Backyard Transformation Page

If you'd like to see the yard as it was built over the last 5 years just check out the new page at the top of my blog by clicking on Backyard Transformation. 

Carthage and Nauvoo

 We flew out to Indianapolis to visit with Roxanne and her family.  Grandma

and Grandpa came too.  We drove to Illinois to see Carthage and Nauvoo.

We stood in the jail cell and saw the jailer's living quarters 

including the bedroom where the Prophet Joseph was killed.  

 The bullet hole is still in the door. 

This is the window that the prophet fell from.  

We had fun working and playing as the pioneers did.  

Curtis and I were able to saw it off faster than the boys. 

No one got a picture, of course. 

Even I was able to take a few steps on the stilts. . . in my flip flops.

 

We loved the pageant and the other plays.  The traveling Brass Band 

was fun to hear as it went all through old and new Nauvoo. 

We learned about the YPM or Young Performing Missionaries 

who are called to serve for one summer.  

They must audition and only the best are chosen. 

We were able to attend the temple to do baptisms.  

It was a wonderful experience.

This monument is special, not only because it is of Joseph and Hyrum, but because 

that is my third great-grandfather's horse Joseph is riding. William Henrie and his wife, 

Myra Mayall, joined the church in Ohio and moved to join the Saints in Nauvoo, IL. 

They bought a farm next to Joseph Smith's. John Taylor came to William and asked 

if he could borrow one of his horses for Joseph to ride to Carthage Jail. The horse 

was returned, but of course, they did not see their beloved prophet again. 

(As posted on Lucky Seven. Thanks, Roxanne for the write up. . . it was perfect.)

This was the original ballroom floor that our ancestors actually danced on.

 Sunset over the Mississippi.

 This is the view the saints had looking back as 

they left Nauvoo down Parley Street.

Safari Park

 We went to The Safari Park in San Diego.  We loved the bird show.

This baby was nursing.  Did you know that female 

elephants are pregnant for 22 months?  Yikes.

We went to the beach with Jill, but it was pretty cold. 

We stacked stones making cairns.

n. A heap of stones piled up as a memorial or landmark.

Adam's was the tallest with 16 stones.

Surprise! Brooklyn Turns Five

We had most of the family including Grandma, and Gary's 

family at our home the last Saturday in June. 

Brooklyn's birthday was coming, so we had an 

impromptu surprise birthday party.

We even had cousins Alicia, Jake and Ryan over.  Brooklyn came in 

exhausted from having so much fun with Dainy. . . her favorite cousin.

She was pleasantly surprise and enjoyed her party.

Everyone pitched in with baking the cake, wrapping 

gifts and making kabobs for dinner.  

Happy Birthday, Brooklyn!  We can't believe you are 

five already and starting school this fall.

We love you!