V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!

Okay, we've been back for a week, but it has been a crazy week of catch-up with work, housework, church stuff, etc. so I haven't gotten to post about our trip yet, but that is not to say we didn't have an awesome time...we really did!

Eleanore chillin' in the suitcase while we were packing to go.

A spoiled, but good, little traveler. We got a portable DVD player and let her watch Elmo (the first tv she has really watched) and eat treats on the plane.

The first half of our trip was spent in Nauvoo, Illinois. I can definitely understand why the pioneers named the city Nauvoo, city of the beautiful. It is beautiful, beautiful country (and I think we went at just the right time because the weather was lovely, the trees were green and the flowers were in bloom).

Our hotel.

We arrived in St. Louis on Sunday the 28th and made the two and half hour drive to Nauvoo. When we got there we went to the temple grounds and hung out for awhile. One of the things we loved most was that we could lay on the grass...real grass (not so common here in Florida where the grass is more like saw grass and infested with fire ants). Eleanore ran and ran and Bryan and I just relaxed. We also went down the visitors center.

Nauvoo Temple.

Stopping to smell the flowers.

From the time we arrived we parked our car and walked everywhere, which was really a nice change. Here it has been so hot that we really don't get to spend time outside unless it is in the water.

Monday and Tuesday were spent visiting the sites of Nauvoo. We went on a wagon ride around all of the historic sites and a carriage ride to Inspiration Point (where Joseph Smith would often greet returning missionaries). These rides were lifesaving because they were the magic trick that got Eleanore to take a nap without having to go back to our hotel!

The ride to Inspiration Point was beautiful, like I said I think we hit a great time of year because the weather was so nice and everything was so green. Eleanore loved the horses (she kept clicking her tongue, making the sound of horses walking). One of the missionaries showed her the horses teeth which are totally disgusting and now she keeps clicking her tongue and saying "teeth -- ucky." It is funny.

Meeting the horses.

Listening to the brass band in the park.

At the "general store."

We also watched the nightly programs that the senior missionaries put on, which are pretty fun (especially one they call Sunset by the Mississippi). We were able to walk down Parley Street (Trail of Hope) where the pioneers made their exodus from Nauvoo. We also walked along the Mississippi and into the area that the Church of Christ owns to see the Historic Red Brick Store and the Smith Family burial grounds.

Our walk down Parley Street.

On the oxen ride.

Near the Joseph Smith Homestead.

We also went into the many of the homes and shops that our Church has refurbished and offers tours in. It was fun to hear the pioneer stories that the missionaries shared. I was inspired by how industrious and faithful the Saints were. They went through so much hardship and still created a beautiful community only to have to leave that too.

All in all it was a great trip. Different than a lot of vacations we've done, in that it was really relaxing and not high paced at all. We enjoyed visiting with the missionaries and other visitors at the sites, eating picnics and taking walks. Bryan and I took turns going to the temple, which I think was a highlight for both of us. What an amazingly beautiful building. It had been too long since I had been through and endowment session (since before El was born -- although I've gone to baptisms and done sealings a couple of times since then), so it was really wonderful to go back to the temple. I thought about all my excuses for not going -- too long to leave Eleanore...the temple is two and half hours away...blah, blah, blah -- and they felt pretty lame compared to the sacrifice the early Saints made to have the temple. I feel recommitted.

Wednesday morning we went to Carthage Jail, and then made the six hour drive to Omaha, Nebraska where we spent the second half of our trip visiting with Bryan's sister Kim and her family. It was great to see them. They recently welcomed their third little girl, Riley. It is always special to be around new little ones, so we really enjoyed that. (Although we felt badly because Eleanore got a little sick just before our vacation and we didn't want her to infect Riley.)

On the way to Omaha. Eleanore entertaining herself by making her trusted pal and blankie "Ellie the Elephant" a hat.

While we were in Omaha we had lots of time to play with their two older girls, Samantha and Jadyn, which was really fun because we haven't ever really had much one-on-one time to get to know their fun little personalities. Eleanore adored both of them and hasn't stopped talking about them since our visit. They were so nice to share all of their neat toys with her and to entertain her endlessly. I wish we were closer so they could all grow up playing together.

While in Omaha we went to the zoo, which is very cool, and to the Winter Quarters visitors center.

At the aquarium at the Omaha Zoo.

At the Winter Quarters Visitors Center, where the kids get to dress like pioneer children.

We love the Fourth of July. It was fun to spend it the Marx Family. We went to the park, had a little BBQ and did fireworks (which totally terrified Eleanore so she I ended up inside with Kim and baby Riley, but Bryan and Jared enjoyed them with the older girls).

We had a wonderful vacation and are glad we made this trip (Nauvoo has been a place we've talked about visiting since before we were married and we've also been planning to visit the Marx family for several years...so to be able to do both in one week was great!).