The Kabobs of Perfection (and Other Weekend Adventures)

We had a great weekend recently.  We went with some friends to Manti for the Manti Pageant and then up Ephraim Canyon for camping.  It was great to have a little break from our regular routines.

I always love the drive into the small town of Manti.  The first building that greets you is the gorgeous Manti Temple.  It sits at the top of a small hill, majestically standing sentinel.  

 

The whole weekend was memorable.  I had never been to the pageant before so it was fun to see it and enjoy it with my family.  Camping ended up being awesome.  The night was cold but once we all got settled in, we slept really well.  On the way home we stopped in Fairview, a little blip on the map, and did some shopping.  There is a feeling of "small town charm" in those out-of-the-way shops that can't be duplicated.  

I would feel especially remiss if I didn't mention the chocolate covered strawberry kabobs we discovered before the pageant began.  (They will be referred to as the "Kabobs of Perfection" or the "Kabobs from Heaven" from now on.)   They were made by a vendor on the main street in Manti, she drizzled each of the plump berries with white and milk chocolate.  As if that wasn't tasty enough, she also had some kabobs with chocolate covered cheesecake bites (be still my heart) along with the whole strawberries.  For only five dollars (and a trip to Manti) a "Kabob of Perfection" can be yours too.  

I'd better stop talking about it now, there's drool all over my keyboard.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Downtown

It doesn't matter when or why we are going, but every time we go downtown I can't help singing.  Exiting the freeway at 400 South a hum bubbles out of my closed lips.  By the time the car approaches State Street, I'm singing in my full voice.

"When you're alone and life is making you lonely you can always go...."  I cast an expectant look in Kedar's direction,

"Downtown!" we chime together.

"When you've got worries all the noise and the hurry seem to help, I know,"  I throw a look into the back of the van, hoping to recruit the kids. 

"Downtown!" I continue, unfazed by their rolling eyes.

"Just listen to the music of the traffic in the cit-yyyy,"

"Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are prett-yyyy."

"How can you lose?" I ask dramatically.

"The lights are much brighter there," slowly building in a crescendo, I continue,

"You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares and go...." my big moment is coming!

"DOWNTOWN!" Now I'm singing with all the gusto I can muster.

"Things'll be great when you're DOWNTOWN!" The people in the cars near us are staring, I pay them no mind.

"No finer place before," I let my voice come down in a decrescendo.

"Downtown," finishing up, I whisper

"Everything's waiting for yoooou...."

I get mixed reviews from my captive audience.  Aubrey is giggling in her car seat.  Ethan hums a few bars himself.  Conner crosses his arms in front of his chest moodily, while Kedar gives a small, obligatory applause.   

Thus began our trip downtwon last Saturday.  Here's the photo recap:

From the top of the Church office building

Beautiful Salt Lake Temple

The Beehive House

Temple Square

We also spent some time at the Farmer's Market but I didn't get any pictures.  

The moral of the story?  When you've got worries all the the noise and the hurry seem to help, I know,  downtown.