In Utah, I wanted to take my kids to do a bunch of things I had done as a kid. But, first I spent an afternoon remembering one of my best friends. She past away the summer of 2006. I thought it would be easy to see her grave, but as soon as I got there and saw her picture, I lost it! So did my mom and sister. She was a part of our family for quite a few years, she traveled with us and I spent every day with her. I wasn't able to attend her funeral but my mom said there were many pictures of Emily, myself and my sister at the funeral and there was a video of us dancing together. I miss her.
Okay, on to happier thoughts (I need to get the lump out of my throat!)
We spent an afternoon having a picnic at a really fun park in Cedar Hills.
Then we headed up Provo Canyon to see Bridal Veil Falls. 
When I was a kid, there was a gift shop, a tram ride up to the top of the mountain where you could hike or go to a restaurant, a small petting zoo, a place to pan for fake gold and we could hike up to the falls. But, a few years back an avalanche came through and destroyed most of it. Now you can pretty much just look at the water. and, The restaurant on top of the mountain burnt down a few years ago. But we had fun playing there anyway!
Obviously Kyla didn't like the water as much as Tommy did...
My aunt got us tickets to go see Beauty and the Beast the play at an outdoor amphitheatre. Tommy absolutely loved it!!! He had a great time, Kyla slept through the entire thing. Tommy just had to get pictures with the Characters after.
This is the Prince/Beast
This is Lumiere (The Candlestick). He was HILARIOUS!!
This is Gaston. For as manly as he acted on stage... He sure wasn't manly in person!
He was the magic carpet. He did lots of gymnastics and Tommy loved that!
This is LeFou, Gastons extremely clumsy sidekick.
This is a tire from one of the trucks. When you look down at these trucks from the viewing spot, they look like mini matchbox cars.
Then we headed off the the International Peace Gardens in Salt Lake. We always enjoyed this as kids. I think it's a hidden gem in Utah.The International Peace Gardens, located on the bank of the Jordan River in Salt Lake City, was founded as a citizenship project and as a lesson in peace and understanding between nations. The endeavor is evidence that people from many lands can unite in building a monument to peace.
Part of Utah history, the garden was conceived in 1939 and dedicated in 1952
After that, we were off to Liberty Park to play in the water.The kids could have stayed here all day!
Tommy became a junior ranger
We did many other things like going to Seven Peaks water park and Lagoon. We went up the canyon to roast marshmallows and hotdogs. We went to a petting zoo and fed some animals. But, sometimes it's so hard to lug around a big camera. So I don't have pictures of that. But here are the kids at Jordans Wedding... Pretty cute!
Kyla was a flower girl, but was unwilling to get in any pictures unless I held her.I think she was getting homesick.
So, then after getting home, Tommy went to Texas and Barry, Kyla and I flew to Charlotte, NC. We stayed one night in "The Carolina" at the Pinehurst Resort. It was absolutely gorgeous! It was built in 1901.
We thought these three southern ladies in the pool were so cute, we had to take a picture!
Barry played two rounds of golf at Pinehurst. Here is the famous Putter Boy.
Barry played the famous Pinehurst No. 2 and then they also played no. 4. Pinehurst has 8 golf courses on the resort. No. 2 is the only one played on the PGA tour.
We got Kyla to give this statue a kiss, it was so funny. 
I love the homes in the south, they are so charming with their big wrap around porches.
These pictures are from the lake at pinehurst, the water was a perfect temp. Too bad I didn't have an lil swimmers. That diaper is getting pretty full!
After a day there, we drove down to Jacksonville, Florida. Barry had meetings a lot and so Kyla and I went exploring. We went to the town of St. Augustine - Its the oldest continually inhabited city in north america. While there I was able to drink from the real "fountain of youth", and I found out why they thought it made you live forever. Ask me if you are interested. There was a lot to do there, I would like to go back someday.
The next day that barry had meetings, I went to Amelia Island and saw the Kingston Plantation, which is the oldest plantation still standing in florida. They grew sea island cotton among other things. They had about 80 slaves. The owner was actually quite nice to his slaves and was married to a slave he bought in haiti who became a free black.
This is the home and the building to the left was the kitchen. They had the kitchen in a seperate building in case of fires and to keep the smells out of the main house.
These are the slave cabins. A family would live in this. Of course it used to have a roof.
If you look at this picture, just past the tree line was where all the cotton was harvested.
This is that same road today, past the tree line is jungle so dense you can't see through it.
After the plantation Kyla and I headed to the beach. I could have spent all day here. Kyla was a little afraid of the water though.On our way back to Charlotte, NC, we stopped in Savanna, GA. 
It is the most amazing place. We only had a few hours but I am dying to go back. The history of savanna is very interesting. From the civil war sites, to the pirates, to the cotton selling. It was a huge seaport town that sent stuff back and forth from liverpool england.
Its been a whirlwind, but I am glad to be home. In my own bed!
2 comments:
the homes in the south are beautiful. i must agree. looks like you had a busy time vacationing, but how awesome to have seen all of that. gorgeous pis.
great pictures!!!! Made me homesick!! glad you are back!!!
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