Jesse N. Smith, 2000 Flushes, AND what was once Lost... is now Found!

Memorial Day Fun....

Dennis and I went up to Parowan for another Ribbon Cutting and Barbecue.  MMMM.....grilled hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans and watermelon.... true Memorial Day food!  He was invited, as well as Lynn- the architect, to a Memorial Day Celebration of the finished product.  Dennis was the low bid to help restore the Jesse N. Smith Home.  Jesse N. Smith is a cousin to Joseph Smith and was sent by Brigham Young and 49 others to explore and make settlements in Southern Utah in 1848 or 49.  Something like that.  Don't quote me.  Anyway.... this home is one of the oldest standing adobe buildings in Utah.  It was cool being amongst all the Smith Relatives that traveled from far distances for the occasion.  We were called "cousins" for a little bit until they figured we were there because we were the builder and not family.  haha  But we were treated like family because they were all so happy in how the home turned out being restored.  It was a good project.  Menlo Smith, an 85 year old great grandson, was the man behind the project and president of the foundation. He is actually a convert to the church.  When the missionaries knocked on his door and he realized who he was and his strong and faithful heritage, he jumped into the gospel with whole heart and understanding.  He served faithfully in many prominent callings for the church most of his days... and now in his energetic mid 80's.... he continues to do good! 

Hiking down 2000 Flushes....
Justin wasn't feeling well... too much of a wild end of the school year weekend?  So he didn't come.  Poor guy....
Anyway, we had only seen 2000 Flushes in the dark when Chris and Allie took us there to stargaze and to shoot off our illegal fireworks.  I saw it during the daylight hours one morning... long story made short, cuz I thought I dropped my cell phone out there in the dark... and it wasn't there, it was safe at the cafe we had eaten at earlier that day...  And when I saw this amazing man made mining wonder... I just knew that we, oh, so needed to come back during the day.  (And very glad we didn't stand too close to the edge that one night in the dark!)

So here we were on Memorial Day.  We had to take the little dog!  He loves to adventure with us.  Ash and Erik hiked all the way down and saw friends from school on the way roasting marshmallows on a small bonfire.  The lake on the bottom actually has fish in it... they said.  We were a little worried that the water was highly contaminated with too many minerals... so it was interesting to hear that fish were happily swimming in there.  Dennis and I hiked half way down.... his back and my knees can only take so much.  Ibuprofen is good for the next day! haha

 Yes, Ash and Erik went all the way down..... So cool!

 We conquered 2000 Flushes!

Next Story:

Ha.... These are the pics that were lost and now are found!  Actually they weren't really lost... I am getting too old to remember which camera and which memory card I took these pics on.  Now that life has settled down a tad ... I found some time to find them!  Now.... why are they so "special"???  They represent what FUN we had on Justin's bday in April.  He wanted to go hiking over to Lone Peak.  I was very curious as to why he was talking it up so much.  Being involved in scouting with campouts galore, he wanted to do this hike again... only hike the backside this time.  I didn't hike up to the top.  Someone, of course, has to stay down below to take pictures! haha...  Erik and Ash were having a good time rock climbing with him.  After walking around the entire 'Lone Peak', I noticed the other side would be easier to hike up and down.... and mentioning this to them while they were on top and figuring the best route to climb down, Justin said that that's the route they took at a campout and it was too easy and wanted to try the other side.  If I was an all knowing mom, then I would have suggested helmets... haha.  They had a great time climbing even in the predictable Cedar Spring winds we experience!

I love this picture!  He looks like an ogre walking on top!  He's ducking his head into the wind.  Thinking about this.... just slightly crazy, I was nutty letting them climb up this high when it was so blustery.  But what do you do when it's your son's birthday and this is the only time in the family schedule to take him to do something special?  You just do it! 

And of course someone always has to go to the bathroom.  Kind of a tricky predicament.  Like the times you take 10 minutes to dress your child up from head to toe in snow gear and after the last zipper is zipped, he/she says.... "I have to go to the bathroom"!  It's a good thing we were the only ones hiking.  We were probably the only crazy ones to even hike in the ferocious wind!