Nauvoo, Illinois - Part II

Sunday was our second and last day together before Will and Jill had to start their long trek home.

Poppy and Grammy spent the morning giving squashes and loves to Robin and Rue while Ryan and I whipped up buttermilk waffles for breakfast-which luckily tasted quite good. 

While we cleaned up the kids spent their time playing in the antique kitchen cupboard.

Then Grammy got her hair styled at the Christopher Robin salon. 

They also compared their leg length and

foot size

and hand size. 

  Grammy, you need to start growing soon or Christopher Robin is going to pass you by!

We then loaded up and went to visit some church historical sites.  Ryan and I have never seen this part of Nauvoo, so it was such a treat for us.

We went to the grave-site of Joseph and Hyrum.

It overlooks this beautiful view of the Mississippi River.

Christopher Robin at Lucy Mack's house.

Next we went to Lucy Mack Smith's home, a place I have been anxious to visit.  As you can see Jace was thrilled with the tour.  He said it was "too boring for me!!"

So we spiced things up a bit by taking him to the blacksmith shop. He learned how to make a wagon wheel, which he thought was absolutely all right.

Gracie helped too.

We also saw the demonstration on how they made bricks back then.  I learned that it was a very labor intensive process, but they were able to produce 4 million bricks a year.


Christopher Robin is examining the clay they used.

He was given one as a souvenir, and he got to climb on some too.

We also stopped at the temple for some more pictures.  It was so nice and hot and HUMID!

Gracie is a Poppy's girl!

Here is my little darlin' in her pioneer bonnet.

Reluctantly, we had to finally say our goodbyes. As we drove out of town, Christopher Robin snapped this picture from the van window.

Listening to what sounded like rain, but it was bugs splattering on the windshield, Robin and Rue

soon fell fast asleep.

Nauvoo in Hebrew means,  beautiful place.  I  love what President Hinckley said about Nauvoo.  "Nauvoo," he said, was “the crucible of Mormonism—a crucible of vision, a crucible of loyalty, a crucible of integrity, a crucible of leadership, a crucible of faith.”

It is hard for me to describe the feeling of peace I feel when I am there.  It truly is a beautiful place. I am so grateful to my pioneer ancestors who gave all they had to be members of our church, The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Thank you Mom and Dad for making this trip so memorable. And next time Poppy, I will make sure you get your peach cobbler.  You have earned every bite!!