Memorial Day Weekend

We had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  Memorial Day was a beautiful day and so we let the kids have fun playing in the water. 

Then that night we had a little campout where we let the kids set up the tent and told stories and had a lot of fun playing in tent.  Then we ordered some yummy food and had a little picnic in the backyard.  Unfortunately it started storming that night so we weren’t able to actually have a camp out.. so hopefully sometime soon we can have an actual campout in the backyard!

This year we didn’t make it to visit the cemeteries until a couple of days after memorial day.  We were sad that Paul had to work and wasn’t able to come with us this year.  But I am grateful that I was able to take the boys.   First we went to the the Mountain View Estates in Cottonwood Heights.  This is where Paul’s brother Robert and his half brother TJ, and our niece Jordan is buried.  Robert and his daughter Jordan share the same headstone and it is absolutely beautiful. 

This cemetery is definitely one of our favorites.  It is so big and beautiful and taken care of so well.  I could just wander and wander around it all day.  The boys loved wandering around as well.  Just a relaxing and beautiful place.

Next we went to visit the Elysian Burial Gardens in Millcreek.  This is where my Grandpa Haslam is buried along with my Uncle Craig (who just died a couple of months before).  I also have my Great Grandparents, Great Great Grandparents, numerous great uncles and aunts, etc. buried there.  Here the boys are bringing balloons and flowers to my Grandpas and uncles grave.   

Sitting by Their Great Grandpa Haslams grave.

We have had a tradition for the last couple of years to bring some single flowers to run around the cemetery and put on the graves that don’t have any flowers on them.  The boys love this!

I love visiting the cemeteries and teaching my children about their ancestors.  I love telling them stories about my Grandpa and those other family members that I remember. I need to make it a goal to get to the beautiful cemeteries more often.  Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day.

Syttende Mai

May 17th is Norwegian Independence Day.  Every year we celebrate it by attending a celebration at the International Peace Gardens in SLC.  We love it.  It is so important to me that my children learn about and will hopefully grow to love Norwegian traditions and culture.  The kids love marching in the parade.  This year it was raining so we didn’t get very many pictures, but we still had a great time.  And the rain was perfect since it rains all of the time in Norway.

But our absolute most favorite part is definitely eating the Norwegian hotdogs wrapped in a potato pancake bread (Polse med lompe) and drinking solo (an amazing orange soda pop).  It is so delicious. Thinking about it makes my mouth water.  We look forward to eating these all year long. 

That evening we had our family over for a Norwegian dinner.  I have my Grandmothers (Solveig’s.. but we called her Mish) recipe book.  I decided to make three of her cakes that I remember her making.  I made her blote kake (cream cake), her Rom Kake (Rum cake), and her Eple Kake (Apple cake).  They didn’t even come close to tasting as good as hers tasted, but it was fun to see her handwriting on the recipes and trying to make something I remember her making.  I miss her so much and wish she could have been with us this day.  So grateful for all of the memories we have of her.

My Mom bought this cute little shirt for Owen that says ‘Lil Norsk’ (Little Norwegian) and I thought it was so cute so I had to take some pictures of him in it for 17th May!   Thanks Mama!

GRATULERER MED SYTTENDE MAI!!!  HAPPY 17TH OF MAY