Family Reunion Time!

So it is family reunion time. This year our family is traveling to Detroit, Michigan. We decided to leave a little earlier, Sunday morning rather than Monday night. We wanted to take our time coming as we knew that it would be much quicker going home. We stopped in Nauvoo and Carthage Jail on Tuesday and Wednesday. That was really great. The last time I was there I was 13, and Jess has never been (needless to say neither have the kids). We saw the brick yard, blacksmith shop, Brigham Young's home and a few other places. We also got to see the Nauvoo Pageant, that was really well done. The Temple is up the hill behind the stage, and they have all the lights on the temple turned off. At the end of the show, they light up the Temple while playing audio of Pres. Hinkley speaking of the Nauvoo Temple. It was a really great experience. I hope that our kids will remember a little of it at least.

At Carthage Jail.

We then drove the rest of the way to my Brother's place in Detroit, we got here really late, but then we were done driving...at least until Sunday morning. We will be driving back in hopefully 2 days...maybe 3. We will see how far we make it Sunday night. I would like to be through Iowa...but that is a lot of miles!

Independence Day Ride

There is some sweet single-track at Kelly's

We started off our Independence day early with a ride at Kelly Canyon. It was a great ride! Kyle even pulled his 5-year-old son on a trail-a-bike. We had a lot of fun...until we got home. We were later getting back, and Jess was quite mad. It seems that we never have good a good July 4th. Looking back it seems that we have always had a rough time that day. I guess I should just work on all holidays...maybe not....anyway it was a great ride.

Tyson at the end of Hauly's Gulch

After getting back we took the kids to Jessica's aunt's in Blackfoot for a get-together there with her family. That was fun. They had a pool and slip-n-slide for the kids, and lots of Jessica's cousins for Toph & Cree to play with. We got to visit with her aunts & uncles & Grandpa. It is always fun to see them and catch up. I like Jessica's family.

Some of Jessica's cousins: Sadie, Grace, McCade & Austin

We also went to the fireworks... not really my favorite, I hate being around that many people (things like that really seem to bring out the rednecks too!). But it wasn't too bad, the kids had a lot of fun, and we got out just as they ended, so the traffic wasn't too bad.

Two temples in one day

Tuesday was pretty cool. In the morning, Jason and I were at the Idaho Falls Temple installing art glass in the top of the Celestial Room. You see they are raising the ceiling of the celestial room 30-40 feet from where it was, which is where it was before...like a long time ago. In addition to raising the ceiling, they are adding windows on all four sides (which can barley be seen from the ground) and windows that will be back-lit above that. These upper ones shine into the Celestial Room...to add more light and beauty. Too bad there will be a big chandelier in the line of sight, and so these will be a little difficult to see from the ground. We were only there to install...the contractor would have guys to get the glass up to us...I don't really like that. Sure, it is less packing of heavy glass for me, but inexperienced guys carrying glass that is $150/square foot--not a good idea. So needless to say some of the pieces got broken. Long story short, it should all be none...eventually...by the time the Temple opens back up on Tuesday.

When we got to the point that we were waiting for them to get the big pieces up to the top of the scaffolding, we left to install a window in the Rexburg Temple. This window was very pricey. It is fire-rated glass, it creates a 2-hr fire wall in between the 3rd floor and the Celestial room. It was really heavy, and we were able to pull some strings and use the elevator (yeay!) to get it up to the 3rd floor. After getting it up there, it then took 30 minutes to determine exactly where in the opening it had to be set. Then Jason and I slapped it in...really fast. We had a BBQ to get to! It is great to have jobs pressing just before a holiday! It is also amazing how fast we worked, knowing that we had to get home to play. It was also really cool that in one day, we worked in two temples, installing glass in two celestial rooms!

That night we had a great time at our BBQ. Tyson & Suzanne; Rusty & Michelle; Milton & Liz; Kyle & Brandi; and Jason & Carol all came. We had 12 adults and 15 kids (7 and under) at our place. It was pretty crazy....but it was a blast. I did stakes with the lime and kosher salt...they turned out great! Yum Yum Yum!