Terra Cotta Warriors

This past Tuesday we went to the Bowers Museum to see the Tera Cotta Warriors. It was very interesting and fantastic exibhit! Heres a little information on the history of the warriors.

China’s first Emperor, Emperor Qin, was the king who united the country in 221 BC. He began the construction of the great wall and was obsessed with building. He was also obsessed with death. While taking potions to prolong his life (which potions contained mercury) he died at age 46. Before his death he build a standing army of soldiers to enforce his rule into the afterlife. Not only were there soldiers, in his tomb but all other things he needed to live life in the way he was accustomed. In 1974 a farmer digging a well found the first Terra Cotta head.

Learn more about the Terra Cotta warriors at
Bowers Museum or Travel China Guide

Mom and Dad are enjoying the museum with their new Terra Cotta friend.

Visit to Utah

On Friday we left for Utah. It was a really nice day so it was fun to drive. Before we got to Orem we visited Cove Fort. We drove all day and made it to Orem about 5:00. When we arrived in Orem first thing on the agenda was to visit with Lynda's missionaries. We stayed at Lynda's missionary friends' home. Saturday they went to their reunion and on Sunday we all went to church to hear her mission president's homecoming message. Heres Lynda with some of her missionary friends.

On Monday and Tuesday we visited with Gaye Strathearn a friend of our family. We all went to dinner with good friends we had not seen in a while Becky Low and Connie Clemons. On Tuesday we went to Cabellas. It was a very nice visit. Gaye is doing fantastic as usual.

Tuesday was a big day. We left Gaye's home and drove to Midway to Lynda's timeshare. It was a very nice place!! While we were their we found out that they had a crater with mineral water. It was 90 degrees. Jody went swimming and Lynda went snorkling.
Here is Jody walking into the crater.

This is where one checked in before the dive into the pool. This guy was very talented. He not only told you what the rules were in the crater but he could tell you how your camera worked.
The water was real nice to swim in. They had people that day getting licenced for their scuba diving.After our swim we hiked up to the top of the crater and looked down the top of the crater. Here is Lynda at the top.

On Thrusday we left Midway and headed for Bountiful to see our Sumbot Family. Uncle Bob and Donna Sue took us to see Bobby and Tamera and their family. It was a nice visit. They also took us up to a canyon in Bountiful. It was very beautiful with all the trees and a stream running throught it.


On Friday we went and took a tour of the conference center and went to the Salt Lake Temple with one of Lynda's missionary friends. Before we went to the temple we went to the Lion House for lunch. It was a cafeteria style place and the food was delicious! Here's Lynda at the conference center.




This is the Salt Lake Temple from the roof of the conference center.
Uncle Bob and Donna Sue also took us to Joyce Grove and Ralph Sumbot. They are Uncle Bob's brother and sister. It was a nice visit. It was so great to see them!

Once we left Uncle Bob's and Donna Sue's we went to Price, Utah and visited with some more of Lynda's missionary friends. We also visited with Terri Fawsett a girl Jody grew up with. On our way home we went to the Manti Temple and the cementary, which is right acrossed the street from the temple . We could not go on a session as it was closed for cleaning but we drove around. It has meaning for us because our gg grandfather Richard Hall was a stone cutter and helped build the temple. Richard Hall was barried in the cementary across from the temple.
So this was a trip in.... maybe two nutshells. We had a great time and enjoyed squishing as much things as we could into the time we had to travel.

Independence Day: Its been 232 years!

To celebrate our independence this year we attended a flag raising ceremony in the early morning. People were dressed un red,white, and blue with flags flying. David Drier and the mayors of LaVerne and Claremont attended. It was great to see all the veterans stand and represent the service they have rendered to the people of this country. We salute you!!!! We're all wearing Shanes Navy hats from a few of the ships he has served on. Jody, Lynda, Dad, and Mom Smiles Everyone!