We have two apps in the Apple iTunes App Store!!!!

After many hours of learning and work during nights and weekends (yes, cutting into valuable XBOX Live gaming time) the following apps are now live!

The first app called, "Pashto" teaches phrases of friendship in a major language of Afghanistan to help people prepare to make friends in the target language.



The other app is a new LDS Trivia game for the iPhone. It's challenging and fun for all age groups and knowledge levels, great for a family night activity.

Day Eleven: Mormon Handcart Visitor's Center

On day eleven, we went to the Mormon handcart visitor's center in Alcova Wyoming. This is where Martin's cove is. Martin's cove is where the Martin and Willey handcart companies got stranded due to lack of supplies and bad weather. I didn't know quite what to expect before we got there. It turned out to be so much more fun than I thought it would.

We first saw a movie that was taken from the journal of a 13-year-old boy who was one of the handcart pioneers. It talked about how his family struggled and how he found his father dead one morning. He also spoke of the joy they felt when they realized that the Lord had answered their prayers and sent rescuers. I think it really hit home for JR since he is so close in age. It was easy for him to put himself in that boy's shoes.

After that, we got to push some empty handcarts around a small gravel track. The kids loved it and even raced around with each other in their handcarts. I was amazed at how difficult it was to push a handcart for such a short distance! After just having run a marathon, I think it is safe to say I am in good shape. And yet, it was difficult to push the cart less than a quarter of a mile. I cannot imagine how hard it would be to push it 20 miles a day over much more difficult terrain.

Even Joe got to see how tough it is.

After the handcarts, we went into the Sweetwater museum. That is the ranch that was built several years later. The memorial is also set up to remember the family that lived there for so many years. The kids enjoyed seeing all of the antiques and hearing the stories. Sam enjoyed climbing all over everything.

Wild Ham!

In the blacksmith's shop they told a fun story about a prairie diamond and made one for each of the kids. It is a nail for a horse shoe that is bent into a ring. The kids got a kick out of that.

After that, Joe was too wild and out of control so we decided to get going and finish our trip to Utah. Of course, we had to stop by the stream so JR could see if there was any trout.

On our way out, we had a really good talk about all of the sacrifices the early pioneers made. We talked about how many babies died in the two handcart companies. It was really sad for the kids. JR asked me if I would do it knowing that I would loose our sweet Sammy. I told him that those pioneers left having faith that God would take care of them. Even when they lost those precious little ones, they knew God was watching over them and He would make it all right. The end of the journey was not Utah, but with the Lord. I later found an article and shared it with the kids. These words describe perfectly why this was such a humbling, inspiring place:

“ ‘I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it.’ ” He continues: “ ‘I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.

“ ‘Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company.’ ” (Relief Society Magazine, Jan. 1948, p. 8.)

Day Ten: Bear Country USA

On day ten we went to Beat Country USA. It was AWESOME! You start by driving your car through a type of animal preserve. They have lots of big animals like elk, reindeer, wolves, mountain goats, mountain lions, and several others. It was really neat to see so many magnificent animals so close. Amazing does not do justice.

The best part of the drive, of course, is the bears. We were giggling, and squealing, and laughing the whole time we were driving through them. They were literally brushing up against our car. It was unbelievable to be so close to 500 pounds of possible destruction. I didn't need to be told twice to keep my windows down!

Baby arctic wolves. So cute!

Sam enjoying the drive.

Can you believe this?! It was crazy having them so close.

After the drive, we walked around a place they call Babyland. They had bear cubs as well as other small animals like skunks, badgers, bobcats, and other fun animals. It was delightful as well. They also had one big grizzly that waved to Joe. It was delightful!

They even had a fun little train to ride. It cost a little extra but it was worth it. As you can see from the pictures, Bear Country is wonderful. It was definitely at the top of our list. It was so fun to drive around the huge bears and see the other animals up close like we did. And to top it all off, we saw the perfect restaurant on the way to Wyoming. Unfortunately, it was closed so we will have to be back!

Day Nine: Mount Rushmore

On day nine we went to Mount Rushmore in beautiful South Dakota. Seriously, it was beautiful! I loved South Dakota. I told Brent maybe we should get a winter cabin there when we are rich. The moment you step out of your car, you are surrounded by the smell of pine trees. I loved it.

Mount Rushmore was not terribly interesting. You pretty much just look at the presidents' heads. It was nice but you can only be entertained for so long looking at heads. They had an Indian village set up but there was nothing to do there as well. It was just a few teepees. It was still fun to walk around and enjoy the sights. It is also nice to just take a slow day and just spend an hour or two then go back to the hotel.

Day Eight: Gavin's Point Fish Hatchery and Aquarium

On day eight we headed over to Gavin's Point fish hatchery and aquarium. I thought that this would be a bit boring and I only chose it because it was the only thing I could find at this particular stop in the trip. I tried to limit my driving to 400 miles max a day and there really wasn't anything else to do within that distance. I was completely wrong though because we loved it! The aquarium was pretty small and didn't have very interesting fish. That was fine with the kids because they still thought it was wonderful. The highlight was the toad that was on it's back dying. Morbid but fascinating.

After the aquarium, we bought some fish pellets and headed over to the fish hatchery. The kids got to feed some rainbow trout. There were so many that it looked like boiling water when they would eat. We even got to tag along with a tour and pet a pallid sturgeon. It is an endangered fish.

The fish hatchery and aquarium were much more fun than I ever imagined. Either that or we are easy to please. Everyone loved getting such a close up look at the fish. It was JR's favorite activity of the entire trip out. He was dying to throw a hook in there and catch a big old trout. To top it all off, Ruthie found a $20 bill on the ground. She returned it to the man doing the tour and after asking around he returned and said nobody claimed the money. So, she got to keep the money. She even agreed to share with her siblings. Too much fun for one day!

Day Seven: Niagara Cave

On day seven we decided to go to Niagara Cave in Harmony, MN. On our way back to our room after breakfast, though, we saw the pool. We decided we would have to do some swimming and get out a little late. The pool was just too fun.

We did finally get to the cave but I forgot to bring my camera in so I didn't get any pictures of the cave. It was really neat. They have a 60 foot waterfall in the middle of the cave. It makes your stomach hurt to look down from the top. I had to hold on extra tight for fear of loosing Sammy down the waterfall even though he was locked in tight. I'm a little neurotic about things like that.

After the tour of the falls the kids found some more gold panning to do. This time there were also some small shards of gems. Ruth was in heaven again.

While the big ones were panning for gold, the little ones played on the playground.

Even though day seven was a much slower day it was really nice. It was beautiful inside and out. We loved all the fun things we learned and had a great time playing and exploring.