Nauvoo, Illinois

I have really struggled choosing photos and starting this post.  It was truly an amazing experience for all of us but more than any other church site that I have been to did I really feel the spirit of the early saints.  Nauvoo Illinois is beautiful!  Driving along the Mississippi river and entering town  to look up and see this beautiful House of the Lord.  It is probably the most amazing Temple site of all the Temples. There are no major roads or freeways in site. And from most every point in the city you could look up to see the Temple.  What a place for the Saints to have built only to have to leave again only a short time later. 

“I stopped my carriage on the top of a rolling prairie and I had a splendid view. I could see the Saints pouring out & gathering like clouds from the hills and dales, grove and prairie with their teams, wagons, flocks and herds by hundreds and thousands as it were until it looked like the movement of a great nation.”  Wilford Woodruff, 1846

I could truly envision what Wilford Woodruff recounted.

 The oxen pulled cart was much smaller and narrower than I had envisioned of what went Westward.  There was just one bench on the side for us to fit and Matt's long legs couldn't be stretched.  Of course it wouldn't have mattered because Matt would have been walking! If you ask the kids their favorite part of the visit, it was the ox wagon ride.

 Carthage Jail.  The family is standing beneath the window Joseph and Hyrum fell through.  To know of the kindness of the jailer was a new part of the story that I didn't know.  It was actually from their room that they were shot. The cellar rooms were just too hot and so the couple gave them their room to have a cooler spot.  After camping there in tents I have complete understanding of the inability to cool off, even at night. It is always amazing to stand in places of such significance. 

 The Smith Family Cemetery. This site is run by the Church of Christ.  So interesting to visit these sites with a tour guide of another faith and sister missionaries translating into sign language for a couple on the tour.  Everything is referred to as The Church and no doctrine or testimonies are born.  These are the graves of Joseph's mother and other family members, the view was amazing of the Mississippi.  Joseph's and Hyrum's graves are to the far side.

One of the purposes of our trip was to meet up with our good friends and adopted family the Campbell's.  A little bar-b-que and s'mores of course on Sunday night and then touring the town on Monday.  What started has with just Isaac and Sophie has now grown a bit.  When the boys were explaining their family to someone they said "they are friends that go way back, no wait more like cousins."  Though most of them had never met it really was like they were cousins and had known each other for ages.  Here is to tradition and being together in another two years.

 The Church amazes me with the talent, skill and perfection that it does things.  And with only volunteers. There are young missionaries that serves part of their time in Nauvoo, those with special skills and talents.  This group put on plays, musicals.  Just Plain Anna Amanda was a great for the kids and Benjamin got to go up at the end. 

 Another part the kids loved was dressing up and playing pioneer games.  The walking sticks ended up being turned into rifles and the bandannas turned the boys into outlaws.  Not really pioneer but fun all the same.  The outlaws even led the children's parade.

Oklahoma and 2011

I'm going to have to change the name of our blog and heading.

I realize that it's been eight months since I last said anything and so much has happened during that time. Since the last time I wrote: Matt was on the road for the better part of 4 months, I threw my back out, Benjamin was baptized, had a big family Christmas celebration, prepped a house to go on the market, flew with the kids to meet Matt in Oklahoma, Jack started sleeping through the night and taking naps, sold a house, bought another house in Edmond, back went out again, and repainted about 1/4 of the house. Crazy to say the least but everybody has survived and still loving each other.

Life in Oklahoma is about as opposite as I can get from that in Alaska. It will be awhile before I can fit in around here. Edmond is its own little place where heals and make-up seem to be required attire for a girls night. My 5 year old Keene tennis shoes and make up only on Sunday just don't seem to cut it! Having sold all of our furniture when we left Alaska shopping for furniture here sends dread through me. I must say that I have found some great Antique malls and that is really fun. I have been invited to church by total and complete strangers at the DMV and have had more opportunities to say that I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints than ever before. People are so nice but so much busier it seems. The kids have been able to enjoy swimming 2 to 3 days a week. I caught the boys outside with a magnifying glass trying to burn a bug, of which there are plenty. Josette is becoming a very proficient scooter rider and has the wounds to prove it. Sophie is realizing her cupcake decorating dreams. 2 acres to run wild in has been so great and I can't wait for a garden bed to done so my dreams of canned tomatoes will become a reality.

I find myself looking back at 2011 and wondering where it all went. I then realize that April is almost done and am wondering what is happening to 2012. I have come to really realize that I love being a mom. I want to hold on to every moment with the kids because they are growing faster than I'm ready for. I enjoy every little thing Jack does and just want to hug and kiss him all day long because soon it might be like Benjamin who doesn't want a kiss from his old mom. That is something that has been a positive with this move, there haven't been friends (who we still miss terribly) to hang out with, we've had each other. And they don't mind being with their mom!

Locks of Love

Sophie has not cut her hair in two years with one goal in mind, donating her hair. I love her short hair and I couldn't have been prouder of her.

Easter dresses

2009

For the last 3 years my mom has been using her creative sewing abilities to make Easter ensembles for the munchkins. Every outfit has been memorable and the kids look forward to it every year.

Easter 2010
This was the "Princess" dress year. We were asked several times if the kids had participated in a wedding the night before.

Easter 2011
When mom called this year to describe the dresses she said that it was a St. Patrick green. I think these were my favorite so far. Jack even had a bib to match but of course spit up on it within 30 seconds of having it on. The best part was that I was I unintentionally found a green linen skirt to match the kids. We'll be looking forward to next Easter's package.
Thanks MEME!

Jack R. Mower

Jack Randall Mower
February 4, 2011
9lbs. 10oz 22 inches

Still alive

It has been so long since I last posted that hopefully you all haven't lost hope in updates. It has been such a busy 6 months for us. Since the last post a lot of wonderful unexpected surprises have come our way. Pictures will have to follow at a later date but for right now I will give a very abbreviated rundown.

*Hmmm I'm a bit late....take a pregnancy test, and can't really tell.
*Matt goes to the Bahamas with his Dad to sail a big boat back to DC.
*I run the mayor's marathon and at this point and time will never do one again.
*Confirm that Mower baby #5 will be joining our family, a very happy and unexpected surprise.
*Travel to Vancouver WA to spend 2 1/2 weeks with Matt and my family. Good times.
*School starts. Only Josette and I at home I should be able to get tons done.....
*Sophie and I visit the Campbell's in Rochester, NY. Incredible trip!
*Meanwhile I continue to expand at an incredible rate, ultrasound confirms that this baby is on the big side of things.
*Week before Thanksgiving decided to go look at a couple of homes that have dropped their prices. After 2 years of looking we find one that has most everything we've been looking for and make an offer.
*Present day: we have a contract on a home and hopefully moving the end of the month! Trying to rent out our home (if anybody knows anybody wanting to get into a home we are open to lots of different options...) My body has proven again that it can stretch even further than I ever thought possible. We will be celebrating Benjamin's and Sophie's birthdays, I can't believe that they are that old already. And ......

WISHING EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

L & J Wedding

As many of you know I do photos on the side, as much as time permits. It is something that someday I hope to develop more fully. Until then I enjoy the times I get to keep the skills I have developed somewhat sharp. Last month I had the great opportunity to do a wedding. This was truly a family affair and such fun to be part of. What a great couple these two are. I am really excited about how the pictures turned out.