Beauty All Around: Ogden Temple and Lunch in the Canyon

This morning we were able to go to the Ogden Temple Open House.  Temples are different from our regular chapels that our congregations meet in weekly.  The temple is a place where we go to make sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father.  When a husband and wife are married or sealed in the temple, their family is sealed together for time and all eternity.  The phrase "Til death do you part" has no place in our temple ceremony.  We believe that families can be together forever, even after we leave this world.  Due to the sacred nature of the temple, once it is dedicated the only people allowed inside are baptized members who are qualified and prepared. 

 It was absolutely gorgeous inside.  My very most favorite part was these stunning art deco lamps in the celestial room.  The same style is repeated in the chandeliers throughout the temple.  I loved having my kids with me and being able to show them the different rooms and explain to them the significance of each room.

Of course we had to touch the temple.  We almost forgot, but Addy reminded us.

Our friend Caroline is here visiting from Texas.  She and her daughter in law, Michelle, and her grand kids were able to join us on the tour.

The Ogden temple is not new, it is a remodel.  Wondering what the old one looked like?  They only made a few changes:

 After we left the temple, Steve had to go to work.  The rest of us headed up Ogden canyon for brunch.  We parked next to Emily's future vehicle.  We had to hold her back so she didn't hop inside.

The weather was overcast and it was a perfect temperature in the canyon.

This is the most awesome restaurant.  I had never been, but my mom and dad went several years ago.  I had no idea such a gem existed.  We are always entertaining out of town guests and are always looking for fun unique things to do with them.  I have a new thing to add to my list!  I texted Steve and told him we should take all our guests to eat here from now on.

They have these patio/booth type things that are right on the water.  It was a beautiful place to eat.

This kid is crazy.  He ate this by itself and didn't even take a drink after.  He acted like it was no big thing.  Didn't even pull a face or anything.

It was such a fun day.  I loved going to the temple and I loved spending time with family and friends in such beautiful surroundings.  God is good!

Schmid Happens - Epilogue

 We had a wonderful time with Steve's family.  We are so thankful they were able to come visit us and help liven up our summer.  Steve's Dad and step mom Rhonda and his brother David stayed with us 4 more days after the Kentucky Schmids left.  In all we had visitors for 23 days!  Those days were packed full of fun and family!  Here are some pictures of the last few days of our visitors.  One night we had a storm followed by the most beautiful sunset.  The pictures don't even begin to do it justice.  We all stood on the back patio admiring the beauty.

On Monday of that week, July 14th, Aubrey and Addy started swim lessons.

That same day Zac and I were busy getting him ready for a 50 mile backpacking trip in the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming.  I dropped him off for a haircut while I was running errands.  When I picked him up I was a little shocked to see him sporting a mow-hawk!  He left at 4:30am Tuesday morning for the adventure of a life time.  He said his goodbyes to grandpa before he left.

 On Tuesday Roy, Rhonda and I spent the entire day (until 9 at night) downtown at the Family History Library.  I had never been and with my latest family history obsession I felt right at home there and can't wait to go back.

 One of the things I spent my time doing while I was there was scanning pictures, old letters and documents Roy brought with him and uploading them to the Family Search website and tagging them.  Of all the hundreds of pictures this one is probably one of my favorites.

On Wednesday Roy, Rhonda and I went to the Bountiful Temple to do sealings for family names.  We had gone previously with Steve, once to do initiatories, another time for endowments and this time we finished it up with sealings.  Unfortunately Steve had to work this day and couldn't go with us.  It was a wonderful experience in the temple.  That night my mom and Sister Lauren came over and had dinner with us.

 After dinner I went with Emily to the church for a Girls Camp slide show.  After the slide show I was chatting it up with some friends and Emily and her friend got tired of waiting for me, so they sat in the van.  With the windshield wipers on.  I'm pretty sure this is why they really need to be replaced as I just recently discovered.  FYI, that trash was placed on the dashboard by the girls sitting in the van, I don't drive around like that.  I keep my trash on the floor of my van!

And then Thursday came around and it was time to say goodbye.  We enjoyed having Roy and his family with us.  It is the most time my kids have spend around Steve's dad and I am so thankful we had this opportunity to have him in our home and get to know him better.

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Schmid Happens - Days 13 & 14: The Graduate

We headed out the morning of Saturday July 12th, bound for downtown Salt Lake.  Steve's brother Mike graduated from Western Govenors University with an MBA in Health Care Management.  We were able to attend his graduation ceremony with him.  Aunt Callie and her husband Marley and their daughter Sarah also joined us.

 Congratulations Mike, we are so proud of you!

After the graduation we all went out to lunch.  Some of Mike and Sheila's friends who live in Idaho joined us.

Back home hanging out.

That evening, Mike and Sheila went out with their Idaho friends for dinner.  While they were gone the girls decorated the house with decorations Sheila had mailed to us before their trip.  She had planned a surprise party for Mike and Spencer who had just graduated from High School.  Here we are waiting for them to walk into the surprise.

Surprise!

 We were able to talk David into dancing.

We played 10 million games of Tenzie before we decided to call it a night.

While in Idaho, Asher bought a gold panning kit.  He and the girls did a little late night panning with the mosquitoes.

Zac on his usual perch.

The next morning, before we left for church, the Kentucky Schmids left for the airport.  We had such a fun time with them while they were here and we were so sad to say goodbye.

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