These are my relatives???

One of the senior sisters in our mission set up a tour of the McCune Mansion through the Utah Historical Society. This is a mansion that was built and lived in by my great-great aunt, Elizabeth Claridge McCune. She is my grandmothers (Nana McLaughlin) aunt (sister to Samuel Claridge, Nana's father). She married Alfred McCune and he became very wealthy through his businesses of transportation/railroads. They built this mansion in Salt Lake City just two blocks above the temple on Main Street and 2nd North. It is HUGE and would cost over $22 million to be built today. It was a very interesting tour. The tour guide gave me a big hug after she found out that I was related to the McCunes. She said that she has been giving tours for over 20 years and had never met an actual living relative of them. The mansion is used today as a reception and conference place. The McCunes donated it to the church and for many years it was used as a music school. Here are some of the pictures I took of our tour:

This is the senior couples who come to the tour with us on Thursday, Sept. 18 standing on the front steps of the home. We had to split our group up to two different days because there were so many who wanted to go on the tour.

This is a picture of the side of the home

This is me standing by the picture of Elizabeth Claridge McCune.
The fireplace in the entry reception room

Part of the ballroom
A small couch in another part of the ballroom
The fireplace in the ballroom
A clock in the entry hall

These are all pictures of the master bathroom, sinks, fireplace, shower etc.

This is a room at the far end of the ballroom

Sitting in the sunroom

Part of the side yard

This is hard to see but Mike is rubbing the nose of the boar statue in the yard.

It was a fun morning. I don't know where all the family money went but I do know one thing....

......................................I didn't get any of it!!!!!!!!!

Our Temple Square Senior Couple 'family'

Here is a picture that was taken on September 21, 2008 outside of the South Visitors Center of the Senior Couples who are serving on Temple Square with us. A lot of them are hard to see because it's so small but I thought I'd share it with you anyway. We're up on the right hand side about 4 rows up. I'm about 2 people above and just to the right of the gal in the bright blue top. These are WONDERFUL people and we love serving with them. They are all great examples of selfless service to the Lord. Our mission president and his wife are on the front row on the right.

Grandma & Grandpa time at Dinosaur Park

A few weeks ago Heather called and invited us to go with them to the Dinosaur Park up in Ogden. After our shift on Temple Square was finished she came and picked us up and we were off to the park. It took about 45 minutes to get there. Of course, there was never a dull moment in the car during the trip. Lots of talking and laughing.

Here's Heather and Lexie:

Here's Branden, Hayden, Ethan and Devin in the dinosaur playground:
Now this is what I call 'using your head"!!
Anyone ready for a game of 'hide and go seek'??
All aboard for the ride of your life!

And they thought their dad was tall!!!
Grandpa helping the boys to feed the fish:
Oh no.........Grandma's in trouble again!!!
We had a great time. The weather was perfect and the company superb!

Family Fun

We have many wonderful times this summer with our family. In July everyone was together for the first time in many years to enjoy each other and take part in the blessing of two new granddaughters in our family: Shelby Elizabeth Chatfield, daughter of Chris and Amber and Alexis Bryann Carlson, daughter of Heather and Bryan Carlson. We all had a wonderful time together and here are some pictures to prove it: The first one is the grandkids at the park.

The next three are Chris, Aaron and Brynn jumping over each other. It was amazing to see Brynn get all the way over the top of Aaron but she did --maybe she should try out for the Olympics in the high jump - she'd probably make the team!!

We also got some pictures of us with our 5 children. What a family!!! Parent magazine wanted to get a copy of this but we turned them down. We're just not into the limelight!!! ha ha The next picture is our whole family and last (but definitely not least!!!) is us with all of our grandchildren!!!! What could be better than this. Life is wonderful!!

Cove Fort Utah Trip

We took a trip to Cove Fort to visit our good friends Joyce and Owen Bae who are on their mission there. Their mission is a 6 month mission so they entered the MTC on March 17th the same day we did and they will complete their mission on September 15th. We have heard a lot about Cove Fort so we decided we'd give it a try. It was a wonderful trip and the Fort was wonderful. I don't know that I would have wanted to live there without any neighbors but the Hinckleys seemed to enjoy it.

Joyce and Owen took us on a 'special tour' which was more indepth than the usual tours and we learned a lot about the Fort. The Hinckleys lived there for many years and raised their family there during that time. It was a waystation for travelers and they had wagons stop by for the night on a daily basis. Sister Hinckley would prepare food for everyone who came to stay overnight. So, on a daily basis she baked bread and prepared meals for many extra guests besides her own family. I don't know how she managed to wash clothes, linens, etc. make clothes, clean the fort, educate her children along with all of the rest. She was one remarkable woman. As you can see the fort is in great shape for being so old.

They had a great relationship with the indians and never once did they have to use the fort as a safe haven against attack. As you can see in one of the pictures, Joyce is looking through one of the gun holes that was built into the fort in case that was needed. We even climbed up onto one of the covered wagons used in those days. Not my idea of comfortable traveling conditions but I'll bet it was better than pulling a handcart. The air conditioning and non-reclining seat leaves a bit to be desired but it gets great mpg.We even learned how to play some of the games they played in those days. It would be a great way to loose a few of the extra pounds I've gained here. Fortunately Mike has bought me a treadmill for my birthday so I can use that instead. I try to walk 2.5 - 3 miles. If the weather is not too hot we do it outside together, if it's too hot and when it gets too cold I will use the treadmill.

If you ever get a chance be sure to stop by Cove Fort and take the tour. It's right off of I-15 going south from Salt Lake City toward the Grand Canyon. Just watch for the signs past Filmore and you can't miss it. It's definitely worth the trip.