Pioneer Day 2014!

We were able to celebrate Pioneer Day with Candace (Brian's sister) going to look at the different gravestones of their ancestors.  Brian was at scout camp for the week, but the rest of us went and had a really fun time learning about the Turpin Family!  Avery even found a really special headstone (read to find out!)

For the beginning of the day, we went up to This is the Place Monument in Salt Lake City to see the monument of Brigham Young coming into the valley and declaring that "This is the Place" for the Mormon pioneers were going to settle and build of Zion.  I (Amanda) had never been there and it was fun to see the monument and to look at the murals.  Candace does such a great job trying to relate things to our children, we made sure to point out all the children in the murals.  (side note, on our way there, we tried to miss all the Days of 47' parade traffic e in Salt Lake...but didn't do such a great job at it, but we saw some of the floats at the end still!)

We love our Aunt Candace

Its hard to see at the top but that is the monument of Brigham Young

Next we went to a cemetery in Salt Lake City, up on the north side hill.  It is quite the cemetery.  Candace had an adventure waiting for us as we walked around to all the different headstones and learned things about our ancestors.  

Mason had just learned to walk around this time!

We learned about one Ancestor that came with the Martin Handcard company that lost alot of his family during the trip (James Briggs).  He didn't write much in in journal, but the one thing he wrote was about his mother.  Candace had the kids read about the stripling warriors and how they didn't doubt the Gospel because their mothers knew it." 

Candace also brought yummy treats!  We had granola bars to talk about wheat and things the pioneers might get at an outfitting post.  She also talked about clues on gravestones, such as a picture of a book might suggest that ancestor liked to read.  It was great for the kids to learn more about people who have gone on before. 

If you look really close, you will see why this particular gravestone would be of interest to Avery.  It was an ancestor, Avery Parsons!  Though we didn't know it at the time we named Avery, we are related to an Avery.  It is neat see connections to the past like this.

We had to cut the day somewhat short though Candace had many other things to show us because it was dreadfully hot that day!  After learning so much we all went back and got an Creamie at Candace's house.  Thank you Candace for such a fun and educational day!  We are so very grateful for our ancestors and all they had to endure that we might know the Gospel of Jesus Christ!