On Saturday June 3rd
Mom and Karen arrived here in Nauvoo .... late !
On Sunday June 4th
Pam & Rod and Roger & Kim arrived.
Trudi, George & Family came down from
Davenport on Sunday to see everyone.
I don't think mom had ever seen
Morgan or Cora and it had been a very long
time since she had seen Charlotte.
We took this opportunity to ....
snap this 4 generation picture .... love it !
That afternoon Karen wanted to walk over to the
Brick Yard and took Charlotte & Wyatt with her.
The Lucy Mack Smith Home is right across
the street from the Brick Yard so they
decided to do a tour there while they were at it.
We had a busy few days as these pictures will
show .... in no particular order !
In Burlington, Iowa (about 45 minutes north)
there is a street called "Snake Alley"
It is much like Lombard Street in San Francisco,
but claims to be more turns in a shorter
distance thus making "Snake Alley" the
crookedest street.
After navigating Snake Alley we went to dinner
at "the Big Muddy" right down on the
Mississippi River.
We loved having mom with us for a few days,
It was Wonderful !
On Sunday evenings the YPM's do a series of
vignettes along the Trail of Hope.
So around 8:30 we all lined up down by the
Seventy's Hall and prepared to listen to
the stories of those pioneers that lined up on
Parley Street and waited their turn to
cross the Mississippi River to a yet unknown new home.
We borrowed a wheel chair so mom wouldn't have
to walk and these three handsome guys,
just like the pioneers, helped
push & pull her along .....granted it wasn't a
handcart, but it was probably just as hard.
At the end of Parley Street there is a memorial
honoring those saints that died before
completing the journey west.
Moms Great Grandmother,
Charlotte Rudland Dansie and her baby son Joseph
were among those names.
Of course you just can't miss going
to see the nightly show
"Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo"
at the Historic Cultural Hall
We were able to perform our vignette,
Thomas & Elizabeth
for them...we did a good job and everyone loved it !
At the Family Living Center
Steve was able to show off his newly found talent
as a Weaver and ....
rope maker.
Everyone gets to be a part of his rope tour !
Linda was working at the Lucy Mack Smith Home
and was able to do a tour there for the family.
would you believe these are THE
steepest stairs in Nauvoo.
She was also able to join some of the family
for tours of the ....
John Taylor Home and ....
the Post Office/Dry Goods Store where mom
got to wear a yoke of water buckets.
A Wagon Ride is a must here in Nauvoo
so off they went
with Sister Lindeburg as their
Wagon Narrator.
Looks like mom is having a good time
on the horse drawn wagon.
Each afternoon the YPM's perform a
75 minute show entitled
"The Promise"
It is a lively portrayal of Nauvoo life back
in the 1840's
with lots of singing and dancing.
It's a love story and bears testimony of the
Book of Mormon as a non-member
lumberman becomes converted while doing
business with the saints in Nauvoo.
One of the best places to visit here
isn't even in Nauvoo.
It is about 30 minutes south in Carthage.
We all gathered around "The Martyrdom"
statue of Joseph & Hyrum after
going on the tour of Carthage Jail
and listening to the account of how these
men gave their lives in defense of the restored Gospel
and the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.
Mom thought it was fun that all the trash
cans in both Carthage and Nauvoo are
encircled with a little white
picket fence.
Once you've been on a Wagon ride you just
have to take a ride on the
Carriage too.
(Karen, Mom, Linda, Pam)
Here we had just finished a peaceful ride
through the countryside listening
to inspirational stories.
Karen & Mom stayed one day longer than
the others so we decided to see if we
could find all the property that
our ancestors owned here in Nauvoo.
We found them all !
This piece of land is just down the street
from the Temple and right across the street
from where Parley P. Pratt lived.
It belonged to Nicholas T. Silcock
Mom's Great Grandfather.
On Wednesday, June 14th
our kids and grand kids began arriving.
What fun we were going to have
visiting the sites, going to shows, playing
at Pioneer Pastimes and watching
grandma and grandpa perform on the stage !
We took lots of pictures.....
way too many to post in our blog so
here are a few that will help everyone
remember their time in Nauvoo.
A group picture at the Scovill Bakery ....
are you ready for a tasty gingerbread cookie?
"Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo"
It was fun watching grandma & grandpa
perform in the show and especially their
Thomas & Elizabeth vignette and
listening to grandma play the piano for the show.
Let's all go for a horse drawn Wagon Ride !
There's our Wagon !
Everyone had a good time at the
Family Living Center
Grandpa telling everyone all about weaving ....
He also let them help make a rope
Spin the big wheel Sienna
(twist the individual strands together)
Spin the small wheel Connor and
work the "spider" Jetta & Crew
Camrynn whips the ends of the rope so it
doesn't fall apart .... very important !
The Dads (Matt & Kevin) cut the rope
free from the machine and
Crew catches it in the middle !
A little bit of Root Beer from the
Red Brick Store .... nothing better than that !
We had to make time to meet the horses just before
taking a peaceful ....
Carriage Ride !
Connor loved the ride and ....
all of the cousins loved petting the horses.
(Jetta, Camrynn, Sienna, Connor & Crew)
Early one morning, before the sites opened, we
headed for Carthage and arrived just
as they were opening up.
The tour took us first to a theater in the
visitor's center where we heard an
overview of the restoration and viewed a
short video by Jeffery R. Holland.
then we went into the Jail itself where we were
given a little bit of history about the Jail.
Up the original staircase ....
the same one the mobs charged up ...
and into the ....
Dungeon Cell - without a flash
Dungeon Cell - with a flash
Last of all we went into the Martyrdom Room.
Where they told us about the events of
June 27, 1844
This is the upstairs window Joseph fell from when
he was shot by the mob.
This statue by Dee Jay Bawden is a favorite
place for a Photo Op.
Carthage is always a special place where,
if you have a desire, you will feel
a very strong spirit.
Joseph & Hyrum believed the Gospel
with all their hearts and were
willing to give their lives in defense of their
testimonies ... We are grateful for their sacrifice.
In Nauvoo, on special occasions,
the Sister's might have worn a fancy bonnet.
Grandma actually made one and each of
the girls wanted to try it on along
with the matching cape and handbag.
Sienna
Camrynn
Jetta
We couldn't let the family leave without visiting
the Oxen and going on an ....
Ox Wagon Ride !
We even learned how to give commands to the oxen.
Come Up - move forward
G - turn right
Haw - turn left
Easy - slow down
Whoa - Stop
During their visit we celebrated
Grandpa's Birthday and Father's Day.
For his birthday grandpa gave out presents !
A Personalized brick and a little,
made by grandpa in the Blacksmith Shop,
horseshoe for everyone!
It was a nice sunny day when we decided to drive
down the old river road and let the kids
play on the beach of the Mighty Mississippi River.
It took everyone just a few minutes to notice ....
Shells .... and lots of them buried in the sand.
At one time digging for clams was a booming business
along the Mississippi. From the clam shells
they made beautiful mother of pearl buttons.
Camrynn enjoying the river's edge
climbing over all the driftwood along the shore and
still .... searching for shells !
Some got a little more involved than others ...
Crew LOVED the water !
Debbi & Jen enjoying a beautiful day
by the Mississippi River
Matt's family stayed at a Hotel in Keokuk ....
it had a pool .....
we all went swimming ....
(almost all)
Debbi, Sienna, Connor, Crew
Lots of splashing was involved
even some swim lessons
jumping was also involved
and cheering on the next jumper
Ever heard of "flying fish" ?
Sienna tried being one !
Jetta and Camrynn enjoyed the hot tub
Debbi did a great job of keeping the boys from
drowning themselves
Look out everyone .... here comes another
flying fish .... named Connor !
Just having fun together
After a fun time in the pool everyone went
to bed and didn't have any trouble
falling to sleep .... or .... staying asleep !
Just like the family last week, we had to attend
a performance of ....
"The Promise"
Camyrnn, Debbi, Jetta, Matt, Sienna & Jen
Grandpa, Crew, Kevin & Connor
(Grandma .... taking the pictures)
The Cast ... It was, as always, a great show !
About dusk is when the fireflies begin to
come out ....
Kevin, Crew, Debbi & Connor catching fireflies
Kevin & Debbi
Grandma found some little jars for Connor & Crew
so they could see them "glowing" up close
One day during the week ...
Debbi, Jetta & Matt went up to the
Nauvoo Temple and did some Baptisms
for a few of their ancestors.
(Matt did the Baptizing)
Who could imagine being a Pioneer would
be so much fun !
At Pioneer Pastimes kids (and grown-ups)
get to play pioneer games.
Connor, Crew & Sienna all dressed up and
lookin' good as pioneer children ....
did you walk, and walk, and walk, and walk?
Even the pioneer children went to school
Connor, Crew & Sienna
Yee Haw Connor !
Sienna must have been out in her garden
gathering fruits and vegetables.
Of course we spent one evening up at the
outdoor stage watching
"Sunset By The Mississippi"
Grandma & Grandpa were in the show and
performed their best for the family.
On Sunday, Father's Day, we were able to spend time together.
We all went to the Missionaries 7:50 a.m.
Sacrament Meeting.
After the block we had a nice Father's Day dinner
and then drove up by the temple.
Crew, Kevin & Connor
Debbi & Crew
Connor, Sienna, Crew
(Debbi Photo-bombing)
Camrynn Photo-bombing
Crew & Connor
"I'll Go Inside Someday"
Debbi & Jetta
The whole family
Aren't we happy to know that
Families Can be Together Forever !
We also went for a walk down to the ....
Stone Arch Bridge
(the kids were hoping to see some snakes)
but it wasn't to be .... so sad
On Sunday evening we attended the
Trail of Hope Performance.
Waiting in line for our turn.
(we are not allowed to take pictures of the)
performances
After finishing the trail we continued on down
Parley Street to the River,
The sun was setting and it was getting dark
but we managed a few pictures.
Camrynn, Jen, Jetta, Matt, Sienna
Kevin with Connor & Crew
Debbi, Kevin Linda, Steve, Matt
Camrynn
Earlier we went to the Women's Garden and
Each of the grand-kids picked out their
favorite statue to have their picture taken with.
Camrynn, Sienna, Debbi
lovely ladies
Crew & Connor - future Priesthood bearers
Lani, Sydney, Crew & Connor, Kevin
(the boys thought this would be fun)
Jetta - such a cutie
Connor, Crew, Sienna - crazy kids
Camrynn - so pretty
Linda, Camrynn, Sienna, Jen, Jetta, Debbi
Debbi, Kevin & the boys stayed one day longer than
Matt's family so we did some souvenir
shopping. Among other things,
Connor got a pocket knife with a bottle opener in it
so he had to try it out on a bottle of
Red Brick Store Root Beer.
Across the street from the Temple is a little
pioneer village .... The boys tried
pulling this little handcart.
An old Civil War Cannon down in
Keokuk, Iowa
Mississippi River Lock #19 at Keokuk, Iowa
Lunch at McDonald's in Keokuk, Iowa
A little exercising with Debbi
Some fun and games with Debbi
Joseph's favorite game "Stick Pull"
Crew, Connor and other boys challenging
Elder Larsen
Another fun game Elder Larsen taught
Connor & Crew
Last, but surely not least, the boys joined
the YPM's for the "Orchestra" song.
Connor & Crew helped Elder Larsen
in the "HORN" section.
We had so much fun with everyone. It was a
wonderful week. We missed having the
Lansford's with us but we were thinking about
you as you traveled to your new home in
Vancouver, Washington.
We will all get together again soon!
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