Fall Break: Nauvoo

Since Marc has been in school how I tell time is in breaks...Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter break. haha Sad I know but it gets you through the some of the long periods of not seeing him much and not seeing family. So, when talking about fall break this year, we were wanting to go to Nauvoo. It just so happened that our friends, the Squires, wanted to go too! It worked out perfectly. A month or so in advance we planned our trip to Nauvoo...meaning IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. We are just a 4 1/2 to 5 hr drive from there so we had to capitalize on living so close why we are here in Omaha. 

Fall break FINALLY arrived and so we loaded the car, loaded the kids, and made our adventurous drive through Iowa. Let me tell you, best scenic drive around!! Corn fields for days and little farm towns as far as the eye could see. It was breath taking (a little sarcasm there). Thankfully Marc, the kids and I really don't mind driving so it was fun. 

We made great time and were starving so we drove to our little Villa we were sharing with our friends and then decided to see what places there were to eat and to grab some groceries. Well, let just say we drove through the town of Nauvoo, nothing really was open, so we had to drive another 12 miles to the next town on our navigation. They had a few cafes but no groceries. We decided to eat at the little family cafe diner in Hamilton, IL. Marc isn't really into trying new things but I figured we didn't drive all that way to stop at a restaurant that we have eaten before. We loaded the kids into the diner and it was DELICIOUS and a great price. Everyone in the tiny little diner stared because we were out-of-towners and had two rambunctious kids but it was worth it. Then I asked the waitress where we could grab some groceries...well turns out 5 miles in the other direction is a town with all the amenities that we had been searching for, for the past 2 hours!! When we found out they had a Walmart we were in...Marc of course insisted on pointing out EVERY fast food restaurant that we missed out on but we both agreed the cafe was all part of the fun experience of these small little towns. 

Crossing into Illinois

We finally got our groceries and got ourselves settled. It was so much fun to hang out with our friends and let the kids play. The next morning, we decided to go to Carthage Jail. If anyone reading this has never been to Nauvoo...go in the Fall! It is not crowded what so ever and the weather was PERFECT! We went on the tour through the jail and literally only four other people with us. I felt bad that they had to be with our crazy kids because they were so busy and noisy but the spirit was still there and we learned so much. 

Kind of hard to read but such an amazing quote. 

I was so humbled going through this tour and being in the room where our Prophet Joseph Smith would soon die. I couldn't get over that he knew before being taken to Carthage that he was going to die, but he willingly did so knowing that it wouldn't be in vain and that this church could move forward. He knew he had fulfilled the plan that Heavenly Father had for him. 

The window where the prophet fell from being shot by the mob

During the presentation, when they were describing when the mob finally took the life of Joseph and Hyrum, Braxton all the sudden started whimpering and a few tears fell from his eyes. Once it was done he was his normal self but I know that he knew that he felt what was being said. Such a sweet spirit. 

Millie and Marc

After the tour. Glad we got a group photo

Braxton being Braxton

Millie and Lilly: so glad that Millie had an older girl to show her the ropes :) They had so much fun.

Nauvoo Temple. It was breath taking!

 After Carthage, we came back to old Nauvoo and did a couple tours. We got prairie diamonds from the black smith shop, and played old pioneer games. By that time the kids were ready for a nap and lunch.

After naps we came back to downtown and walked around the temple and got some chocolate covered pretzels and fudge (went there more than once ;)!! So much fun. 

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 The next day (don't know where all the pictures went) we headed down to old Nauvoo again, saw Joseph and Emma's house, the Smith family cemetery, the red brick store, the bake shop, learned how the pioneers made bread and rugs, and learned how the masons made bricks. The kids were all over so we definitely chose wisely what sites we would go to on our last day. We wanted to go on the wagon ride but next time we will do that day one first thing. After all that, it was nap time again so we headed back, Marc and I got into nice clothes so we could do a session at the temple. It was so nice to go with friends because we swapped watching kids and it worked out so perfect! The temple was beautiful and the spirit of the pioneers and their dedication to building the temple so families could be together for eternity was very present. I would love to go back again! So grateful for the opportunities that we have had living so close to these church history sites. We are so blessed to have the true church here on the earth! 

We were sad that it was over but ready to get home and get ready for Marc to start school again...but before that could happen, Braxton had to hit his teeth on the bathtub and chip a tooth! That crazy boy. Thankfully he wasn't in pain and didn't even skip a beat but not our sweet boy has a chipped smile...

gives him a little character. haha Now back to our reality of Dental school. :)

Happy Fall Break!