Spring Break

Being a teacher is awesome. Have I mentioned that before? Not only do I love what I do, I get a spring break. Jealous? You should be. This spring break was particularly awesome for two reasons: one, my parents and two little sisters came to visit. And two, General Conference.
It was so fun to have my family come and visit. Michael was working all week, so before I knew that they were coming, I wasn't looking forward to sitting at home alone. When they told me they were coming, it made my week off that much brighter.
The weather was still quite cold, but my parents wanted to take the girls to Temple Square for General Conference. We didn't have tickets, but it is simply a whole new experience to be on Temple Square. We watched one session from the Tabernacle and one in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.
On Monday we went to the "This is the Place" Monument. I'm slightly embarrassed to admit this, seeing as how I am a Utah History teacher, but this was my first visit. I loved it! We took a train tour and I would tell my parents all these random  facts that I had learned that year about 30 seconds before the tour guide... I should have given the tour! Just kidding. I like my job.
The train didn't take us clear up the hill, but one of the objectives of our visit was to see the Ashby Dugout. It was neat, and crazy to think that people lived happily in those conditions.
We were a little sad to see a whole bunch of signs and advertisements for the baby animal week that was starting on that Wednesday--but were pleasantly surprised to have accidentally walked into the exhibit which was getting set up early. The animals were adorable and I might have even called Michael to ask if I could buy a baby duck. (I was kidding--mostly.)
On Tuesday we had the crazy experience to go to the new City Creek Mall in Salt Lake. It was crowded but awesome. My little sisters (12 and 17) were in love. They spent about 2 hours in the Forever 21 store. I was bored, but it was fun to watch them have so much fun and help them try on clothes that I wish I was buying.
They then left to California to visit my brother's family, and Michael got a surprise day off so I was well taken care of and busy for the first half of my break--and then was able to recover before I had to go back to work.
Here are some pictures for your perusal...

The Creek at City Creek Mall

Sky Bridge on Sunday

My cute family (Michael is playing photographer)

Ashbys in front of the Ashby Dugout

Baby Quail. They are about the size of the tip of your thumb. So cute.

Hannah's favorite. It would wag it's tail like a pig. 

Chicks!

Turkeys!

Ducklings!

Emma with the ducklings.

Emo cow

I'm a desendant of both Lewis Barney and Thomas Bingham. This is the plaque for the members of the Mormon Battalion.