Pioneer Day

We had lots of fun this Pioneer Day! We ate some tin foil dinners (thanks @annawevensen for the idea!), played outside, had a water balloon fight, and did sparklers and popped a lot of pop-its!

I also took the opportunity to tell the boys the story of one of their pioneer ancestors, Alva Benson. Alva was born in New York, then moved to Indiana where he heard the LDS missionaries preach, believed, and was baptized. He was a millwright by trade and followed the Saints to Missouri, then Illinois, then crossed the plains to Utah. He helped survey and settle the town of Hyrum in northern Utah. A short history written about him concludes with the line, 

"Surely the Lord loved Alva Benson."

My boys think our neighbors, Jack and Luke, are just the coolest (and they are so sweet to them). We were hoping they'd be around to hang out with us, but they had to leave for a family obligation. Maybe next time!

How old are you?

Nolan is very interested in how old people are and comparing their ages. So if you see Nolan in the next bit, be prepared to answer his question about how old you are :) We just had GGm and GGp Hunt and Uncle Andy staying at our house and the first thing Nolan asked GG was how old she was haha. She told him 82 and asked if that was the oldest person he'd ever heard of and he said, "Nope, Granky is 99!" So cute. And he doesn't just ask and then forget. He remembers for a long time. Weeks after he'll say, well Paul is 42 and Uncle Andy is 48 and Daddy is 36 and mommy is 33 and Uncle Preston is the same age as Mommy, etc. He also thinks the older you are the stronger you are.

Family Reunion in Logan

Last weekend we drove up to Logan, twice, for some family time. It was a bit of a strange situation. My second cousin Jeremy, Debbie Coffey's son who lives in Missouri, planned a kind of informal Holmes/Hoffman family reunion in Yellowstone this year. It was really just my grandma's family and her sister Jeannine's families. Anyway, my grandma has started to have some trouble with her heart and was a bit worried about going to Yellowstone. So Jeremy and family kindly planned to spend a few days in Logan on their way to Yellowstone to spend some time with more of our family before heading out.

On our way north the first day we stopped (at my mom's request, but we were happy to do it) in Roy to put flowers/flag on the graves of Granky's brother and sister, LaRae.

I went to LaRae's funeral so I thought I'd remember where the stone was, but I was way off so the stop was longer than we planned. Didn't matter though, the boys were happy to wander and Nolan  helped look for the name (in the process he even found one that said Nolan!).

Of course we stopped at Maddox's on the way up for some yummy fried chicken and cornbread.

We had a few minutes to kill before meeting my parents so we took a drive down Main Street to find the old post office. I wanted to do this because I had recently seen a photo of my 3rd great grandfather, Moroni Benson in front of it and the photo indicated the structure was still standing. Sure enough, it is! It's actually an auto shop now and stands right next to the current post office.

I asked Justin to try to get a picture from a similar angle cause I'm a nerd like that :) Moroni is on the left (he lived 1833-1917).

Visiting great grandma Mathews grave. She would have loved these great grandkids so much! It's sad to me that she passed away without ever meeting one of her now 26 great grandchildren, although I have no doubt she is near, admiring them and loving on them in different ways.

Granky made the long trip up to Logan and we are so glad! Not only that, but look at him trudging up this hill in the Hyrum Cemetery to visit the graves of his in-laws and others of his wife's family <3

Posting these pictures made me think of a time recently when we were in the car and talking to the boys about how our family could be together forever. Nolan asked a few questions and then thoughtfully said, "I hope that's true." So Justin and I had a chance to bear our testimony that we know it's true and we're so happy to know it. He of course seemed more hopeful than anything, but that's ok. I hope to do whatever I can to help him cultivate his own testimony of the principle of eternal families.

Justin and Nolan went wandering in the cemetery and found this old tank. Nolan was in love. He and Branson played on it for a long time!

We found an awesome park in Logan. Seriously, I'm going there again next time we're up north.

Met some of my dad's cousins at The Bluebird (a family tradition). Nolan showing Granky his Transformers game, so cute.

Nolan loved LaNette, and she was such a good sport haha.

On the Fourth Justin took the boys to get some fireworks then we headed to Logan to meet my mom's family.

Porch swingin' with great grandpa Hunt.

Justin and my Uncle Adam talking college football/basketball :)

We headed back that night and went straight down to Gm and Gp Bailey's house for dinner and fireworks.

Two cute brothers in their 4th of July outfits.

My parents (and Granky!) got to stay one night and see our new house for the first time!