while Grant gums a salt water taffy.

Joseph gets a ride on Daddy the Pack Mule.

We ended our day by blowing up our small corner of America in honor of our wonderful country - we got some good fireworks this year!  We also got to watch the city fireworks display from our own front lawn.  It was a fun day!!

Merritt's Scouting Feats

Merritt has been a good little scouter.  He hasn't always been excited to do everything that has been required, but he's done it with good will for the most part.  The Webelos year is an exciting one with all fun pins to earn and the Arrow of Light to strive for.  Merritt earned 12 pins over the course of the year and was awarded his Webelos badge in March.

This picture cracks me up because he still had his "Savior of the World" long hair style and looks like a cross between a Beatles member and a Muppet.  I'm grateful we have this picture because we were having camera issues and its the only one we got the whole night!!

In June, Merritt was awarded the Arrow of Light.  Having been a Webelos leader in the past, I knew how much work went into getting the Arrow of Light and how not as many Webelos Scouts actually receive it.  I was surprised how emotional I was when Merritt was awarded his.  I am so proud of him for doing something so worthwhile and hope he will continue on and become an Eagle Scout.

Sister Gregory talks about the Arrow of Light and how hard Merritt has worked to get it.

I got to pin Merritt's badge on.

Merritt was given a certificate and an actual arrow decorated with blue and yellow feathers.

Finally, at the end of July, Merritt had his final Cub Scout pack meeting.  He was honored with two other boys and crossed the "bridge" into the 11-year old Scout program.  His new leaders are wonderful and I am excited for all the things he will learn.

Sister Gregory (love her!) removes Merritt's Webelos neckerchief and slide.

Merritt and Chad cross the bridge and are greeted by the 11 year old Scout leader.

Merritt receives his Boy Scout neckerchief from a fellow Scout.

The new group recites together their troop chant or slogan or song or whatever it is (I can't keep track of all this stuff!)...

and end with a Native American war whoop!

It's crazy to think that we won't have another pack meeting to go to until Grant turns 8!  Awwww!  Stop getting so big you kids!!!

Grace's Birthday and Baptism

So, Grace turned 8 while we were on vacation and while we were able to do a fun activity to celebrate her big day, her party had to wait until we were home.  I can't believe I didn't get a picture of her cake!  Merritt and Grace have moved beyond asking for a "theme" cake and are now focused on flavors.  Grace wanted hers to be strawberry and chocolate.  Hmmm...what to do?  I searched around on the internet and finally combined two different recipes.  It was two layers of chocolate cake with sweetened whipped cream in the middle, topped off with chocolate ganache and a mound of strawberries.  I almost totally screwed it up but blessings abounded and it came out super yummy and pretty too!  You can catch a glimpse of how it looked in the last photo.

Grace needed some pajamas really badly (she is growing like a weed!), so I spread the word and she got three.  I actually tracked down a mom with an 8 year old daughter at Target and asked if I could hold up the Hello Kitty nightgown I was considering buying just to see if it would fit.  It was a good thing I made a fool out of myself because the one I picked was too short.  I selected a larger size which was nice and long and just ended up pinning the neck and sleeves a bit in order to keep it on her.  Other than some cute clothes from Grandma it was princess toys and fairy toys and My Little Pony toys.  She was thrilled!

Grace's big day was on July 6, 2013.  She was so excited to be baptized and it was a very special occasion for our family.

Grace made the paper flower I am wearing.  I just love it!

We were part of the stake baptisms and there were two other little girls (cousins) who were baptized that day as well.  We gathered in the chapel for music and a talk by the Stake Primary President, then our family was excused for Grace's baptism.  I realized, as I stood at the entrance of the font with a towel and watched Chad baptize his only daughter, that I was having a different experience from when Merritt was baptized.  He went into the font and out of the font with his father and I watched from the front, but this time I was waiting in the wings to receive Grace when she came out.  It was a beautiful and unique opportunity.  I watched her face as she rose up from the water, the look on it peaceful and bright.  I watched a huge smile dawn and witnessed the tenderness between herself and her father.  Then she turned to me and I got to towel her off and hear her whispered confidences and assurances that she "felt great!"  It was so fun! 

I was impressed, as we approached Grace's baptism, with the idea that God never leaves us unprotected.  We spend our first 8 years under the cloak of Christ's atonement; covered by His mercy as we learn to become accountable before our Father in Heaven.  Then, as we reach the age when that covering begins to be withdrawn, we are offered the protection of our first covenant.  We promise to take Christ's name upon us, to always remember Him, and to keep His commandments.  In turn, we are promised that the Holy Ghost will always be with us!  What a marvelous gift!  I am amazed at the goodness of God and how much He cherishes each one of us.  He yearns for us to succeed and return to His presence and has done everything He can to make it possible.  The rest is up to us.  I'm grateful that Grace has made the choice to be baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I pray that this covenant is the first of many she will make and hold true to for the rest of her life.  I have every confidence in her.  She is a wonderful girl!

Porter Rockwell Turns 200

Orrin Porter Rockwell was born on June 28, 1813.  On the 200th anniversary of his birth, we picked up Chad from work a little early and went on a Porter Rockwell celebration road trip! 

This is Porter's Pony Express Marker near the prison!

Awww!  5 Rockwell descendants all in a row!

This business center is near the original location of Porter's Hot Springs Hotel and Brewery.

Porter seems more friendly and less deadly in this artist's rendition!

When we arrived at the Hutching's Museum, we found a room full of kid's activities including coloring pages of Porter Rockwell.  What would he think of himself as a cartoon I wonder?

It took a while for us to convince Joseph to pose by the horse and sorta creepy Porter mannequin in the Rockwell room at the museum. 

Real Porter Rockwell artifacts!  The glassware came from the Hot Springs Hotel.

The kids wanted to know why Porter Rockwell had a chair with no seat to sit on!  Only wusses need chairs with seats!!

No Porter Rockwell room is complete without a jail to put your freshly caught outlaws.  Here Merritt and Grant hang out in prison with a random girl we met.  Grace wouldn't put a toe inside the jail because there were totally creepy mannequins in there.

After the museum visit we ate complimentary birthday cake...

and then posed at another statue.  This one is in the "heroic" style.  I personally think Porter would punch this statue, but that's just me.

Finally it was on to Porter's Place for ice cream and a peek at all the look alikes competing for the $1000 prize.

We listened to really neat saloon music played live while waiting for shakes/malts/sundaes, etc.

It was a fun end to our road trip!  Happy 200th Birthday to Porter Rockwell.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said of his friend, "Orrin Porter Rockwell...is an innocent and a noble boy. May God Almighty deliver him from the hands of his pursuers. … Let the blessings of salvation and honor be his portion.” (History of the Church, 5:125.)

At his death, Elder Joseph F. Smith (then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) said, "He had his little faults, but Porter’s life on earth, taken altogether, was one worthy of example, and reflected honor upon the Church. Through all his trials he had never once forgotten his obligations to his brethren and his God.”

My children are very pleased to be the descendants of Orrin Porter Rockwell and I hope that they are as true to the prophet and the Church as he was!