Ensign peak and Aquariums

Sunday we hiked up to Ensign Peak, talk about a lung strengthener:). 

The view is beautiful and I love all the tidbits of information about the early saints that you find along the way. We can count it as our Pioneer Day celebration, since due to coronavirus the actual pioneer day celebration has been cancelled. 

Alyssa was born on Pioneer Day. When she was little, we use to tell her that the twenty-fourth of July celebration was for her birthday, and the pioneers. Shortly after moving to Iowa, I went to to get my hair done and asked what types of celebrations they had for the 24th of July? The lady had no idea what I was referring to. Thinking she misunderstood, I re-stated the question, "what do you do for Pioneer Day?" The beautician doing my hair asked everyone around if they knew what I was referring to, and they did not. Apparently, it is just a Utah and Idaho celebration. Iowa may not have a pioneer celebration, but I learned to love their history and appreciate the early saints and pioneers, while living in Iowa. Iowa and the surrounding area is rich with history and I loved partaking in it while I lived there. 

Other Sunday happenings... 

-Ashlynn made delicious cocoa pebble rice krispy treats.

-Britton put the fire pit together so that we could have a fire.

-The boys figured out how to get firewood to make a fire. It was quite a vision to watch.

-We cooked s'mores and hot dogs.

-We discovered the firepit is too small and the only place 

we could put it was the driveway because it will burn the grass.

-We tried to play croquet and could not stop fighting, so we quit:). 

-Sunday was our family's first week back at church since the outbreak of the coronavirus. 

 Monday, JD headed to Montana for work.

The kiddos and I decided to go to SeaQuest Aquarium. 

We were excited for Alyssa and Luke to come for the day and join us.

 I wasn't too sure about the place when I discovered it was inside the mall. 

We all had a fabulous time.  

We all loved watching Luke be observant of everything around him. 

 I believe everyone's favorite part was feeding the parakeets. 

 The megladon area made me want to rent 

the MEG and watch it for some odd reason. 

Alyssa called me before she came and requested that 

Ashlynn wear the matching shirt that she has.  I love that!

I was impressed by all the sea life that we were able to actually touch with our hands. 

It was an enjoyable day.  

I started keto on Monday, so I also loved that going kept me out of the house where I would not be around those vicious carbs I love so much!!! I have been pretty anti-keto because it is hard to maintain long term.  But I do know that it works for my body, and that without doing it I can exercise all day and starve and still struggle to lose weight. So Keto it is.