Memorial Day

Memorial Day found us in Nauvoo, Illinois!  We hadn't been there since early March when there was a foot of snow on the ground so it was so fun to see green grass and trees. 

This trip we went with our good friends the Erickson's.  While Phil and Julie went on a morning temple session we watched Lucy and Ammon.  Here are all four children in front of the Christus statue in the Visitors Center. They were patiently waiting their turn to go on the 12:15 carriage ride. 

When 12:15 came, it was pouring rain.  We didn't care.  We bundled up and went on a wagon ride like true pioneers!

Here is Ammon and Jace just taking in the sights.

The tour was through North Nauvoo and was about an hour long.  The kids were wet and cold, but they loved it and were perfect angels!

I was wearing a skirt and my legs were bare, I was freezing---but like I said, this was true pioneering!

 

Gracie wouldn't sit down, so Ryan held her, and Lucy was just content.  

 

The boys favorite part was going through the "river."  It was this little creek.  

 

 

 The horses worked hard pulling us up a muddy hill. When we got to the top we saw this beautiful view of the Mississippi.

 

 

 

 Here is our tour guide.  He was a missionary from Utah.  He told some very faith promoting stories about the early Utah Mormon pioneers and their great sacrifices.

 

 

 

When we were done, the rain had let up so we stopped to let the kids take a few minutes to meet the horses.  

 

 

They were a little scared of them I think.

 

 

We then rushed to meet Julie and Phil for lunch and then Ryan and I went on the 2:00 session.

 

It was such a great day.  I felt really glad that we took time to do some temple work on this special day of remembrance.

 

Hope you all had a wonderful day.

 

 

 

 

 

The HIKE! Utah Trip Part II

Christopher Robin giving our hike a thumbs....UP!!

The last day we were in Utah, Thursday, April 11th, we decided to be adventurous and go hiking.  I am not sure what possessed us.  We had attempted this hike the day before for about 45 minutes but had turned back because we knew nothing about the trail we were on and it was getting dark.  Christopher Robin was extremely disappointed when we had abandoned the hike and turned around, but we promised him we would come again the next morning when we were prepared. We explained to him that we needed some water and some hiking shoes. That evening when we looked up information about the hike on the Internet is was described as being EASY and 1.75 miles.  I called my sisters Randolyn and Malynne and invited them to join our fun!

 

The next morning at 7:30AM sure enough Christopher Robin and Rue both woke up and were biting at the bit- excited to take on the adventure.  Ryan and I had secretly hoped they would forget about it.  But they didn't so we rallied and got ready to HIKE!! 

 

Here is my sister Randolyn --she was crazy enough to join us! I am so glad she did.   

She saved us at the end.

 The first mile of the trek was just climbing up and down red rock as it wound through the canyon.  It was easy compared to what awaited us the rest of the hike.

 

The next TWO miles we trudged through sandy riverbed.  The sand was deep and  wading through it was slow and arduous.  Gracie quickly lost steam and Ryan had the pleasure of carrying her for miles on his hip.  I should have snapped a picture, but the camera was in his pocket and he was ahead of the three of us.  

 

After we had climbed and trudged for what seemed like forever-- we stopped to eat a snack--thanks Aunt Randolyn for bringing lots of goodies--and the kids played in this cool rock.  Along the way we ran into a trail guide, we asked her if we were on the right path for the three ponds. She looked at us like we were crazy and said, as she pointed West, "yes, but the ponds are over two miles in that direction."

 

 

So after about three and a half hours of experiencing ultimate joy we arrived at what Christopher Robin called the three puddles. 

 

They were indeed puddles. Afterall, this is the desert. Here we are at puddle number two. 

 

 

Higher up, was the third one--it had vanished.  

 

And this is the first one, at the bottom.   

 

It was Jace's favorite.  He decided to dream about life by it I think.   

 

 

So the entire hike ended up being 3.5 miles and was described in the park guide as being moderate not easy.  Not too bad. It really was fun, just hard walking through miles of sand. But there was nothing better then enjoying nature and Aunt Randolyn on an early morning adventure!

 

 

Utah / Arizona / Nevada Trip - Part 1

It has only taken me a month now to get some of our Utah trip pictures posted. Time is flying by and I can't keep up.  Above you see part of the Swigert clan in Arizona.  Ryan's brother Jason lives in Phoenix so they met us at the half way point between Phoenix and Las Vegas in Kingman Arizona. 

We had a really fun evening together.  We played bocce ball and roasted hotdogs for dinner. 

 

 

 Me trying my hand at throwing a bocce ball.

 

 

Grammy Jill is a favorite!!  She has such beautiful hair and tells such wonderful stories.

 

The girl cousins together under a bush.   I have no idea what they were doing in there.  It was just a fun place to hang out I think.

On the way to meet Jason and his family Gracie kept telling Jace she was NOT sharing her cousins with him! 

 

On Sunday we made it to St George to spend the rest of the week with my parents.  As usual it was very relaxing and fun to see everyone. 

 

Here Gracie and my Mom are getting the ditches ready for the irrigation water. They are kindred spirits.  Gracie followed my Mom around all week helping her do her chores.

 I'm sure she was a big help.

Monday was water day. Here is Gracie with her hands in the ditch water. 

 

 It was a cold morning so playing in the water was a little bitter.

 

But it is Christopher Robin's favorite thing about my parents house.  He loves it and stayed outside in the water the whole five hours it ran through the yard.

 

 

Gracie was so excited to wear her swimsuit-- so she did!!  Cold and all. 

 

 By Wednesday the cold front had moved through and it was 70 degrees.  Ryan and I decided to take the kids to Snow's Canyon to see the sand dunes for the first time. 

 

It was fabulous!! The desert was gorgeous and the sand was perfectly warm and felt delicious on our feet! 

 

 It was such great fun to sit on the sand and sink our feet in a few inches.  The sand got cooler the deeper we dug our feet. Gracie had to literally bury her face in it!!

 

Here I am in all my glory! 

 

 

 

Jen R.--I think you could grow to love living in the desert.... 

 

 

 

 

Gracie sliding down the hill

 

 and Jace rolling after her.

 

 

Ryan took all the photos on our trip, but I did snap this one of the back of his head.  He's pretty good with a kite don't you think?

 

 

The next day on our trip brought us to a 3.5 mile hike up a riverbed to find some hidden ponds.

 

Pictures of that adventure will be coming next... 

 

I hope your May is going well.

 

Gracie turns 3 today.  I can't believe it.  I will post pictures of our celebration.