Handcart Days

My kids have never been in Utah for Pioneer Day before.

I love the pioneers. I love the values of hard work, righteous living, industry and self sufficiency that they exemplified. I love the hard, yet simple lives they led and the faith that they exercised that made it all possible. I am deeply grateful for the sacrifices that they made which years later benefit me. I wanted my kids to really become aware of the pioneers - who they were and why I love them - during our whole trip.

Since Pioneer Day is new to them, I wanted to have a great day - and we did. We started the day before (July 23rd) at Handcart Days in Bountiful. Rebekah wasn't with us, but several cousins were. Lots of fun was had by all.

Warning; this may be a mega-post. Actually, many about our trip may be. I guess that's where you pay the price for the fact that I also use this blog as a family journal.

We started with morning chores - many hands make light work ...

... or is that many streaks?

Then - off to Handcart Days.
When we arrived, they all had pony rides.
Jane, who loves horses and babies, was thrilled to be on a "baby pony."

Kate

Emily & McKinlay.

Jacob (who seemed a little concerned at the disobedience of his steed.)

OK, I'm pretty sure that the Pioneers didn't face paint - but what fun anyway!
Emily - deciding what do be.

She settled on a snake.

Jacob asked to be a thunderbolt & storm.

Credit to the face painter, who managed to come up with something for him.

After seeing Emily's, Jane asked for a "purple baby snake."

She was delighted with it!

Alex got a dragon (since the face painter didn't know what the Harry Potter dark mark was.)

Kate the tiger.

Ethan asked to only be a "half tiger."

Cute Sam was happy to just watch.

This picture is not the best of all of them - but the best of the 10 or so I took. There was pretty much no way to get all 7 of them looking at me & showing their painting at the same time!! No wonder we took so few family photo's when I was a kid.

They all had turns riding in, and pushing a hand cart.

Then all had turns with this little wagon too.

We stopped for lunch and then the traditional Pioneer fare of cotton candy (fairy floss) and snow cones .... oh well, it was yummy, if not authentic.

Then on to rock painting.

Jane LOVED this and we had to drag her away when the others were all done.
She just kept adding layer after layer of paint to hers.

Jacob & Ethan chose sand art over the rock painting.

Next on the agenda - traditional pioneer games.

Jacob's ladder.

Not sure what this is called, but when you rub the grooves with a stick the propeller at the end twirls - Jake thought it was great.

Pecking chickens - swing the ball underneath, or just do it Jane's way and use your fingers.

Clothespin ladder.

Spinning tops.

The games were followed by sawing a log. Much harder work than it looks.

Then a branding demonstration on the piece of wood they'd cut off (thankfully not on an animal.)

To wrap up, they got the story of "prairie diamonds" and each had one made for them.

They were surprisingly interested in how it was made.

Tired and happy we all went home to revel in the blessing of air conditioning and have dinner. Emily, Kate & McKinlay had a girl cousin sleep-over and had fun with their American Girl dolls.

Such a great start to our vacation and Utah time!