After cleaning and straightening up the house, we drove up to Murray to a park near Grandpa Smith and Aunt Marie’s home. The extended Smith family was holding a reunion gathering and luncheon. We arrived in time to see several cousins, Grandpa Smith and Aunt Marie.
The boys enjoyed playing on the playground and rolling down the hills. James worked on some requirements for the Athlete activity badge in Webelos. Benjamin, Samuel and Anthony also enjoyed running around the park and helping shag loose soccer balls as two teams prepared for a game.
After playing at the park we drove to Grandpa Smith’s home and had a nice visit. LaReita, Marie and the boys picked some peaches. The boys played with the bats, balls and cars while the adults visited. We signed a large poster that showed the family connections though Grandpa Smith’s grandpa.
After a nice visit we drove up State Street to the Greek Festival in Salt Lake City. It is held at the Greek Orthodox Church on 200 South and about 300 West.
We were able to tour a beautiful church with amazing stained glass windows built in 1924. The boys were intrigued with both the adult baptismal font and baby “font” which looked like a large metal vase, both of which were in the front corner of the chapel.
The boys also liked looking at the kneeling benches, decorative woodwork, stone pillars and the choir loft above and behind the main chapel area. It was very different compared to the stark somewhat less decorative chapels in LDS churches.
We walked outside and went to look at the displays, smell the delicious foods cooking and mingle with the 100s of people in attendance. We watched some Greek dancers on a stage and went out back to see the carnival rides. The boys were able to do one ride each.
Samuel and Benjamin choose to go in an inflatable bouncing tent. James and Anthony choose the bungee stretch where they were harnessed to a bungee chord and tried to make it from one end to the other. We then went to try out some of the great food.
We purchased two lamb dinners with feta cheese, Mediterranean olives, Greek salad and a dinner roll. We found a table and began eating. LaReita then went to purchase some bottles of water, a gyro, some baklava and other Greek pastries. Samuel really liked the Feta cheese! Benjamin finally tried some, but didn’t like it so much. Anthony…well, he ate all the dessert that looked/tasted like scones. Think he did try at least one bite of lamb.
As we were eating James took a few bites of the gyro and said “I still don’t like them, but this is the best gyro I’ve ever had!” Later after trying some more Greek food he said he hopes he gets called to go to Greece on his mission.
James played a dart game on the Midway and won a poster that says “No Parents Allowed”. He says he is going to hang it on his door. Then Anthony, Benjamin and Samuel wanted to play a game. They won a small stuffed animal and some dragon and eagle tattoos.
Jacob also really liked the feta cheese with the cucumber and tomato. He has very grown-up tastes for a 10 month old!
As we were leaving Samuel decided he wanted to do one more thing, we insisted on leaving and he threw a massive tantrum. David had to carry him kicking, hitting and screaming out of the festival and to the car.
We got all the boys loaded and headed home tired but well fed.
