Sparks Haven: Michael's Visit, Part 2

Michael got to stay with us a whole week, so we got to show him a lot of our favorite places. These 3 photos were at the park in our neighborhood.

Getting ready to go on a hike to the Rim Trail on Memorial Day. We all carried our own snacks, water and hats, and a jacket for Michael in case it got chilly.

Look how TALL the trees were there!

Michael could find the prickly pear cactus, and would tell HoneyBear to stay away from them, so she wouldn't get hurt.

This is where HoneyBear sat while we ate our picnic on the rocks you see below.

Michael is good at climbing!

HoneyBear decided to get cool and get a drink at the same time in the creek.

Looking off the edge of the cliff. You can see forever almost!

Fun with binoculars!

Yep, that's where we were! Look, HoneyBear is dry already!

Michael and Grandpa Bill worked outside in our yard and garden a lot. This morning, it was pretty cool, so Michael got to wear Grandpa's real army shirt for a work jacket. They are both wearing a hat and "work gloves", too.

One day, Grandma Diane and Michael went to the library, and got some books and movies. One book Michael found was a Star Wars craft book. We decided to make the Wampa! Grandma Diane drew on the felt, and Michael was very careful as he cut out the mouth and the teeth.

While Grandma Diane was sewing the washcloth parts, Michael rearranged a pin cushion. There, that looks better, doesn't it?!

Michael did some of the sewing, and Grandma Diane did some of the sewing. It took a few days to finish it.

Ta-dah! The Wampa is finished! In case you don't remember, a Wampa is the monster that hung Luke Skywalker upside-down in his cave. However, THIS Wampa has changed to the good side, and helps protect people from other bad guys. It was fun making it together!

Michael moved the footstool to this spot, because he said it would be a good place to take a photo of him and his Wampa. He has good ideas!

Time to make zucchini muffins! Michael did a LOT of stirring!

One day we got to visit the bus barn, where they park all the school busses for Show Low. We got to go inside the bus that Grandpa Bill drives during the school year! It sure is big!

See ya later!

Then we drove to Snowflake, to walk around the Snowflake Temple. It was a beautiful, windy day!

Nope, we don't baptize people in there. There is a special place inside the Temple where they do that. When you are 12, you can go inside and do baptisms for your ancestors.

A lavender bush, like the one in our backyard.

Behind the Temple, there is a pretty place to take pictures.

A lizard! Can you see it?

That lizard was pretty fast! Faster than Michael even!

A leaf from the Temple grounds!

We stopped to watch this dump truck for a while . The dirt pile it was making was GIGANTIC!!!

Then we had lunch in Snowflake Park, where Michael played with these 2 new friends.

Cool Karate moves!

Then, a little miracle occurred, or at least WE think so: Michael had been asking what an elk looks like, because there are so many signs around our town saying to watch for them. Well, next to the highway, in a field, was a small herd of elk!!! It is unusual to see them in the daytime, and usually they are running away. This little herd was just calmly eating grass, in the daytime!!! Bill turned the car around and parked so we could watch them. We watched a long time, maybe 15 or 20 minutes, until they began to walk back into the trees and bushes. They didn't have any antlers, as the time for losing their antlers was just over, plus they may have been younger elk. What a privilege to get to see some of Heavenly Father's noble creatures!!!