MEMORIAL DAY . . .

In my family growing up, we never did much for Memorial Day, but in the Cole family, it is a BIG DEAL. It's the one holiday of the year besides Thanksgiving and Christmas that everyone is guaranteed to be there. In fact, it is actually a two-day event. On Sunday, everyone drives up to Preston, ID to a little cemetery called Fairview that you'd only find if you knew exactly where to look, where Mike's dad's ancestors were buried. We're talking from his grandparents, all the way back to Moroni Pratt, who is Parley P. Pratt's son. The interesting thing is, the day of Mike's and my first date, I had attended a funeral for my uncle who passed away from cancer, who was buried in that exact cemetery. So it's really neat to be able to go visit both mine and Mike's relatives there. After Fairview, we all drive down to Logan and have a picnic at the park, and then we walk across the street to a free little zoo. The kids love it, and it's a fun tradition to look forward to every year. Then on Monday, everyone (even extended family) meet in South Ogden to visit Mike's mom's parents' graves, after which we all go to Mike's parents' home and have a big family BBQ. Memorial Day weekend has really become something that I look forward to. It's a time to think on the things that our forebears have done for us: the sacrifices, and the traditions and values that they have laid out for us to follow.

Aiva at the Logan zoo

Aiva with Grandma Margaret and cousins Abby, Courtney, and Sammy

Our family at the South Ogden Cemetery

Fairview Cemetery

Parley P. Pratt is Mike's great-great-great-great (not sure how many "greats") grandpa. This is his son Moroni's tombstone, the line that Mike's family descends from.

Aiva and Mommy

Aiva and Daddy

This peacock was at the little zoo we went to in Logan.