Antelope Island

Our first day in Utah, we took a trip to Antelope Island. It is a large Island out in the middle of the Salt Lake. It was used by early pioneers as a place to heard sheep, antelope, bison etc. My great, great, great grandfather was one of the men to take care of the ranch out there. He was there from 1855 to 1871. He actually died due to being out on the lake during a storm and getting really sick. How is that for some family history? I thought it was pretty cool.

My Father wanted to go out and see the ranch and have some time to enjoy our "roots". It was a fun day, but VERY hot!

Grandpa with #1 and #2

#1 found a rock that she thought was pretty cool!

#1 and her friend the buffalo.

The Antelope Island Causeway.

Cool spiders at the visitor's center

#3 being a cutie!

#2 and #3 posing away

All my kiddos. #1 was in a bad mood.

My cute little boy!

Ah #1 finally decided to smile!

Daddy and #3

The Ranch!

Buffalo in the field

#1 and cousin Rachel

Julia and Julianna

My dirty boy!

Sign about Stringham family

#1 and Caitlin

#2 and Julianna

Playing in the dirt is the best past time

I thought this was funny considering the sign.

The four year old club looking at bison

Bo and #1

Bo, #1, and Caitlin

Daddy roping a steer

Here we go!

working the lasso

#2 enjoying the steer

#1 Roping a steer

Pull Pull!!

#1 got in water

Daddy chilling in the shade

Buffalo moving into the yard

#2 making friends with the steer!

Trip to Nauvoo, IL

While family was visiting, we took a weekend trip to Nauvoo, IL. We have been there a couple of times, but my sister and family had never been there so it was very fun to go to the sites with them. Nauvoo is a great place with a lot of history to go and visit whether you are LDS or not.

Inside the Carthage jail where Joseph and Hyrum smith were murdered.

Our family by the Joseph and Hyrum Smith memorial outside the jail.

We took the family on a handcart trek. During the Mormon exodus, there were many companies of Saints who traveled by handcart from Nauvoo/Winter Quarters to Salt Lake City. The two famous groups were the Willie and Martin Handcart companies who were stranded in a blizzard in Wyoming and then were rescued by Saints from the Salt Lake City Valley. We did a 2 mile trek and it was very humbling. My body ACHED afterwards. How these people had enough faith to keep going day after day in all kinds of weather is beyond me! This was by far my favorite part of Nauvoo. I'm truly humbled!

Starting off

We're trying to be happy!

Smiles all around

Reading the pioneer stories

Going down a hill.

Back up the muddy other side!

I lost my shoe in this one!

Yeah, we made it through the mud!!

After shot! We definitely lost our socks!

Our little family photo!

Cleaning off in the river!

#3 stealing Madison's pacifier.

Daddy, Mommy, and #1 on the wagon tour.

#2, Rachel, and #1 at the Nauvoo Temple

Our Family at the Nauvoo Temple

Kids touching the Nauvoo Temple

Group Photo at the Nauvoo Temple

Family Photo outside Nauvoo temple

Brigham Young's cellar in Nauvoo IL. Nice place to cool off!