Melissa's First Trip to the Temple

Melissa turned 12 in April and thus became eligible to enter Young Women and to go to the Temple.  Her first opportunity to do baptisms for the dead came this week when our Young Women's group went for our Tuesday activity.

We went to the Jordan River Temple.  When she was finished, I asked her how she felt.  She said, "When can we do it again?"

We only had two other girls come to do baptisms, but it was the first time for one of those girls too.  It was a special day for all of us.

I'm glad she has a desire to go back to the temple.  What a blessing to be able to go with her for her first time and watch see her doing baptisms in the temple.

Birthday at Lagoon

There was a drawing at work for a free family pass to Lagoon which was good for one of only three days - one of which happened to be my birthday.  I thought how lucky it would be if my name were drawn, then I could take my family to Lagoon for my birthday!  And lucky for me, my name was drawn!

I took the day off work, and Jessica was able to come after she got off work around 1 pm.  We packed a picnic dinner and went to Lagoon on Wednesday - my birthday.  The weather had turned cold and rainy on Monday, but it was supposed to be nicer on Wednesday and around 65°.  I decided to bring a jacket just in case it wasn't quite that warm and for after the sun went down.  The rest of my family wasn't so smart - they wore shorts and t-shirts and refused to bring jackets because "they would be a pain to carry around."  By the end of the day they were a bit chilly.

Well it was a little cooler but lovely weather - around 60° and no rain.  There were also hardly any people there in the middle of  the week.  We were able to enjoy all the good rides with hardly a wait.  Other rides we walked right on.  The longest wait was for the Rocket which all my kids rode, Jeremy went 3 times!

We even rode some of the rides we usually don't have time for, like the merry-go-round and a mini-version of the Tidal Wave called the Kontiki.  We even rode the train - my kids had no idea there was a little zoo at Lagoon.  It was so much fun!

Here are some more of our fun memories.

 

There was a new ride this year called "Air Race" which Jeremy was the only one brave enough to try.  It swung the plane full of people around (upside down) while the whole ride went around.  Too much for me!

 We ate our little picnic dinner at one of the many covered tables provided around the park.

Melissa's favorite ride turned out to be the old wooden roller coaster.  She rode it 4 times!  She got Jeremy and her Dad to go with her (I prefer the Colossus).

Jeremy's favorite ride was the Samurai.

Anthony's favorite ride was definitely NOT the Wicked.  On the corkscrew part his phone dropped out of his pocket!  He had to go to security who found it for him.  They said they have bark chips under there because people lose stuff all the time.  It was shaken up, the sim card was loose, but when he put it back together it was okay!

Jessica took a bunch of pictures with her cell phone too.  Thanks Jessica, these are awesome!

It was wonderful to have my whole family together, not arguing, having a fun time.  What a great birthday!