“THIS IS THE PLACE”

Brigham Young was not kidding.  Yesterday we went to the “This is The Place Monument” with the Wells and Tina and Lizzy Thorup.  It was a VERY long day, with TONS to do and TONS left to do that we never got to, but we had so much FUN.  I will try to highlight the day the best I can without this post becoming way too long!

The train took us everywhere we needed to go.  The kids loved it.

We got to see one of Brigham Young’s homes.  He never lived in it, but used it for entertaining.  It was closed so we didn’t get to go inside.

We went inside Heber C. Kimball’s house.  He had an interesting chair in his room and I loved the kitchen, even though it was only 1/3 the size of the actual kitchen.  The kids struggled a little going through as there was nothing for them to touch.

 

 

Next, we went to the Pay cabin.  This was really neat.  The elderly lady you see in the picture is the younger sister of Marjorie Pay, who, as you know, is the wife of the late President Hinckley.  She told the most amazing stories and even had the kids sitting still for awhile listening.  We saw her as we were leaving for the day and Kiersten and I gave her a hug. 

 

 

After, we stopped at ZCMI and there was a great deal of candy purchased and shared.  Thanks again Tina and Jenni!  As we were waiting the battalion marched up the street, fired their guns, and then the big cannon was fired.  It was really loud, and super cool.  The kids were scared by it, even with their ears covered (that’s how loud it was).

 

 

We then went up to the Indian Reservation area and saw some of their homes and ceremonial places.  The man there had great stories to tell as well.

Then the kids panned for gold in some incredibly cold water.  Brrrrr!!!  Tina and lizzy made dream catchers.

Next, we went on the mini train and got a great view of the valley.

  

After that, we went to the Desert News printing place.  This guy was totally in character.  He had me cracking up.  Poor Jenni Wells got rebuked for looking in the cabinet.  He asked her if she, “Fancied looking in other people’s cabinets without asking?”  I couldn’t figure out the proper word to describe how “cool” everything we were looking at was because he kept saying, “Yes, the weather is rather cool today.”  He gave us a demonstration on how the paper was printed and Kiersten received a copy of the paper from 1850.  She could probably remember the exact date.  As we walked out he saw my stroller and said it was rather “queer” as he had never seen something like that before.

Finally, we got to the pony rides, which is the only reason my kids came.  After that, they were pretty much done as is obvious by their refusal to get up out of the rocks.

 

 

Before we left, we stopped by the barber shop for Lizzy to get a haircut and a shave (not that she needed either).  She was not a very willing participant and had her mom and I cracking up.  Thanks Lizzy, she said she would do it for the blog.

 

 

 

As the park closed at 5pm, we headed home, all exhausted, and the kids dirty, especially mine.  I am looking forward to going back, without kids, and spending some more time looking around.