Thursday night we realized that this weekend was the last one for the Manti Pageant. We had talked a lot about going, but never actually planned it. So we put off planning it until Friday morning when Nate and I decided "what the heck, why not". We have been a few times with our family over the years, and I went quite a bit when I was younger, so it's a little bit of a tradition and that alone makes it worth seeing :). I'll admit it's not my favorite production, but the whole road trip feel of it, going a distance, staying up late, driving till your eyes droop, just makes it a fun thing to do! We had a lot of fun driving there, which I must say is quite the feat considering the lack of radio/dvd player, and air conditioning. I am really proud of our kids for putting up with all of that over the last couple of years and really making very little complaints. Sometimes I feel bad about not getting it fixed sooner for their sakes, but at the same time, we're teaching them to be tolerant I think :). They know how to do without, that is for sure! We didn't have to do without treats though :) A road trip is not a road trip until you have beef jerky and snacks! And that we did. Charity insisted that we call it the "Mormon Miracle Pageant" when she learned it wasn't really called the Manti Pageant. Kelly blushed and sighed everytime we mentioned the Angel Moroni. Yes, she is still in love with him. She says, "at least he was a prophet!" True. Brad kept track of how long it was going to take to get there. Luke was bummed that we were not sitting in the blanket section, but we learned that that isn't the best of ideas last time, when we had to watch the pageant from the side. Not as cool. But he warmed up to the idea quickly. Noah LOVED the fire part! All the boys did actually. Who knew it could be so cool! Erika was such a good girl on the drive down. Slept a lot. She wasn't however, a fan of the show. That may be an understatement. She drove me crazy through the first 3/4 of it and then Nate took her out for a walk and drink til the end. I enjoyed the last quarter of the show the most. No offense to Erika. Actually, I noticed a few changes this year. They got rid of the eerie music during the part when Robert (I think that's his name) dies and his wife's spirit comes back to get him. And what a great change that was!!! Made a world of difference! I think I even cried! It was much happier music, and a much lighter feel. That's how I picture it. Not eerie and spooky like it was before. They ended it differently as well. It seemed like it ended early. But it was a beautiful ending as always, with the angels and they point up to the angel moroni standing up on the top of the temple with his robe blowing in the wind.... I do love that part! It was nice. I loved that the kids did so well through the whole thing. It wasn't til the very end that there were some spats about who knows what, and that was irritating, but I had to remind myself how well they had done with the whole trip and not get too mad. We had met up with Nate's boss from Equity there, his family was out of town and he was down visiting a ward member in the gunnison jail, so he sat with us. That was fun to see him again. I think he was my favorite boss of Nate's. I still think our idea to take the Manwaring's big duffle bag (that they wouldn't let me give back to them) with all the blankets and such is our best idea for the Manti Pageant. This was the second time, and it just works so well. We didn't lose any shoes. Unlike 8 years ago when we took our two little girls. I love traditions. Hopefully they don't ever quit doing it and we can keep it up!
I miss the old days when it was mostly blankets.
Nate took the girls to go get some ice cream.... Kelly had been drooling over the Mango ice cream of the people's in front of us the entire time Nate was off taking pictures of the sunset/temple, so as soon as he got back, they were gone! While they were gone, Noah let me take lots of pictures of him. We tried doing all different facial expressions.... they're kinda the same, blurry, and include bloody nose crusties.... but cute anyway :)
Brad and Luke paused their game long enough to smile :)
probably should have wiped his face or something huh.....
"I think we went to the wrong ice cream stand because they didn't have any Mango!"
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