Lots of Fun Weekend

Garth and I are still recovering from a weekend of so much fun!  We were so excited to have our family together (minus a few now-and-then).  We used the Fall Break from school to spend this time with family.  It was one of only a few years when we didn't attend any UEA activity.  We had arranged to stay at one of our favorite places, the Staybridge hotel in West Valley City, which has the Grins and Fins swimming pool.  Barrett and his family also stayed there so we had enough swimming passes for everyone.  All of our grandchildren in the same pool at the same time!  So fun!  We then ordered pizza and bread sticks for the whole family and with permission from the hotel manager, we had the dining area for our dinner.  The grandkids were so good and well behaved.  Maybe it was because they were so tired from all their swimming!  They watched the TV while they ate and played together.

Lexi loved playing with the two babies.  Here she is with Isaac.  He is such a fun little guy!

Koy and Kayden watching TV in the hotel dining room while waiting for pizza.

Maxwell, Morgan, and Tyler were anxiously waiting for the food as well.

Grayson was happy with Daddy Dallas holding him. 

Aren't these kids so cute!

The next day my children appeased their mother and went to This Is The Place Heritage Park.  I've wanted to go here ever since my Great-Great-Grandfather's little cabin in Emery was moved to the park.  This turned out to be the perfect time to go.  Because it was just before Halloween, the park was ready with Halloween activities.  Children were encouraged to wear their costumes and given treats at several of the places in the park.

The kids were excited to get their Halloween costumes on!

We got to the park at the perfect time, about 10:00 am.  It was beautiful weather and there weren't many people there yet.  It was a wonderful day!

Lexi kept Grayson entertained while others were off playing games.

Spiderman (aka Maxwell) likes to play the games for candy.  Tyler just like the candy!

Tyler would walk everywhere as long as Grandpa was holding his hand.  Kayden just kept going, encouraging everyone to follow him.

Morgan showed Tyler how to toss into the pumpkins.  Tyler had such fun playing with his cousins.

Everyone was waiting to listen to the old witch tell her stories.  Nicky loved to play with that little duck.......Isaac.

Listening to the witch tell the story.

It must have been a great story!

We finally found our way to the Emery County Cabin.  This cabin was moved from Emery to the park a few years ago. My great-great Grandfather Casper Christensen lived with his family in this cabin.  He was called to be a postman in Emery. Casper was the grandfather of my Grandma Olsen. 

Here I am with my husband and our 8 grandchildren, descendants of Casper Christensen.  This children are six generations away from Casper Christensen.  How time changes what we view as 'acceptable.'  Casper lived in this small cabin with eight children, just as my eight grandchildren.  I can't imagine what that must have been like, but I am sure the family was very thankful for what they had.  When the kids started running back to the street to go to the next place, I was a bit overcome with thankfulness for the sacrifice that Casper Christensen and his wife, Maren, for coming to this country from Denmark, living in Minnesota where 4 of his children were born, then moving to Spring City in San Pete County, later to move to Emery County and establish his home here.  His daughter, Annie married and lived in Emery, welcoming a daughter, Melva to their family.  Melva married Neldon Olsen and moved to Rochester, or 'out on the flat' or the 'blue hill'.  Melva and Meldon had a daughter named Nellie Ann, who is my mother.  These people shaped my live and are a part of who I am today.