Grands

 While we were in Nauvoo I made an attempt to take some pictures of my amazing grandchildren so I could update my wall.  What I found is that Adam was very good at doing anything for me so I could get a picture.  Brock was also really good, but never gave me a natural smile.  Cami was way too busy for me and Evie too, gave me some good fake smiles.  Butchy was just a hope and a prayer I could get something usable.  Enjoy these smiling faces!

Brock at the stone arch.  Love the background, not the smile so much.

 Adam did a good job here but I was hoping for something with a little more eyes.

 Evie was willing but this was very posed.

 Getting better.  Love how his blue eyes pop out with his shirt.

 Just hanging out.

 

Adam needed a pose by the moonstone.

 This makes me laugh.

 I don't know what he was doing or thinking, but I love his face!

 Cami taking pictures of her own.  At least I think that's what she's doing.

 My favorite of Adam.

 The best one of Butchy.

 I wanted one with his glasses on.

 This is the best I could do of Brock and I love it.  Even though Evie is making a cheesy grin, she's as cute as can be.  I love this picture.

As you can tell, I didn't get any pictures of Cami.  This will have to do.

I adore these beautiful faces and the personalities that go along with them.  

Alex & Cate, A New Eternal Family

 October 22, 2016 was the beginning of a new eternal family with Alex and Cate.  What a wonderful experience to witness their marriage and the beginning of eternity.  Lots of family came to Nauvoo for the occasion.

Evie loves Christine and she helped with the children as they waited outside the temple for the couple to emerge.

 What a gorgeous day it was!  The sun was shining and the sky was brilliant blue.  The temperatures weren't too bad either considering it was the end of October.

 As you can see, sweaters were in order but suit jackets were optional.

 Jeff catching up, or getting to know Matt, Chase and Matt Ainsworth.

 Brett's back has been giving him such grief that sitting is all that is really comfortable for him.

 The colors were just beginning to change in Nauvoo.  At home they were already past peak.

 These two little ladies are such good friends.  It will be a good thing when this family can move to Wisconsin and these two can spend more time together.

 I love that I caught this walk down the stairway.  Alex's face shows what they were both feeling.

 I love Millie's face.  She's such a gem!

 First photo as a family.

 I am amazed at the attention Alex gives this little daughter.  By watching him I can see the love he has for his new daughter.

 Here's a side of Alex I've seen before.  Silliness.

  Since Alex never had a girlfriend growing up, it was really odd to see him constantly kissing his bride.  It was quite foreign for me to see.

 He couldn't keep his eyes off her.

 Clint with two of his boys.

The attempt to get a group photo took a bit of orchestration.  In the end, I don't have a copy of it, but then I don't need one.  What a great opportunity to be in the temple to witness the beginning of another one of my nephews make the best decision of his life in marrying the right woman in the right place by the right authority.  Congratulations!

Nauvoo Trip

 Our nephew, Alex, got married on Saturday, October 22nd.  Therefore, we needed a family trip to Nauvoo!

We went earlier in the week and rented a home that we love.  We don't really love the house, we love the location and the price and the homey feel of the house.  Only one bed in the entire house is good for sleeping on unless you're just a kid and don't know better.

 As a family, we went to see Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo.  We also did some touring.  That was done on our own time and seeing what each of us wanted to see.

 We took the trek via the ox wagon.  Butchy loved touching the oxen.  Evie was a little more timid about it.

 We also got to go to the temple!  My favorite!

 We took a walk on a late afternoon before going to see the show and found the stage for the Nauvoo pageant.  We decided that we needed a pose from the old City of Joseph pageant so we created one.

 I love the scene of the temple at night all lit up.  Butchy loved the horses and since then he sees a picture of the Nauvoo temple and proclaims, "Horses!"  Then he tells me it is also a temple.

 Here we are on the ox ride.  Not everyone was with us as you can see.  A few of the guys were busy visiting the gunsmith.

 Here's our pose yet again.  Clint obviously was never part of the pageant as he doesn't have a clue how to do the pose.  The kids did their best.  All except Ev.  I don't know what she was doing.

 A selfie following the tour of the Carthage jail.  We sure did miss Erin!

What a wonderful weekend we had with our family.  I'm so thankful that we get along and we love one another.  I think that personalities could clash and we are lucky to have such a great group of people we call family, that even if we don't mesh perfectly, we still get along.  I couldn't have asked for a better weekend weather-wise or with better people!

General Conference & Utah Tour

Another yearly trip to Utah for General Conference.  This year we planned to spend a few extra days in Utah to go to southern Utah to see some of the sights.  We've never done that so why not?  I'm not teaching seminary and we don't have to be home at any specific time.  Andrew came with us and he was able to see and visit some of the families and people form his mission.  These pics are not in chronological order so bear with me if I skip around.

On Tuesday morning we headed north and stopped at Cove Fort.  This was a place that Ira Hinckley was asked to set up and live in.  It was a way station for weary travelers as well as a look out for hostile natives.  It was most interesting and I loved the tour.  Don't drive past.  Take the time and stop.

 Kent and Karen Hugh, former temple president and matron in St. Paul, live in Cedar City.  We called them a few weeks before our trip to ask what we absolutely needed to see.  He said he would take us on a personal tour.  That's exactly what we got.  It was incredible.  This is at Kolob National Park.

General Conference is always fun.  It is great to sit in the Conference Center and feel the Spirit.  We saw these two on Sunday afternoon.

Saturday morning was the first session we had tickets for.  I took an extra ticket for Tatelyn.  I think she had a good time with us.  

The first stop on the Hugh's tour with us was in some little town where there is this statue commemorating the "quilt walk."  Look it up and find out what it was.  It is an incredible story of how the Lord helped those who help themselves.

With this handsome face at Cove Fort.  We were standing up on the wall surrounding the fort.

On our way south on Sunday night, I captured this view.  I love how the light makes different colors on the clouds.

Sunday morning was spent with this pair of wonderful people.  President Howard and Sister Marge Sharp.  They were the Mission President in the California San Bernardino mission back in 1980.  Two years ago he assisted my husband in setting Andrew apart as a missionary.  We forgot to take a picture then so we re-created it.  They always have such wonderful stories.  They both have a great sense of humor.  I love them to pieces!

Can you believe I have never seen a palm tree in real life?  Not that I can remember.  I've never spent any time in the desert so how would that have been possible?  This is in front of the St. George temple.

This is Bryce Canyon.  All the rock formations are called Hoodoos.  Absolutely breathtaking.  I only wish the day had been warmer so we could've walked along some of the paths along the canyon rim.

The St. George temple.  It is the oldest functioning temple on the earth.  We were able to go do a session on Tuesday morning.  Very beautiful!

More hoodoos.  I love this amazing man who decided we should take this vacation.

Of all the beauty we were able to experience in Utah, we came home and this was the view from my car window as we were driving down highway 29 only minutes from our home.  There is so much diversity on this beautiful earth.  God certainly made something for everyone!