Happy Memorial Day!!

I know that since yesterday was Monday, my post should be another mission memory. Don't worry, I haven't lost interest in that topic so soon, it's just that our family took a trip yesterday so mission memories will have to wait until next week.

Here is my mom, me and my dad at my grandma's grave. She is my mom's mom and passed away nine years ago. Because we had plans for Monday, we went to leave flowers on Sunday evening. It was very nice.

This is Tegan, Janica, me and Kierra at the grave of my other grandma. Well grandma and grandpa. We went down to Richfield, Utah, which is about three hours away to leave flowers at their grave. They are my dad's parents. His mom died before I was born and his dad died when I was two. I have no memories of him. I really wanted to go to Richfield for Memorial Day because we were down there for Thanksgiving and I realized that although I had been there many times because my dad was born and raised there, I wasn't too aware of the stories or the places I had seen. We went down with my parents to learn the stories, and also to share them with my children.

The grave right behind my grandparents belongs to my great-grandparents. My dad is in the picture because they are his grandparents. His grandpa didn't marry until he was older, I think in his 40s or 50s. He was actually 78 when my dad was born! Dad was telling us that he has memories of his grandpa, but that he was an old man who didn't have the energy to do very much. My grandpa (Dad's dad), felt like he really missed out because his dad was too old to go on scouting campouts or other activities. The reason why my great-grandpa Christensen married so late was because he was the oldest son and spent his time taking care of his dad's two families while his dad was in jail for being a polygamist.

This is the grave of my great-great grandpa Christensen. If you look at the headstone, you will see that it has his two wives on it as well. Interestingly enough, they were both named Johanne. He is my ancestor who joined the church in Denmark and moved to Utah. Although I have many other ancestors who joined the church, his is the conversion story I tell. That is because it is the only one I know. Hmm, I need to work on my family history and learn more of those stories!

It was a cold and rainy day when we were at the cemetary. Kierra needed a break to gather her strength to continue forward. Actually, I think at this point we were walking back to the car. Either way, what a cutie!

After the cemetary, we drove around Richfield and Dad pointed out things for us to look at. We saw the house where he was raised and right behind it was the house my grandparents built as their dream house. Sadly, my grandma only lived there for nine months before she died. We saw the house where my grandpa was raised, as well as the house where his grandpa lived with his two wives. We don't know who lives there now. Whoever they are, I wonder if they know anything about the pioneers who built those homes and raised their families. We saw the elementary school that was built when my Dad was in kindergarten. My Dad was born in 1946 and five years later, there were so many children that they needed a new school. He said the same thing happened for high school. Baby Boomer anyone?

When we were there in November we saw the family farm where one of my uncles still lives and makes a living. I found it very interesting that people didn't live on their farms when Richfield was settled. You lived in town and farmed out in the country. It helped foster a sense of community.

Although we drove through Gunnison, which is where my Grandma Christensen was from, Dad didn't know too much about it. It was too far away to visit often. I thought it was too bad. I would have liked to learn more about my grandma's youth.


After driving all through Richfield (it didn't take that long, Richfield isn't that big), we went to the Fremont Indian museum. It turned out to be the highlight of the day! When I asked Janica about her favorite part, she told me it was going to the alien museum. I'm pretty sure she meant indian since I don't remember seeing the aliens.



We went to the museum first and saw a bunch of artifacts that had been found when I-70 was being built in 1987-88. Apparently, they found a large settlement with houses, cooking utensils, graineries to store food, weapons, and so forth. The Indians lived there from 400 to 1300 AD. From what I understand, historians don't know where they came from or where they went.

What we liked the best were the petroglyphs. We took several hikes (they were short and easy) around the museum looking at the carvings that had been left on the rocks. We had a great time!

Here is my Dad standing next to some petroglyphs. Yes we were supposed to stay on the path, but Tegan and Janica were having difficulties finding them, so Dad was kind enough to break the rules and show them to us.

Here we are hiking up the side of the mountain. There was a path and many rocks to climb up. You don't see Kierra in this picture, but she is right in front of me, climbing with us. Well I am lifting her from rock to rock, but it was really too steep for me to try to carry her. I don't think my Mom would have liked us falling on her!

Whew! Here we are at the summit. Apparently this is where the indians stood to look for enemies, food and to survey their crops. All we saw was the freeway and museum. My how times have changed!

Here is Grandpa climbing down into a pithouse. This is where the Fremont Indians lived. They built their homes in the ground and used ladders to climb in and out. It is most likely because the houses were built in the ground that they weren't found for so long!

Not to be outdone, Tegan had to climb down too...

Closely followed by Janica...

And Kierra. Those girls will follow their brother anywhere!

Here is my Dad climbing back out. After careful consideration, my parents decided to keep their house in Layton and not try to live like the Fremont Indians. Maybe it was the firepit in the middle of the floor, maybe the lack of closet space. I'm not sure. What I do know is that we did take them back to their house at the end of the day.

This is called Indian blanket.

I think this is supposed to tell a story. I don't know what the story really is, but please feel free to make-up one for yourself.

This is what we looked like most of the time looking at the petroglyphs. We had maps and guides from the museum to help us find them. Dad was saying that he must of driven up and down that canyon hundreds of times and never noticed the drawings at all. I'm sure he wasn't the only one.

Here is Kierra in what is obviously a blocked off area. Of course she is so cute that I had to take a picture. What else could I do?

If any of you are in the area, I really recommend going to the museum and looking at the petroglyphs. It is amazing! There are over 500 drawings in the canyon and we saw a very small fraction of them. It is incredible how well they have been preserved. Do yourself a favor and don't miss it!