Visiting Nauvoo

We just got back from our trip to Iowa to visit Holly and her family. We had a lot of fun, despite the troubles returning. Here are just a few of our pictures from the end of our actual stay in Iowa. We're starting with our trip to Nauvoo.

Getting ready to cross the Mississippi. I have OFFICIALLY crossed it now.

There was a holdup on the bridge - we don't know what - so Mike got out and posed for this picture.

We had a picnic at the park behind the Nauvoo temple. It was beautiful! Mike and I were planning to do a session at the temple while Holly and the kids played, but a construction worker right inside the gates told us it was closed until 2 pm. Holly checked with the Visitor's Center and they said you usually need to schedule sessions anyway, since the temple gets so much traffic.

A group of protesters hold a tea party - one of many apparently across the United States in efforts to reduce the rising taxes.

Holly and the kids admire the First Vision in the Visitor's Center.

In the Family Living Center, behind the Scovil Bakery, we were able to sample some bread baked in the little bustle oven you see in the wall behind it. They gave out recipes too. It was really good!

Holly and Ethan look on as Uncle Mike and Claire work the wheel on the rope sled.

Mike and me standing in front of the Mansion House.

Ethan, enjoying a stick of rock candy Mike bought him on his mother's lap, at the beginning of the carriage ride through Old Nauvoo.

Ethan enjoying a much-needed nap on his mother's lap about two minutes after the beginning of the carriage ride around Old Nauvoo.

Claire enjoying her piece of rock candy.

Mike got a few great shots of the front of the temple during the tour.

We followed the Trail of Hope - the beginning of the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo - down to the Mississippi. Next time we'll have to walk it so we can read all of the journal placards.

A statue of Joseph Smith instructing Brigham Young to take the saints west away from persecution.

Me, in front of the Mississippi.

Claire looks at Old Ned after the carriage ride. The Elders were really sweet to let the kids almost bombard the horses, of course, the horses were sweet as well. They did keep a fence between the two, which was probably a good thing.

Joseph Smith's office in the upstairs of the Red Brick Store. The store is now owned by the RLDS Church, and they actually keep it running by selling jams, pamphlets written by the Prophet, and lots of little souveniers.

We stopped for ice cream on our way out of town.

This is the morning of the day we left. Ethan immediately made our stripped air mattress a playground.

And this was Claire's outfit the morning we took off.

On the road again...

Epilogue: We made it into Rapid City, SD, where we planned to stay the night and see Mt. Rushmore the next day. Unfortunately, our car completely broke down, right as we pulled into a Nissan dealership. It was making a horrible noise and the acceleration was beginning to die, so we were lucky we made it into the lot. As it turned out, we had an axle leaking transmission fluid, and the entire transmission had corroded. This axle had leaked a few years ago, but Mike got it fixed quickly and has never had a problem with the car before or since. Anyway, to make a long story short, we had to rent a car and drive home to Idaho since the transmission they're putting in wont arrive until next Thursday or so. Mike will have to drive back to South Dekota and return the car and pick up our car. He's planning on taking a friend (I'll be at Ang's wedding) and making a camping trip out of it, so at least it wont be too dull.