Nauvoo

For the latter part of spring break, we headed down to Nauvoo with our friends, the Birds. In the chaos of leaving, I forgot my camera, so thanks to Kori for these pictures. We got to stay in a beautiful lodge together and the kids had a great time playing together. One of Andrew's highlights was a random cat that they found. The cat would come and lay on people's laps and was extremely affectionate. Much to Chris' dismay, 2 of our children are now begging for a cat.

In the family learning center we learned what the pioneers would do. They learned about baking bread in brick ovens, making candles, weaving and creating yarn, and making rope. Here, Braxton, Emma and Hailey are learning how to wind rope. Poor Hailey got her hair stuck in the rope and we had some tears, but overall it was a good learning experience.

We were able to take a horse drawn carriage ride and got to learn all of the interesting things in Nauvoo. We got to see all of the homes, the temple, see the Mississippi, and get an appreciation for the early Saints.

This is the "wishing well" (as Hailey kept calling it) outside of the home that Joseph and Emma Smith lived in. It was pretty deep.

Learning weaving at the family history center.

Learning at the little school house. They got to write on the slates, and no one got paddled.

In the evening, the missionary couples put on a show called "Rendezvous" which was fabulous. Here are the kids sitting on the stage before it began. All of the missionaries were so friendly to us and were so happy to be on their missions! It made me think of my own parents.

Sitting in the wagon outside of the lodge that we stayed in. Wonderful lodging!

Before we headed home, we stopped by Carthage to see the jail where Joseph and Hyrum were killed. It is the building behind us. We had a wonderful trip with a renewed sense of gratitude for the early Saints. What hardship they endured and what amazing faith they possessed.

Hailey and Emma on the wagon ride. What cute friends.

More cousins pictures

I just wanted to post a couple more random pictures from when my sister was here.

Paul sitting on a tank at Cantigny. They loved climbing all over the tanks. Grant wanted us to open the hatch and let him climb in. He wasn't thrilled when I told him that it was locked.

Sweet Sammi is just all girl. She's polite, gentle, she listens to others and worries about other people. She quickly realized that she had to adapt in order to fit in with Grant. She was so good at playing chase, making bombing Lego planes, and wrestling. Here they are wrestling with Sammi in her beautiful dress.

Checking out the big cannon at the tank park.

In the Cantingy museum: Paul is listening to the movie on the phones. All the kids were cracking me up by using 2 phones.

Alyssa playing in the water at the Museum of Science and Industry.

More fun on the tanks.

Two cute cousins at the museum.

We are so glad that they came and can't wait to see them again. If Cory's guilt trip on me works, it will be in Colorado in the summer.

Cousin visit

My sister and her family are visiting and I thought I'd post a few pictures of the things we've been doing.

Sammi and Grant checking out a mummy at the Field museum.

All the cousins (minus Paul who was crying) before church.

Paul and Alyssa sitting on a truck. Paul was so cute trying to snuggle with Alyssa, and she wasn't so excited about having his arm around her.

Andrew was trying to get ready for school and make his lunch. Sammi and Paul wouldn't let go of him. It was so funny.

Paul, Sammi and Grant sitting on a coffin by the mummy exhibit in the Field Museum.

Checking out the adobe house.

Paul helping Andrew practice piano.

We went down to the river and the kids found some shells in the water. They were busy using sticks to fish them out. We came home with a bunch of them. (I've been quietly throwing them in the trash-they stink).

Grant at the Children's Museum-air is blowing up in his face. I just love this shot.

Lincoln Park Zoo

My sister, Cory, is in town for 2 weeks with her family and we've been having so much fun. We headed to Lincoln Park Zoo today and thought that I'd quickly post a couple of pictures.

Alyssa is watching the jaguar pace in it's cage. She was totally enthralled. I was ASTOUNDED that she stayed in her stroller for the entire trip. So awesome!

The otters were swimming up on the glass and then doing back flips. Paul was loving them and Grant thought they were cool too.

In every zoo I've gone to, the lions are asleep. Today, we got to see the male lion pacing right in front of us. He looked fairly menacing. We also got to hear him and the female roaring. It was so amazing.

With the Chicago skyline behind us.

Sammi is so funny. She refuses to smile in pictures. So, this was our lunch break and I told her that she had to pay for her lunch by smiling in the picture. This was the result. :)

Isn't he precious? Paul was "sleeping" with this angelic smile on his face. What a cutie.

All Boy!

I bought some groceries and had put them by my stairs so that I could take them downstairs. Later that day, I heard Grant playing by himself and came to check out what he was doing. He had found the ketchup and was pretending they were "guys" and having them bash each other and attack each other. I was fairly disturbed by this, but also realized that I was glad he could use his imagination!

An organizer?

We have been calling Alyssa "the hurricane" because she's at that fun age where she makes a mess and then runs to make the next mess. It's constant destruction. Yesterday, I decided to let her begin to empty my pantry and see what she did. She started lining up the boxes and when I asked her to help me clean up, she put everything back where it belonged. I'm wondering if she is really just an organizer, and not a hurricane??? Or maybe she just knew I needed a break yesterday. :)

Thanks Aunt Stacy!

My sister, Stacy, just sent this cute outfit to Alyssa. She is quite the dancer, so she'll be getting down in it soon.