This is the Place for Memorial Day

For Memorial Day we celebrated by going to This is the Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake. It’s a great 19th century village with original pioneer buildings and replicas of actual buildings. The park is staffed by people in pioneer garb and they have things like a blacksmith who tells you about his shop and shows you how things work and a printer who demonstrates how to set type and print a page on the press. We had no idea the village was so big and that there would be so many great things to see!

It was baby animal day at the park and Amelie absolutely loved getting to visit with all the great Spring arrivals.

It was baby animal day at the park and Amelie absolutely loved getting to visit with all the great Spring arrivals.

Her version of petting was often more of a delicate poke.

Her version of petting was often more of a delicate poke.

"Hi, bunny!"

"Hi, bunny!"

Amelie is always a fan of pony rides.

Amelie is always a fan of pony rides.

They have a great reproduction of Heber C. Kimball's home (at least I think that's who it was). It was filled with great period pieces and replicas. There was even a great baby swing--those things have been around longer than I thought!

They have a great reproduction of Heber C. Kimball's home (at least I think that's who it was). It was filled with period pieces and replicas. There was even a baby swing--those things have been around longer than I thought!

Calder's usual pose.

Calder's usual pose.

There's a smile!

There's a smile!

Fun at the milliner's shop.

Fun at the milliner's shop.

Very dashing.

Very dashing.

Very purple.

Very purple.

Amelie's favorite treat of the day: riding the trains around the park. She was in heaven.

Amelie's favorite treat of the day: riding the trains around the park. She was in heaven.

So, happy belated Memorial Day! We’re excited for all that summer brings–mornings at our community pool, fishing up in the canyons, and lots of delicious fresh fruit!

Sugar and Spice

Amelie is growing up into such a little lady. She can be the sweetest thing (she gives terrific hugs and often helps me tend to Calder’s needs). However, she is also experimenting with things like independence and expressing her wants. Although we butt heads at times, this age is really a lot of fun. I love watching this person develop before my eyes. She had a great time in NC and I’ll post about that trip soon.

I wish I was this flexible!

I wish I was this flexible!

After she saw me toting Calder around in the backpack, she had to take her own baby for a ride.

After she saw me toting Calder around in the backpack, she had to take her own baby for a ride.

Who's this Gangsta?

Who's this Gangsta?

Oh, it's just my sweet little girl.

Oh, it's just my sweet little girl.

This is what Amelie did when I asked her to show me how she would give a hug to Grandpa Haymond (who is currently recovering from shoulder surgery).

This is what Amelie did when I asked her to show me how she would give a hug to Grandpa Haymond (who is currently recovering from shoulder surgery).

I Love Calder in the Springtime

I am thoroughly enjoying this sweet little boy. He loves to be cuddled and his two-tooth grin always makes me smile. His army crawl has gotten quicker and he is a big explorer these days. Current favorite thing: the magazines that I am constantly trying to keep away from him. Here’s what he’s been up to recently (I will post some pics from our trip to NC soon):

Taking a snooze in Aunt Angela's stroller.

Taking a snooze in Aunt Angela's stroller.

See, I told you there was a baby under there!

See, I told you there was a baby under there!

Enjoying a sink bath with Aunt Angela.

Enjoying a sink bath with Aunt Angela.

Very serious about this running water.

Very serious about this running water.

Needless to say, he needed a bath after this particular teething biscuit episode.

Needless to say, he needed a bath after this particular teething biscuit episode.

Disney Mania!

Bryce and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary by going to Disneyland. We left the evening of Wednesday the 22nd and got home Sunday morning. We had a blast and had so much fun on all the different rides, eating yummy food, and watching fun parades. I even surprised myself by going on rides like Tower of Terror and California Screamin’ (my first roller coaster that went upside down)–I loved them! Sorry there are so many pictures, but there’s a lot to share!

Calder on our way to Aunt Angela who was awesome enough to tend him for us for our trip. There were several times during our trip when I would ask Bryce to "show me my baby" and he would pull up this picture.

Calder on our way to Aunt Angela who was awesome enough to tend him for us for our trip. There were several times during our trip when I would ask Bryce to "show me my baby" and he would pull up this picture.

Thursday morning--we were the first ones at the park! We were among the first on Friday as well. Saturday we slept in--I hadn't realized how exhausting this would all be!

Thursday morning--we were the first ones at the park! We were among the first on Friday as well. Saturday we slept in--I hadn't realized how exhausting this would all be!

It was fun wearing my BYU shirt–I got comments all day long about it. Shouts of, “Go Cougars!” had us laughing.  The Disney “cast member” that chatted with us before the gates opened turned out to be an inactive member of the Church (his kids are still active and have served missions for the Church). We had an interesting discussion that never would have happened if I hadn’t been wearing that shirt!

The happy couple by the castle.

The happy couple by the castle.

I absolutely love Bryce's expression. We rode Spalsh Mountain 3 times and never got tired of that crazy drop.

I absolutely love Bryce's expression. We rode Splash Mountain 3 times and never got tired of that crazy drop.

You can't really see it, but Bryce got pretty soaked on Splash Mountain.

You can't really see it, but Bryce got pretty soaked on Splash Mountain.

But not as soaked as I got the next day on Grizzly River Rapids. I was thoroughly drenched--like I had taken a shower fully clothed. I know, I know--should have worn a rain poncho!

But not as soaked as I got the next day on Grizzly River Rapids. I was thoroughly drenched--like I had taken a shower fully clothed. I know, I know--should have worn a rain poncho!

We went to the Blue Bayou (a fabulous restaurant that's actually part of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride) on Thursday. The food was delicious--spicy gumbo and amazing Monte Cristo sandwiches.

We went to the Blue Bayou (a fabulous restaurant that's actually part of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride) on Thursday. The food was delicious--spicy gumbo and amazing Monte Cristo sandwiches. It was fun to watch people on the ride taking pictures of us as we ate our meal!

Later in the day we treated ourselves to Dole Whips--yummy pineapple sherbert stuff that we ate while waiting for our turn in the Enchanted Tiki Room. Thanks for the recommendation, Brad and MIchelle!

Later in the day we treated ourselves to Dole Whips--yummy pineapple sherbet stuff that we ate while waiting for our turn in the Enchanted Tiki Room. Thanks for the recommendation, Brad and Michelle!

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These guys are Billy Hill and the Hill Billies and they were fantastic! This was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Who can resist terrific music and hilarious comedy?

Pirate Bryce and his stolen treasure!

Bryce and his stolen treasure!

Bryce had to practically drag me on to this ride. If it wasn't for him (and a nice family whose 8 year-old daughter told me that it wasn't scary), I would never have gotten on. I was terrified and so close to running away. But I did it and I loved it!

Bryce had to practically drag me on to this ride. If it wasn't for him (and a nice family whose 8 year-old daughter told me that it wasn't scary), I would never have gotten on. I was terrified and so close to running away. But I did it and I loved it!

Having fun on Space Mountain.

Having fun on Space Mountain.

Eating our yummy funnel cake. Mine had strawberries (we actually got it for free--long story) and Bryce's had brownie chunks and fudge sauce. Here's the best part. We had, count them, 23 people come up and say something like, "Those look so good! Where did you get them?" We thought it was the funniest thing.

Eating our yummy funnel cake. Mine had strawberries (we actually got it for free--long story) and Bryce's had brownie chunks and fudge sauce. Here's the best part. We had 23 people come up and say something like, "Those look so good! Where did you get them?" That's just the people that actually said something. Countless others stared and practically drooled as they walked past us. We thought it was the funniest thing.

This about sums it up for us. We had a fabulous time and can't wait to take the kids back some day.

This about sums it up for us. We had a fabulous time and can't wait to take the kids back some day. Oh, and Bryce pointed out that my thumb seems to bend at a bizarre angle. Lovely.

Calder the day we got home. I felt the same way each night we got back to our hotel. Disneyland is exhausting! But, oh, so much fun!

Calder the day we got home. I felt the same way each night we got back to our hotel. Disneyland is exhausting! But, oh, so much fun!

Thanks again to Grandma Brenda and Angela who really made this trip possible for us. And Happy 5th Anniversary to us!

Bridal Veil Falls

On Monday, we took advantage of the gorgeous weather and walked around the base of Bridal Veil Falls. And it’s a good thing we did, too, since it snowed a couple days later!

One of the perks of living in Utah: amazing natural beauty all around us.

One of the perks of living in Utah: amazing natural beauty all around us.

Amelie was very excited about the waterfall and loved dipping her hands in the water.

Amelie was very excited about the waterfall and loved dipping her hands in the water.

Walking on slippery rocks can be tricky!

Walking on slippery rocks can be tricky!

Calder had a blast hanging out in his back pack. He could have ridden around on Bryce's back all day.

Calder had a blast hanging out in his back pack. He could have ridden around on Bryce's back all day.

See what I mean? Loving every minute of our walk.

See what I mean? Loving every minute of our walk.

We’re excited for the warm weather to decide to stick around so that we can go enjoy more of the canyons and trails that our home has to offer. And I promise that I was there, too. See my shadow in the pictures? 😉