To Manti and Back....

Well there are somethings that happen when you where a kid that you want your kids to experience. This weekend I got to let my kids experience some things that I did as a kid-- I dragged them down to Manti!
 And then I dragged them around the entire town and showed them where they come from, and where their ancestors carved out a living.

They got to listen to all of the little old ladies talk about what it was like a long time ago, they got to hear about what it was like when the pioneers settled Manti and what they had to go through to survive and to build the temple. We also went through the cemetery looking for headstones, and finding those that belong to the people that are important in our families past. 

Then we went to the temple and talked about how their grandpa used to build go carts and race his cousins down temple hill (by the way the kids think that you where NUTS!!!!) Then they got to roll down temple hill just like I did when I was their age-- and find out what I meant when I told them that you cannot roll straight down you always turn sideways!

They also got to play on the school playground across the street from my Great Grandmothers house just like I used to as a kid- however they have updated the toys quite a bit and they are a far cry from the merry-go-round and tires that I played on!

We got rained on Friday night but it didn't dampen our spirits, we had a blast! Andy and I also got to do a session at the Manti Temple which I have seen my entire life but never been in, and it was so amazing! The entire session it kept hitting me that I could be sitting where my ancestors have sat, touching the same banister that they touched, seeing something that they helped to build, it was such a touching experience for me. And the Temple is so beautiful! and its live so you move 5 times! Also you sit on the same wooden benches that my ancestors help make and put there originally which was amazing! 

 The white dress on the far left is the wedding dress of my great great grandmother Mary Henrie the coolest part about it is that the museum had no idea who it belonged to, other than they had her picture, but they didn't know what her name was. However, I did! thanks to all of my mothers dragging, I had seen the dress right after it had been donated to the museum and I was even able to match a picture of Mary at her wedding to the dress and the picture that they had on the wall so that they where able to authenticate it and now it is labeled as her dress! The DUP (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, who's museum it is) is going to see if they can restore it (as its not in great condition) but now they know that its authentic and worth saving!

It is something that I am definitely going to do again, but next time we are going to go with my grandmother and get it first hand. And the good thing is that the kids want to do it again too!