Nauvoo 2016!!

We've been planning this epic trip since Casey's parents left on their mission to Nauvoo over a year ago. We knew with nearly 4 days of driving alone and considering Casey's limited time off that this would be our big trip for the summer--a week and a half of road tripping and Nauvoo.  We started the epic after Casey got home from work the Friday before Memorial Day.

We stopped at this historic fort along our travel route--Fort Fred Steele--built in 1868 (located near Sinclair, Wyoming on the west bank of the North Platte River) to guard against Indian attacks during the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad.  Casey worked to restore the old stone building behind him in the picture, literally putting it back together. What a guy! They had closed up the building just before we arrived, but the kind curator let us in when she found out that Casey had put those pieces back together.

That Friday we drove to Cheyenne, Wyoming and stayed the night at the Radisson Hotel. The option to swim in the pool motivated the kids to wake up extra early the next morning--we are talking 5:30 am. The force of the pool is strong in this family.

The next day was a long haul through Nebraska, Iowa, and finally Illinois where we landed late that night in Nauvoo. We stopped in Des Moines for some Thai food along the route, but other than that we spent that entire day trucking. We were worried about Lindy's propensity for van vomiting, but she did fine, likely due to the regular dosings of dramamine.

That first Sunday we went to the local ward services, took naps, and hung out with Doug and Ilean in the evening. Those two are busy missionaries! Oftentimes they wake up around 5 or 5:30 am and are scheduled nearly all day and then if they are performing in a show they head out after a quick dinner and get home late!

Soph, Lindy, and Zeke, looking for chiggers in the grass near the Nauvoo temple.

We spent Sunday night near the temple, watching the sun set over the Mississippi River. It was a gorgeous night! The daytime temperatures were in the 70s and low 80s every day that we were there. Perfect!

The majestic Nauvoo Temple.

Zeke lost his very first tooth at Grandma and Grandpa Sullivan's house that Sunday night on the eve of Memorial day--easy to remember--and the Tooth Fairy took into account that it was his first tooth and nearly on a holiday, two factors that amplify the sum she brings. Lucky Zeke!

Zeke's toothless grin and round face totally remind me of Mad Magazine's Alfred E. Neuman . . . 

The rare full family photo--by the Nauvoo temple. Lindy quickly learned the word "temple" during our stay in Nauvoo and would excitedly point it out and exclaim, "Pemple! Pemple! PEMPLE,!!" whenever she saw it.

On Monday morning, we got up early to watch the draft horses make their trek from a weekend pasture back to their barn. It was worth another early rise (just look at Sophie's hair in the next picture!) to watch those giant horses thundering down the road and up the hill, each one walking right into his assigned stall to be groomed and grained by the teamsters before their work day started.

The kids in the bed of Grandpa's truck, waiting for the early morning equestrian spectacle.

Each horse knows right where to go!

It was fascinating to watch the teamsters grain and groom those horses so efficiently--they are one fined tuned team of missionaries!

Lindy, dazzled by the draft horses!

That Monday we got to take a carriage ride with Grandpa out past Joseph's Creek--a tour that he narrated. You are awesome, Doug!! There was something so special about seeing Casey's parents serving with all of their hearts in such a sacred place. I will never forget our trip. We later did an exploratory traverse of the creek in search of geodes. The water was quite murky and Lindy wouldn't stop trying to drink it. She took off up the creek by herself, little explorer that she is, and was soon soaked (and filthy). That one has no fear! 

The kids, especially Hallee, just loved those draft horses.

After our carriage ride, we watched a play in the Visitor's Center--The Promise--performed by the talented young missionaries that come just during the summers and then played an impromptu game of family freeze tag on the grounds. The church maintains such a vast expanse of property in Nauvoo and so much green lawn!! We had to make good use of it.

Zeke and Lindy liked the long grass surrounding the trees near the Visitor's Center. Zeke called this their special "cove" and these two spent ample time lounging, hiding, and rolling in the cove grass.

Oh how we love her!

On Tuesday we got to take a wagon ride around old Nauvoo. Grandpa drove the horses and Grandma narrated during the ride. So cool! Doug and Ilean thought our approach to seeing the historic sites in Nauvoo was pretty laid back--we only went to see a few things on most days, but we fully took them in. Doug and Ilean live just a couple of blocks from the temple and a few blocks from Old Nauvoo, so we took advantage of their collection of bikes and either walked or rode those bikes everywhere. There is something wonderful about walking and biking (as opposed to driving). A connection happens so quickly with a place that way and our kids soon knew where everything was and could bike there without parental direction. One day I asked Hal if she knew where to go and she said causually, "I know Nauvoo, mom!," and rode off confidently. Riding bikes everywhere was one of our favorite family activities there.

Grandma and Grandpa Sullivan, ready to take us on a tour of old Nauvoo.

During our stay we watched all of the plays and performances, including two that Doug and Ilean participate in--Sunset on the Mississippi and Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo. We all loved watching Doug and Ilean perform--singing, dancing, and even a few legitimate lines. It was magical! My kids are going to have the coolest memories of their grandparents!

Hallee and Loo in the Family Living building where we learned about baking bread, spinning and dying wool, and even made our own rope (with a little help and a really cool old-school machine).

Zeke with the rope that we made.

Soph

I was so taken with how green everything is in Nauvoo. It reminded me of living in Pennsylvania as a kid where everything so green and no one knows what sprinklers are. Just listening to the birds every day was incredible. I loved those early morning bird symphonies! The hedges are full of all kinds of wildlife too, including bunnies. The little baby bunny in the picture below was captured twice by Casey and the kids near Doug and Ilean's home.

We had to keep Lindy from mauling this sweet baby bunny.

Lindy took a quick liking to Grandpa Sullivan (considering that she hadn't seen him in over a year and certainly didn't remember him). She'd locate her worn copy of Goodnight Moon and back up into his lap for repeated readings. Grandpa was a good sport to humor her monochromatic taste.

One day we drove out to Carthage to visit the jail where the prophet Joseph Smith was killed. Another very special place.

The kids enjoyed mangling this puppy there--owned by a visiting family.

Running around wildly--we weren't the most reverent visitors there for certain.

Waiting for Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo to start. We sat on the front row.

Grandma and Grandpa in action!

Outside the old Social Hall after that night's show.

Another thing that we loved was the fireflies! The night that we drove into Nauvoo, we saw them lighting up the night and I told the kids that when I was little (when my family lived in Pennsylvania), we'd collect fireflies in jars by the dozen, making a lantern of sorts, and then in an act of violence we'd squash then and streak out arms and legs and faces with their glowing residues. (The 1970s version of glow sticks.) My kids kids thought that was pretty disgusting, but as soon as they got their hands on those little guys they couldn't help but try it.

Soph with a firefly--hard to see--but that is what she's smiling about.

Taking the tour of the wainwright and blacksmith shop.

Lindy made herself at home wherever she went. She was so hard to restrain and wanted to touch everything. 

Grandpa Sullivan got to show us how to make a horseshoe in the blacksmith shop.

The kids tried out the contraption they'd use to restrain and shoe the oxen.

Grandpa Sullivan wears many hats--this day he took us on a covered wagon ride, pulled by oxen.

Brave Zeke!

We took President Hinckley's advise and strolled down Parley's Street to the banks of  the Mississippi River, the route the Saints took as they left Nauvoo to head West.

When we got to the Mississippi, Lindy unabashedly ran right in, fully shod and clothed. She was wading right out. We literally had to race and get her before she went in bodily. That girl!

While we were there at the river, the Nauvoo Brass Band pulled up and Casey convinced them to play him a song. (It was his birthday--Friday, June 3rd.) Tears streaming down his face, he stood there enjoying every minute. That is Casey! Upon request, I made some rhubarb pies and chili rellenos to celebrate his birthday that night too.

We had a chance to talk with some of the young performing missionaries from the band down by the river (they were taking their morning break there) and one young sister quickly warned me that she'd seen a snake devouring a dead fish there the day previous. She was concerned for the safety of my children. I just smiled and told her that we run towards things like that, not away. I think she thought I was crazy. 

Soaking wet!

Casey and I went running several times early in the morning, and on his birthday (Friday, June 3rd) he took his turn swimming in nearby Horton Lake. The next morning on our Saturday run he plunged into the Mississippi for a brisk morning dip. He and Lindy are so much alike!

Right after Lindy ran into the Mississippi, Casey broke our camera. Agh!!! He has some more pictures, taken with his phone, that I need to add later, but I'll just post these for now.

We started the long drive home the next Sunday after church and made it all the way to Sydney, Nebraska. En route, while Zeke was taking one of his many pee breaks, we found a great spot to tube on the Platte River near Grand Island Nebraska. Of course we found a nice hotel with a pool for the night where we swam the next morning with wild abandon.

After swimming and breakfast we headed toward the small town of Potter where we planned on rendezvousing with Uncle Sean who was headed toward Nauvoo that morning. Then a miracle happened. Our gas tank was nearly on empty the night before when we pulled into Sydney, but Casey decided to just wait and fill up in the morning. Unfortunately he forgot and got onto the freeway toward Potter without filling up. There were no exits or turn-arounds so we were stuck headed toward Potter. We had a significantly smaller range then we had miles to drive. That's when we exercised our faith and prayed for a miracle. We rolled into Potter's only gas station (totally obscure place) and our range clicked onto "0". There you have it.

Our other big miracle of the trip is that Lindy didn't puke once in the van or elsewhere!