Scott and Sue Family

and we went on a surprise trip, something that we hadn't ever really done before. Mark and Brian knew that the trip was going to part of our Christmas this year, but didn't know where we were going or what we were going to do. Everything was revealed on Christmas morning (despite attempts by Brian to find out, saying "Does it start with F and end in L-O-R-I-D-A?").

So on the 27th of December, after Mark had his doctor and dentist appointments in preparation for turning in his missionary application to serve a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we left to drive down to Las Vegas to see the 9:30 show of Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian. Set in a $40 million theater built exclusively for the show, Phantom was an amazing show. From the music to the theater to the sets, it was well worth seeing.

After sleeping in the next morning, we headed to St. George, Utah, where we went to see National Treasure:Book of Secrets. After the movie and dinner, we headed out to Springdale (which is just outside the west entrance to Zion National Park. There we stayed at the Bumbleberry Inn. We had hoped to be able to sample bumbleberry pie and bumbleberry pancakes, but unfortunately, the resturant was closed.

Saturday morning we got up, had breakfast, and then headed to Jacob's Ranch in Virgin, UT where went on a horseback adventure ride. To quote Jack,

"This is not your typically nose-to-butt ride where you just sit on an old nag who knows the way and you don't have to do anything."

He was right! We each got the opportunity to know our horse and for our horse to get to know us, working with them in a round corral until they followed each of us around like puppy dogs. After grooming and getting the horse saddled, we took off into the surrounding area. We went through streams, up and down hills, saw the first oil well in Utah, old pioneer rock fences and much more. This was a first for us as none of us had ever really been on a horse for an extended period of time. We got to ride for 90 minutes and had a great time.

After riding horses, we headed over to Zion National Park to do some hiking. After visiting it several times in the summer, it was different to be able to hike in cooler temperatures and see the ice on the canyon walls.

Sunday, before heading back to Alpine, we took some time to visit some of the cemeteries in the area.

Some of Scott's ancestors helped settle southern Utah and some are buried in the Rockville cemetery. They include John and Clarinda Langston, and their daughter Mary Emma Langston, who married Alfred Fisk Stout. Mary Emma Langston was actually born in Alpine, the same town that we now live in (although it's changed a bit since then).

Also buried in the Rockville cemetery is Alfred Joseph Stout, an ancestor who came across the plains with the Mormon pioneers.

We also visited Grafton, Utah, which is now a ghost town. My grandfather has many memories and stories of visiting relatives there. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid was filmed here, although the house that they built for the movie is no longer there (although I do have pictures somewhere of that house).

Grafton used to be a bit of a hidden secret, known mostly to descendants and locals, I suppose, but it is now being restored by the Grafton Heritage Partnership Project and appeared to be attracting a bit more traffic than in previous visits.

We also went to the cemetery in Hurricane, Utah, and then headed back to Alpine, driving through one of the many snow storms we have had this winter. Monday (Dec. 31) was the last day of our vacation, as we went to see three different movies (and they were very different!):

We highly recommend all of them, "August Rush" if you like music, "I Am Legend" if you like thrillers or science fiction, and "Enchanted" if you like the Disney stories, or have kids.

We had a great trip and a great time and lots of fun. We hope you had an enjoyable Christmas as well!