My Very Favorite Day this Summer...

We have done lots of fun things this summer,even though we have traveled so little and spent so little. This has definitely been one of the best summers of my life, and this day was the best day of this summer for me. In fact, if I were to die, I would hope that I'd just had a day like this one. It was a simple day, and we did nothing extreme, but we really enjoyed each others' company.  We went to the Church History Museum and Temple Square.

This is a pioneer's cabin just outside of the museum.

This is how the pioneer's grew tomatoes.

Inside the museum- this is what the inside of the boats looked like as the pioneers sailed to America.

There was an amazing quilt display this summer, and the kids got to learn about making quilts...

Owen is designing his magnetic quilt on the big white board.

Savannah is enjoying designing her quilt.

They even got to practice tying the quilts...

Abby thinks it's  pretty fun too!

I was totally amazed when we went inside the children's part of the museum. It was and LDS version of Discovery Gateway. We stayed for a few hours, and the kids had so such fun!

There was a boat like Nephi built...

They thought the fishing was awesome.

Jane decided to jump in the "water".

Owen can't get enough of the fishing... Grandpa Griffin would be proud!

Looks like Jane is enjoying her catch!

There are wooden dolls that kids can dress and act out stories from the scriptures... Abby and Jane really liked the chairs...

The garden and kitchen area was very popular among my children...

I didn't  realize how much Abby and Jane would enjoy the kitchen... they loved it.

Even Owen liked "eating" the "food"...

Savannah's favorite part was the dancing. There were costumes the kids could put on and learn to dance. It was awesome.

She convinced Owen to try it too... for a little while.

Some more fun things...

Driving a truck with puppets in the back

Feeling how heavy the golden plates were

Rocking out to primary songs...

Collecting eggs from chickens...

Then we walked over to the temple. It was Monday so the temple was closed, but the grounds were still open. My kids were so excited to touch the temple, and since no one was taking pictures, we  did.

Abby and Jane were thrilled when they saw the stairs. Those little hands sure were dirty, but it was worth watching them climb the temple stairs and love it.

They made it to the top!!!

Owen did too... maybe in 20 years he will pose in this same spot... for a different reason :)

Then, we went to the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to see the magnificent view of the temple...

My real wish, hope, and desire is that my children will ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS keep their lives centered on the temple and being worthy to enter. That is my #1 wish for all of my posterity.


We ended our outing by going to lunch at the Nauvoo Express Cafe, and resting and napping at home. It was a perfect day... the only way it would have been better is if Michael were with us.