Grand Mesa and the Colorado National Monument were not exciting enough for Levi because he didn’t see enough animals. Eye Roll. So we stopped in Provo on our way up to Salt Lake City to visit the Bean Life Science Museum at BYU which is stuffed with animals. (Pun Intended). He saw lions and tigers and bears and alligators and eagles and giraffes and…..you get the idea.
We went to a live animal presentation and Levi had his hand in the air literally the whole time so he could answer every question. I was torn between embarrassment and pride.
I had to tear the kids away from the museum so we could make it to temple square that afternoon. We have rushed through temple square in the past, but I wanted to spend some time there this time. I never get tired of looking at this beautiful temple.
We wandered through City Creek Mall afterwards because…….Levi wanted to find some animals. He remembered the fish pond from last time! Most people go to the mall to shop. Not my kid.
As we left Salt Lake headed to Alli’s house, Levi noticed that we took the freeway ramp marked “To Las Vegas” and asked incredulously, “Are we going to Las Vegas?!” I said yes, assuming that he would know I was joking. About five minutes later he pipes up from the back seat, “Are we going to eat in Las Vegas?”
Rather than eating in Las Vegas, we ate at our favorite place, Pizza Pie Cafe. While there, I took Liberty into the bathroom. I was almost done when I realized Liberty hadn’t gone into a stall so I called out her name and asked what she was doing? She sheepishly answered, “I’m dancing to the music.” I’m telling you, this girl dances literally everywhere she goes.
After dinner I tried to show the kids where Rock and I got engaged in Provo, but due to a pretty hefty thunder storm and the growing darkness I couldn’t find my way up to the spot. When we got back to Alli’s house her roommates were having a party and invited my kiddos to play Catch Phrase. My two social butterflies joined in happily, not caring that they were the youngest by far or that they didn’t know anyone.
Finally it was bedtime. Liberty loved sleeping in Alli’s purple mummy bag.
The next day we headed home by way of every temple I could easily stop at.
Draper
Jordan River
Bountiful
Brigham City
And that was our whirlwind trip to Utah and Colorado this summer.
Short n Sweet 
I believe it was middle school student Kama Dawn Hymas, who, when we were driving through Yelm, Washington, asked, \”Why would anyone want to live here? They don't even have a mall!??\”
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In the lower grades, some kids dance before they go to the restroom, isn't that how you teachers know they need to go? Shout out a big thank you to those teachers who warn their substitute teachers, \”If Billy says he needs to go, he really needs to go.\” Please do not reply to me on gmail.
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You did that same temple route and pictures with me when I came to Utah for the first time. Granted half of those temples didn’t exist then.
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