Pioneer Day Picnic

Mom wanted to take us for a picnic this summer, so this Friday we loaded up our cars and headed for the canyon! Even though it was Pioneer Day, Randy had to work, so it was Mom, Mandy, Xander, Misha the dog, me, Ellen, Sarah and Will. Mom did most of the work, bringing a basket and giant cooler full of food. We brought the Oreos, which were also important! And Will brought his Launchpad to show Xander.

The Launchpad is this cool toy I got him for his birthday. It's like a little air pump idea, where you put a foam rocket on the launcher and then it has an inflated foot pedal that you stomp on, pushing the air up and into the rocket, which sends it up into the air. Will and I have both played with it, and it is a lot of fun. You can even angle the the direction the rockets travel, to send them straight up or to see how far you can make them go. And they go really far. The first time Will used it he immediately got a rocket stuck on the roof. So we only use it at the baseball field now.

But at the park, there was a nice little area to let Xander give it a try. He was so funny! He saw Will do it, and he thought he had it all figured out. First, he got a running start and then jumped hard on the pedal. But since he only weighs about 45 pounds, he didn't jump nearly as hard as Will did. Then once he got a running start and completely missed the pedal! That was pretty funny. And once he launched the rocket only to have it land on his head! I wish I could have videotaped it, because it was fun.

We finally ate most of the food and got too hot to play, so we left, just about the time everyone else seemed to be headed up the canyon. Then we had a mellow night at home. But I did see a pioneer day quote I wanted to share.

"I have been privileged to see the Lord’s hand at work across the world. While we honor those pioneers who walked across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley, there are far more pioneers living today. They don’t push handcarts, but they are exactly the same in so many ways: They have heard the voice of the Lord through the Book of Mormon and through their personal prayers. With faith and repentance they have stepped into the waters of baptism and firmly planted their feet in the rich gospel soil. As disciples of Christ, they have been willing to sacrifice for what is right and true. And with the gift of the Holy Ghost, they are holding steady in their course toward eternal life. ”

Elder Neil L. Andersen