I started this post some months ago (still probably about a year late). I think I'm going to leave it sketchy in order to have it documented.
Last April we took our first family vacation that wasn't to see family. We didn't originally plan to make it a church history trip, but since moving here [Tulsa] I had said that I would like us to go to Nauvoo because we would be within driving distance. I didn't want to miss that chance. What worked out really well is that we also wanted to go to the Kansas City Temple open house! We were able to combine the two trips into one. We stayed three nights in each place and had a great time. The kids loved it. I am so grateful we were able to take that trip so that we can look back on it. It may be a little bit before we get our next family vacation, so it's nice to have something the kids remember for now!
Lots of pictures:
Anne sleeping on the way to Kansas City, MO.
In the Independence Visitor's Center.
This was a fun place. It is right across from the Community of Christ (former RLDS) temple. We also went there briefly to look at their little history museum (they did not have the map that included the trail the "Brighamites" took to Salt Lake City that I saw when I came with my family some years ago) and their big worship area.
Side Note: We had to run back to the Visitor's Center the next day because I had dropped my work phone there. A senior missionary called my mom (she's almost always one of my most recent calls on that phone) and she got in touch with me about it. That was a real blessing to not lose that. The bad thing is that I didn't even notice it was gone!
This wagon was a favorite.
He's a regular pioneer!
Anne just loved all the chairs!
Can't pass up the opportunity for a family picture with the Christus.
The only picture from the picnic lunch we had at a park not too far from the visitor's center.
While at this park we also saw some firemen doing some training/practice of getting someone up from the bottom of a hill. It was pretty neat to watch.
Finishing up dinner leftovers (immediately upon getting back to the hotel!).
Ready for bed!
It was really neat to be able to take the kids through the temple and teach them some things. I am not sure how much they will remember, but we are grateful to have the chance to do that.
We are looking forward to having a chance to take them to the Indianapolis Temple as well!
At the church next to the temple.
In front of the temple.
After the temple we went straight to Liberty Jail.
The kids have watched the Doctrine and Covenants scripture story DVDs quite a bit and we have talked a lot about some of the church history. It was really neat to be able to show them where some of those things happened.
On our way to Nauvoo, we decided to go a little out of the way to see Adam Ondi Ahman. It was beautiful!
It was worth going a little out of our way.
Our first night in Nauvoo we saw Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo. The kids loved it!! We ended up going back the next night.
Trying on the costume hats after. This one had Lilia looking so grown-up.
This was back during my running days and I ended up going on a five or six mile run that Saturday morning. It kind-of hard to see, but that's a goose sitting in an elevated container. I thought that was so funny, but then I found out those are there on purpose for nesting spots away from predators.
Love the goslings.
From the carriage ride.
Upstairs from the theater. I wish I could remember what happened in this room. Something neat, I am sure.
Must check out the out-house.
Making a rope.
Elder and Sister Grygla.
Elder Grygla helped us make the rope earlier this day and we chatted with his wife and him after the Saturday show. It turns out Elder Grygla is retired from LDS Family Services and knows my dad! Kind-of fun to run into people like that. My dad has been in the LDSFS system for over 30 years and has met a lot of people in that time.
Sunday morning walking back after church.
by Benny.
by a nice passer-by.
Carthange jail Sunday afternoon.
Joseph, Emma, and Hyrum's burial place.
Elder and Sister Madsen who had previously served in the North Carolina Raleigh mission with Spencer's parents.
This is roughly the location some ancestors of Spencer's lived in Nauvoo. That was neat to discover.
Learning how to make candles.
more chairs!
Getting ready to leave the Nauvoo Cottage. It was a fun little place and we are so glad it worked out to stay there. There was plenty of space for us.
We were all worn out and ready for home!
This was such a great trip! We are so glad it worked out. The funny thing is that after we had it all booked, we found out we'd be living in Indiana - closer to Nauvoo than Tulsa is! During our time here we would like to go again. As wonderful as going off-season was (a good deal on lodging and the whole place to ourselves!), I would love the chance to take the kids during the summer when we can do the pioneer games section. Hopefully that works out.
