Brigham City Open House

On Monday Mom and I took the girls up to the Brigham City temple open house.  Apparently everyone in the state thought it would be a wonderful day to just show up without tickets.  (We did have tickets, by the way.)  We were on the bus to the temple shortly after our scheduled time but when we got to the grounds the line wrapped up one side of the block, down the next and had just rounded the third corner.  It took us around an hour and a half to get from our place in line to the room to watch the video.  It was quite frustrating after the video because the cute sister missionaries wanted to let us out but some guy told them we had to wait for another room to fill up.  Then they let yet another room out ahead of us and we had to wait for them to fill THAT one up as well.  It took another hour and a half to get the last few hundred feet after the movie.  Ira had already gone with her youth group and I've seen a number of temples so this kind of a wait was in no way worth it to me.  Little One, however, had wanted to go and while she was quite done after 3 hours in line too, I didn't want to get that close to getting in and then not do it.  Press Forward, Saints, right??

In the end it was, of course, beautiful.  I was quite surprised to find there were a lot of pictures that were just scenery instead of bible pictures.  Usually temples have one or two, but not a lot of them.  They were beautiful though.

By the time we got out the line wrapped down that third side and nearly met the line going into the parking garage.  Wow.  Those poor people probably had a good 4+ hour wait.  I'm still glad we went. :)

Aren't they adorable? :)

Karate Belt Promotion!

Last Saturday Little One and I had our belt promotion "tests."  Mine was in the morning and hers was in the afternoon.  I gave her my G10 and let her take a few pictures.  I was actually thinking of just one with my new belt but she took a few.

 First off was the end of summer party the night before at a local park.  Little One wanted to go and we had fun. :)

This is my friend, Liz, and me.

Yep.  I look just as stupid as I feel doing chicken kicks.

I was impressed with this picture she took.  Good eye, Little One.  Good eye. :)

Group Picture!  Victor, Jade and Te are the best teachers ever!

Later that afternoon we went back for Little One's turn.  She did awesome and I was very proud of her.

Stretching out before

She had a thing going with her lips

The two red heads.  Aren't they cute?

They did 50 push-ups and a LOT of sit-ups and jumping jacks!

She acts as though a headlock is a normal thing....

She even got to demonstrate a kicking combo to everyone!

This is her chicken kick.  Isn't it cute? :)

Splits kick!

This is one of her teachers, Te.

Some of her other teachers.  Poor Tanner was tired by then.

The kids were supposed to do this to their family in appreciation.

I had to do this too.  It was a bit odd, I must say.  Let some of the knowledge of the new belt seep into your brain....

Tanner helping Little One tie on her new belt

They had to stay like this for a whole minute.  No easy task.

Nice group picture

Silly group picture

Her silly face. ;)

Te and Little One

SO close to getting in the banana splits club!

Yea!  Yellow belts together!!

Lewiston

After Seattle we headed to Lewiston, ID to visit with my Grandma.  It was really nice.  The first stop on the way was to one of my favorite places.  I'm strange and kinda like cemeteries.  This is one that I have some family buried at.  Some that I've heard about my whole life as well as at least one I knew.  I'm sure it's beautiful in early spring when things are green but it seems I'm always there mid-late summer when it's more like this.  It's still beautiful though, with those amber waves of grain.

I never knew Dora Alice, but I've always loved her name and wanted to use it someday.

This is my great grandpa

Next, we went into town and spent a couple of days with my Grandma.  It was so fun to watch the girls with her.  They both had fun picking things from the garden with her.  Figs, I believe, were their favorite thing to pick with her.  Little One, especially, seemed to have a special connection with her and followed her around everywhere.

Mom and Gram looking at cook books. :)

Little One and Mom helping to water

While we were there we got to go see Aunt Nessie.  She is my Great-Grandma's sister.  She is special to me because as long as she is alive (which I'm afraid won't be for much longer) we have 5 generations of "Louise's."  Her middle name is Louise, as is my Grandma's, my Mom's, mine, and Little One's.  This is all for HER mother's name, which is in the next picture.  Pretty cool!

This is my Great-Great-Grandmother's signature on the step at Aunt Nessie's house.

Just a few doors down is more family and the girls had fun playing with a new kitty.

Ira, Gram and Little One right before heading home