Nauvoo

Nauvoo was a really cool place! We didn't do a whole lot while we were there.   Most things were over the kids' heads. They were bored listening to the 20 minute tours at each place, so we mostly walked around the town and pointed things out to them, giving them our own tour. 

Here they are waiting to see the printing press for the newspaper.

When most people found out we were only there for the afternoon, they sent us away to go find more interesting things to see like the blacksmith and the brickyard. I was impressed with the kids' listening. Especially Landon! We went to one station with candle making. They thought they were going to actually make candles there. But it was just a demonstration. When we got done Landon was playing outside and was excited because he had "found a smooth stick! Now he just needed to find a rock and he could make a candle!"

We got to the blacksmith and had to wait for the next tour.  So they kids played around outside waiting!

Landon was bored the entire time! "What's next mom? What's next??!" He couldn't wait for some hands on activity! He was thrilled when they started playing with fire to make a horseshoe! 

Madilyn and Landon in the shoot for shoeing oxen!

Outside the tour for the brick yard! This one was dad's request!! He went to Nauvoo durring the temple open house. There were so many people there that they couldn't keep up with the production of the bricks. He's always been jealous that I had a brick and had never been! He had to go back and get one too!!

The best part of the whole day was being able to throw rocks in the river!! This was at the end of the trail of hope where the saints crossed on the exodus to the west.

Here we are on a barge used to take the wagons across the river.

We thought the kids would appreciate an oxen ride or a ride around town best, but by the time we decided that they were done for the day. The afternoons get too hot for the animals.  We walked around the visitors center a little.

We went and saw Joseph's grave.

And his actual home. We didn't tour any if it. It was an hour long tour and Ron was in the car with sleeping Payden. (He does NOT sleep in the car! The whole trip he slept maybe 4 hours both ways. In the two minute drive to the other side of old Nauvoo he crashed!!)

Before we left, I wanted to take the kids and walk around the temple. They were not happy! They were too hot and too tired! Once we got out, they didn't want to leave, they wanted to "discover" things! (Their word for explore.)

It's amazing how tall and beautiful it is in person! Pictures just don't give it justice!!

<sorry, I can't remember who the statues are of!!>

I was disappointed. The kids seemed to be bored out of their minds the whole entire time. It didn't mean as much for them as it did for me. I think we will go back again when they are all older and can appreciate being there. So I am really surprised that they still talk about being there and how neat it was!!

When we got to the hotel that night, Landon started emptying his pockets.  I asked him what he was doing. "I got wocks fwom the lake, I mean the wiver for my collection!" I had no idea he had stuffed his pockets full of rocks!! 

And Mr. Payden would not lay down and go to sleep!! He was too busy talking out the window!!

We finally made it home the next day! We were all exhausted! It's taken a week for even me to catch up on sleep! I can't seem to get myself out of bed before 8:30!! Hopefully that changes soon!! We had a great trip!! It was really nice to get away and spend time together!