Families were going to be leaving early on Sunday morning, so the boys said their good-byes on Saturday night. I think it was a little bit easier on them that way. Instead of driving away, they just went to bed. Not nearly as traumatic.
Another four generation picture – two Richards and two Brents…
One day Rusty asked Kevin where his dollar was. Tommy was quick to answer for his dad, “I know! It’s in your ear!”
Rusty looked at Tommy, smiled and said, “That’s a good joke!”
At one point during the week, Cousin Jackson was eating M&Ms and Tommy asked for one. Jackson went to hand him some and then he stopped and pulled back his hand. He asked Tommy, “Wait! Do you have teeth?” I guess Jackson wasn’t quite sure about Tommy’s age … or chewing ability!
The boys really enjoyed being with all their aunts and uncles. They had fun with their cousins, but they really like being with the adults. Rusty was especially taken with Uncle Marc. He’d crawl into his lap just to play his video games. One time Kevin and I found Rusty continually running and slamming himself into Marc. We were going to stop this but Marc said he was enjoying it. Then Rusty backed up all the way across the room and, before he started running, said, “I need more speed!”
After our dinner on Thursday night, cousin Jacob told his mom that everything worked great. They had the little kids divided among the older ones and they played in designated areas. Except, Jacob said, “keeping track of those twinies!” I guess they couldn’t tell which was which and kept thinking they had the wrong one in the wrong area. Now, I don’t think Rusty and Tommy look anything alike, but people seem to think they are “twinies” a lot!
Before we left, they found the miniature golf putting green. They couldn’t resist picking up the flags and serenading us with “You’re a Grand Old Flag.”
We were lucky enough to get to take Grandpa Dick with us as we traveled north. He was getting a rental car in Salt Lake so he could spend a few additional days with some of his other family. We got to hear lots and lots of stories and just enjoy being with him.
We took a pit stop in Cedar City to check out a few more headstones of my family. I don’t remember visiting my grandparents or great grandma’s graves before. Great-grandma Henriod once asked “who’s that boy over there?” referring to me. I wonder if she liked having my five boys wave at her marker.
Billy’s middle name is Howard, which was my dad’s middle name. Dad got his middle name from his Uncle Howard who helped deliver him when he was born. That’s Billy with Uncle Howard’s marker.
Growing up, I’d tell my dad how old it got having people refer to my last name with “Olds? Like Oldsmobile? hahaha.” Dad told me to respond by telling them, “Yes. And my grandma was a Dodge.”
Actually, HIS grandma was a Dodge. She was my grandpa’s mom. Bobby got his middle name from her.
Ricky got his middle name from me. It is my maiden name which I got from my dad. Here’s Ricky with my grandparents’ marker.
We try to teach the boys to be respectful in cemeteries. We don’t run and play and step on headstones. I guess Rusty was a bit too tired to remember or he didn’t realize that wasn’t a stone bench … Either way, it was so adorable that instead of scolding, I had to take a picture.
We decided to stop at an historical site on our way home. I’ve driven past Cove Fort more times than I can count but had never stopped to actually see the fort. This time we did.
We got to watch a movie about the fort while sitting in a real, old, log cabin. There was something ironic about watching a flat screen tv in a home more than 150 years old.
After the video, we went on a guided tour of the fort.
The fort didn’t seem very large and I could only imagine how scary it would have been to be closed in there during an Indian raid. There never was a raid on the fort though. The settlers figured out how to make peace with the Indians and even had some of their women and girls come work with them.
We got to see all the restored rooms in the fort. In this room, Grandpa Dick pointed out how he used to bathe in a tub just like the one in the corner – and he was the last one to get the bath, after his parents and sister.
I took this picture before they told us to keep off the grass. The trees are original to the fort, so over 150 years old. They are trying to save them, but they are dying off.
It is a fort that was meant for protection, so there are gunwales around the walls. This is where those inside the fort could stick their guns and shoot the attackers. I thought it made a nifty seat for picture taking. Ricky didn’t agree!
Up top …
While we were there, Uncle Marc and Uncle David’s families caught up with us. It was fun to run into them again!
The missionaries who do the tours, did a demonstration at the end with a string and wood toy. Then the boys got one to bring home and use. It is harder than it looks …
It wasn’t a short drive home from St. George. In addition to our sight-seeing, there were a lot of pit stops to be made. But it was a nice way to spend the day and a nice ending to a great family vacation!