Mormon Battalion

The Mormon Battalion marched into San Diego in 1847 and each year they commemorate their arrival with a big celebration in the heart of San Diego's Old Town. This was our second year attending, and again, like last year, we had a blast.

(First of all, can I just say that it is awesome that we can be outside having a great time in January.)

This year we were smart. We knew there was way too much fun to be had for a family with three little boys who get tired and cranky around lunch time to handle it all. So we picked our favorites from last year, stuck to them, and then headed home.

We cooked biscuits on a stick over a fire (this was everyone's very favorite part and the first thing we did when we got there). Now can I just mention that I thought it would be fun if our boys wore their vests and cowboy hat costumes they got for Christmas, you know-to at least sort of fit the theme. But instead, we ended up with 2 Batmans. Very Mormon Battalion like. You can't see Nathan in this picture, but he even had his Batman costume had complete with sticking up bat ears on for this. Oh well. At least my kids can never say we didn't let them express their individuality.

The other favorite part for the boys was the mock march. They became soldiers wielding guns, something mom never lets them do at home, and marched around Old Town to the beat of the drum.

Even Dallen got in on that action. Why are boys, even from such a young age, so obsessed with guns?

Other than that we sampled scones, made miniature bricks, made pioneer dolls, looked up an ancestor who was part of the Battalion, and listened to some stories. This is something we will look forward to each year as long as we are in San Diego.