My new favorite word: Skedoosh.

We went and saw Kung Fu Panda and I was very pleasantly suprised. It was a pretty ghetto theater, they didn't accept anything but cash, but had an atm that charged $3 to get cash. Lame-o . But the movie was awesome definitely one we will own. I honestly wouldn't even mind seeing it again in the theater, and I NEVER do that. So, if you have a free Saturday, go and hit the matinee. Daniel loved it, but did "play kung fu" for the next couple of days. You've been warned.

So I guess I should add some text to this? :/ While we were in Nauvoo we saw the most beautiful flowers ever. I think they're some kind of peony, but I'm not sure. Can anyone tell me what they are? (you can email me the answer if you want to, I've noticed that people are a little shy in replying on here. ;) I still love ya. The kids all loved going swimming at the hotels. I just thought my neice looked too stylin' in her swimming getup.

We went to the family living center and learned how to make rope. It was pretty cool, we even got to keep some.

We took a horse drawn carriage ride around historic Nauvoo. Daniel was interested for about 5 minutes, and then he was a little terror. It rained all day and the ride was freezing, but it was definitely worth it. They made a play area for the kids, which I think was a brilliant idea. They had old fashioned games and little play houses that were outfitted in period furnishings. We couldn't tear Daniel away from the slate boards. I think Becca did eventually get up onto the stilts, I know Bryan finally did, but he had to bend down to hold them right, so he was about the same height on them as off! Bryan was also really good at "chasing" the hoops. I don't know how else to explain it, there's a metal hoop and they have a stick to guide it with....After all the cool things we'd seen, I think the boys had the most fun with the water fountain. Seriously kids, the water fountain? Why did we bring you? ;)We went to the blacksmith/ wheelwright shop and Daniel was awarded the coveted horse shoe that they make in their demonstration. The boys really liked inspecting the well at Brigham Young's house, I was really glad they had put a metal grate over it not to far down.

OK. I am still alive! Sorry it's been a while. I'll finish up our Nauvoo trip and then get on with our life!

Our first evening there Bryan stayed behind to study (the studious boy that he is....) One of our first stops was the Mississippi River. I cannot believe how big it is! To think that so many people walked across it on the ice just astounds me. That took guts. (and a lot of faith)

Of course the little boys much preferred to throw rocks into the river, I kept having to tell Daniel to get smaller rocks, one time He grabbed a huge stick (more like a tree limb) that must have been 7 feet long and tried to throw it in. It didn't go very far, but it was sure funny to watch my little man try. Check out the rock in his hand, he's in heaven.

I loved this statue they have next to the river, it's of Joseph Smith pointing the way the to Brigham Young. Behind the statue is a building with a memorial wall with the names of all the saints that left Nauvoo but never made it to Salt Lake City. I was pretty sad to see how many people died on the way. One of my ancestors was on the wall (Jeremiah Leavitt) and it just reminded me of, not only how much he sacrificed, but how hard it must have been for his wife to press on with 13 children to care for herself.

(This photo is of my sister and her family, and a cute little Daniel for good measure.)

The temple is by far the most beautiful part of it all. It is on top of the hill and surrounded by green. I just love that the church has been able to restore what the pioneers had worked so hard for and lost.

I don't know why I like this photo, I just do, it's of my sister trying to figure out how to use my tripod for the first time. We were photography nerds together, until I broke her brand new camera that is. Really? You say. Yep. Brand spankin' new camera that I destroyed. Tell you about it later. (got to stay in chronological order so I don't confuse my overtaxed mind. The other day I turned and asked Bryan, "What state is Michigan in?" Yeah. I'm that special)