August 17th 2008 - BEAUTIFUL NAUVOO

We LOVED our holiday to Nauvoo. I knew it was going to be a great trip....I just wasn't expecting HOW AMAZINGLY GREAT it really was. Here are a few (hundred) photos. I'm sure this will clog this blogger network but considering we came home with around 400 pictures, this is a drop in the bucket. We took pics of everything....but I'm just going to share a tiny bit of the fun things we did and saw..... Here's us about 4 hours into the trip. Looking pretty happy back there still!! I prepared myself with a little "surprise bag" and every couple hours or so, we'd open up something else fun to do.

This was also one of the days along the way. We were stuck in construction on and off one day and here Dane was actually quite content to stay in his car seat cause he got to watch these "mighty machines" go back and forth for about 15 minutes while we waited for our turn to go....

Also, along the way we took a little detour and went into Sturgis. We noticed about 6 hours away from Sturgis that there were sure a lot of bikers on the road. By the time we were 2 hours away, we were quite the minority on the road....a lone mini-van surrounded by bikers. My Dad used to always talk about "one day" going to Sturgis....so I just had to drive through this little town and snap pictures out the window. I suppose it's a bikers dream to see thousands...literally THOUSANDS of bikes all at once. So it just so happened that this particular day of our journey was right in the middle of the Annual World Famous Sturgis weekend. These pictures don't do it justice....but Chad, you can come to our house sometime and scroll through all the photos I took and go to Sturgis vicariously through us!

There were vender's and tents everywhere. I got TONS of dirty looks cause we were the only vehicle going down the roads which were quite squishy cause each side and middle of the road were lined with bikes! Had I have had the courage, it would have been great to get out and take a picture of the rows and rows of bikes.

one of them wore helmets. I guess it's not the law there. Apparently bikers craniums become stronger in South Dakota or something??????? They all have these special waves they give each other. On the road before we got to Sturgis, we noticed how the bikers gave a special "wave" to other fellow bikers. I guess to say "hi...I'm cool too". At first I didn't know what they were doing and then figured out it was a cool wave they were giving. I then learned, you actually had to drive a bike...not a Toyota Sienna, to deserve such a cool wave. And at the hotel we stayed at in Wall (about 2 hours away) bikers in the parking lot got complimentary towels on their bikes that next morning and they were all out shining up their bikes. I rolled my eyes over and over.....at all the hype...and signs everywhere that read "Bikers Welcome". Even on church signs. It's crazy, over board and totally ridiculous...even physco....Chad, you would have fit in perfectly there! Quite the contrast to visit Sturgis....on our way to the beautiful city of Nauvoo.

Here we are arriving in Keystone just about an hour or more outside of Sturgis. Sturgis just kind of exploded into all the surrounding towns and areas.

We went to Mount Rushmore. It was so amazing. Loved it!

Went on a little hike around the front of the mountain. Dane caught a little nap.

Had to take a picture of this Drug store... "WALL DRUG" cause we only counted 37 billboards (and that's just when we decided to start counting them so there are more than that!!) prior to entering the town of Wall that advertised this place. One of the billboards even said it's been featured on the Tonight Show....

When we arrived in Siouxx Falls, we went to a Fair. It was lots of fun to walk around but terribly disappointing to our children when we wouldn't let them play all the games and ride all the rides. When did Fairs become so expensive? Total rip off!!! They loved the petting zoo we went to and it was also fun to watch the 4H kids display their animals. We got to see Wilbur(s). It was just like Charlottes Web! Lots of pics of that but I forgot to upload them. That ride into Nauvoo was filled with SO much suspense and excitement....... Here's Dane meeting Grandma for the first time! Too sweet! I love this shot.

I especially LOVED the Woman's Garden. It was beautiful with all the monuments and at night, it was equally if not more peaceful and beautiful. I would have loved to have spent more quiet time here!!! So glad to have individual shots and the accompanying scriptures that went with all the monuments in this garden.

Dane dropped his toy and Brooklyn was trying to give it to this little girl statue. So glad Kendall got a shot of it. Now why can't she share that well with "real" children.

We were lucky to have Grandma give us a Carriage Ride. I love how Mya is gazing back at her Grandma here. We all loved watching them serve as Missionaries and sharing stories and testimonies!! So special.

One of the kids favorite places to visit was Pioneer Pastimes. Basically where "a kid can be a (pioneer) kid".

Yup. That's our boy in the pretty pink and purple stroller and playing with that cute dolly!

This is Rendezvous. We loved the little acts which were acted out by the Senior Missionaries. We totally got a feel for what life was like in Nauvoo. We also loved watching them perform in "Sunset". It's amazing to see all these missionaries perform and sing and dance....but mostly amazing to watch our very own missionaries up on stage!!! Here's Lizzy....or rather, Grandma and Grandpa in their special part they act and sing together in Rendezvous.

Our kids LOVED this show!!!!!!!!!!!!

After Sunset on Thursday and Rendezvous on the Friday, we went to the Pageant. We were so lucky to be able to hit the pageant before it ended. This was huge. Awesome. Brookie and Mya both fell asleep (it started at 8:30 and went to about 10 ?) but I'm glad Ava could see it. When the lights go on the Temple at the end and it just GLOWS and they play the recording of President Hinckley speaking... oh..... just so amazing I cant even describe it!!!! Here we are enjoying some of the MANY pre show activities before the Pageant begins.

Bean bag toss into little town buildings.....

One day we drove through Quincy. I loved the memorial here. I learned so much more about this special place and the role they played so long ago.....

We also went to Hannibal where Mark Twain grew up and went through Museums. What a fun day to spend the PD day with Grandma and Grandpa. On Sunday we went to Church where our very own President Hardy conducted the Sacrament Meeting. Afterwards Kendall and I took the kids over to the Temple for some pictures. The Temple was the highlight of the trip for Kendall and I. Everything about it was BEAUTIFULLY BREATHTAKING!!! I could go on and on....but I'm trying hard to be brief here (believe it or not!) Thank you Mom for watching the kids for us so that we could attend!!!!!!

We were able to get a shot of this butterfly. They are huge and so colorful there. Our girls were constantly getting distracted on walks and taking off after these butterflies.

After that, we went to Carthage. Again.....this was such an amazing part of our trip. One of the most spiritual experiences our entire family has been able to share all together. Loved to see that my children (even the tiny ones) felt the spirit there!!! I'm definitely not going to let our children forget this experience. Kendall was invited to share his testimony at the end of the tour. Amazing for our family to be there and share in the special spirit of this place.

This is one of the many shots Kendall took inside the buildings. This one was in the Scoville Bakery.

The girls enjoying playing with Grandma. It was so great to see them and relax a little with them in their sweet apartment. Home is really wherever they are!!!!! We were very much at home in that apartment!!!

We have missed their hugs......

Nothing like getitng loves from Grandma and Grandpa.....

Just liked this photo of these two.

One of the plays we got to watch.... High Hopes and River Boats. Quite the amazing group of Young Performing Missionaries. 10/10 on the Awesome Scale.

Kendall and his mom in the Brigham Young Home. She was serving there this day and we enjoyed her tour.

Brooklyn always ran up to the home trying to beat the rest of us hoping there was a "ding bell" as she calls it...to ring. Sadly there were no "ding bells" for her to ring. She said one day when we rode past the Mansion Home "I go push the ding bell on that house?", " No Brooklyn, Joseph Smith's house didn't have a ding bell"... "Oh, maybe Jesus has a ding bell on his house"? Too sweet.

Kendall enjoyed the Browning Gunshop and the demonstration on how guns were made back then.

Here we are on an Oxen Ride.

Kids had fun with Gabe and Gary...the oxen.

Even Brooklyn warmed up once she saw how friendly they were. They were HUGE!

Us in front of Joseph Smith's home.... the Mansion House

Again, more pics. from pioneer pastimes. Brooklyn would be destraught when we'd leave. And she had to have the same dress each time we went. I used to cross my fingers as we'd pull up, and hope that another little child wasn't wearing "her" special dress or it would mean more tears!

What a cute little pioneer hey! Tipping his hat at the ladies!

Love Ava and this shot of her carrying her yoke!!!

Hmmm...guess who lost in this stick pull......

The boys.....

Just so many cool things in the buildings we went in. Really amazing how they've restored Nauvoo to really give you a good picture of what it was like back then.

Here's the crew in front of a small section of the prairie grass. You can see how tall it would grow!!!

Here's a frog that Kendall caught in the root cellar of the Brigham Young home. Grandma was serving here this day!! Fitting for Ava to be so interested in this picture...seeing as how she actually ate "frog legs" (but only after seeing that Grandpa do it first) at a buffet we ate at when we were in Quincy.

Handsome prince..... (Dane that is....not the frog!!)

We loved watching this group perform one night. They were from BYU and it was a group of about 10 men who sing accupella. LOVED LOVED LOVED it. I think they have a website where you can hear a bit of what they are like!

They performed on the outside stage and it was such a treat to be able to watch them. Again, blown away at the talent we saw!!!

Loved this tour where we learned about how the wheels were made! Sure made me shrink a little in my seat as I compared my mode of transportation to those pioneers. To think I was uncomfortable at times on our trip out here!!!! Impressed at how families were so involved in helping to prepare all the wagons!!!

Cute puppet show put on before the play Just Plain Anna Amanda! Darling little play about being happy with who you are and not trying to be like anyone else!!! Our girls LOVED it.

Like this shot of Kendall and the kids with the Temple in the background. Reminds me of the scripture which invites us to come unto Christ..... and we shall thrist no more!!!!!!!

Went back to the Temple one day.... the gates were unlocked and the kids could get a little closer.

Usually when Brooklyn goes chasing after birdies, they are long gone before she can get close but this one kept a little distance but let her get quite close. She loved it.

One day we did a Pioneer Handcart Trek. It was about 2 hours long. Such a special experience as well.

This trek was tender as we read about sacrifices made...and it broke my heart to read of children being burried along the trail.

Nothing like being hot, and stinky to really make you appreciate things like running water and air conditioning. It was so hot this day....Kendall was drenched when he took that back pack off and we all had a good laugh when we then looked at Dane and his legs were also drenched from resting on his back. I like this shot with the Temple through the trees.

It was HARDER than I thought it would be. Awesome to read the little entries from Journals that were fastened to waterprood canisters on trees along the way. Totally added to the whole experience. One was about a 6 year old boy who went missing along the way. Happy in the end but very sad story. We were all touched by that story as we considered our own little 6 year old, Mya, and how that might have felt if we were to have lost her.

Us in front of Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store.

ust inside, upstairs, is where the first Relief Society was formed and held. Here's Ava and Mya in that special room.

There are corn fields everywhere down there. We past so much corn along the way...and learned that most of it is used for Ethanol....not eating!

Our sweet Brookie Lan!

Grandpa practising with a few of the Young Performing Missionaries as they rehearsed for their part in Sunset the next night. This was our last night....so we'd miss this Sunset performance but we were happy we got to sit in and watch the practise.

Here we are on the Trail of Hope. I wanted to do this last of all. It was a perfect way to end our perfect time in Nauvoo.

Here are 2 of the 3 names of our ancestors who made the Exodus.

Sunset on the Mississippi.

Brooklyn sharing her seat with Grandma. She thought she was being so thoughtful sharing 1/2 a seat for Grandma.

If you look close, you'll see a tiny light in the left upper part of this picture. It's a fire fly. Kendall sat one night trying to get a picture of one. Looks like he succeeded. It was so cool to see fire flies each night. Wish we had more time to try and catch some.

We loved Nauvoo and I know we'll return one day. As we go there to honor the Saint.... you feel of their spirit so strong!! It's amazing. Thank you Mom and Dad for making this the best holiday our family has ever gone on. One we will always cherish. On our way home....we stayed at this hotel with the coolest waterpark.

I'm afraid for this dive... Kendall would have scored pretty porely on his entry here! Luckily he NAILS it when it comes to being the BEST DAD!!!

Our last day we were in Billings, Montana. We were driving home this day and while in Nauvoo, a couple we talked to told us about the Temple here so we made sure we went to it before we left.