Old Nauvoo

On our way to Roy's annual professional conference, this year in St. Louis, Missouri, we drove down and stopped in Nauvoo, Illinois on  the weekend before.

Saturday we parked the car at the hotel and walked through the streets of the town of Nauvoo and browsed and shopped. Then we went to the historic Old Nauvoo and went on two horse drawn carriage and covered wagon rides where we saw the various restored houses and learned the history, and also heard of the sacrifices and miracles that ocuured there.



Sitting in the front of the covered horsedrawn wagon



Sister Missionaries at one of the Historic Sites


We enjoyed seeing the statues, memorials and plaques in groves and various locations that told the accounts of the sacrifices and occurences of the early Saints in Nauvoo.

Joseph and Hyrum Smith



Plaque with the statue of Joseph & Hyrum



While traveling around old Nauvoo it was reflective to see the view the early Saints would have had of the original Nauvoo Temple as they left in the bitter cold of a February to head across the then frozen Mississippi over to the state of Iowa before heading to the Salt Lake valley.

Nauvoo Temple on the hill

It was an enjoyable time with much to think about.

Irene caught thinking while on one of the horse driven rides



Granddaddy and Granddaddyo In Action

It was wonderful for Roy to be with all eight of our grandchildren. One family calls him Granddaddy and the other family calls him Granddaddyo.

He tries his best to play and be with all of the grandchildren at all their range of ages.

From Star Wars light sabre fights with Mr E…

Trying out a boxing match with Kinect with Mr. T...

Reading storybooks out loud and adding Winnie the Pooh character voices…

To just being in the backyard…

Easter Sunday – Baby Blessing

All of our grandchildren have been born out West somewhere – State-side or in Canada – and Roy has previously been unable to participate in any of the blessings of the grandchildren. Tisha was thrilled to be able to have her Dad present this time.

Poor Miss M. had been throwing up during the night and Sunday morning and it was not looking good that she would be going to Church. When the Gilpins came over Sunday morning before Church it seemed Mr. E had an upset stomach too. Irene offered to stay home with the two sick grandchildren.

It was wonderful  for Roy to participate in the naming and blessing of our 8^th grandchild, with Mr. S pronouncing a lovely blessing on his son. It was also special to be accompanied by Mr. Man, and Irene’s brother Max, along with their bishop.

Enjoying Easter with Family

Meanwhile we also had our other daughter and her family hopefully coming up from Montana. There was some concern because of snow. Mr Man was driving in from Idaho with Mr. T. We were so happy that they took the chance and still came. They got through the snow and in Alberta we were fine.

Once all their 4 grandchildren arrive we first painted and decorated hard boiled eggs, they then had a chocolate Easter egg hunt in the basement and then we had lunch. Tisha had bought their chocolate eggs two weeks before and had been eyed longingly by her own children for all that time.

The de Boers had invited us to have a supper-get-together but before we did we all went to get some energy out of the kids by going to the park. Here we fed the geese – or rather, tried to avoid the marauding dive bombing seagulls – and had all of the kids enjoy the play equipment before a cold wind came along and the sun was hidden by the clouds.

Then it was over to the LDS Institute Building that Max and Terry had decorated up and we had another chocolate and candied Easter egg hunt.

Max and Terry had prepared a grand baked potatoes and salad and Irene brought everything for everyone to make their own sundaes. It was good to see James and his two daughters, and Emily and her husband.

Out West

Our 8^th grandchild arrived a week and a half earlier than expected on Saturday, March 24th. Roy was at a Canadian Association of Professional Speakers meeting in London and Irene was visiting her Mom there. So it was quick trip to the Smiths for Wi-Fi connection to book Irene’s flight out West for her to assist Tisha before we dashed home.

Irene got to see Mr. J first and he is a real cutie. She was able to spend some lovely times connecting with him and even seeing him grow in the 2 ½ weeks she was there.

Irene also brought out the quilt that Tisha had started in North Carolina and Irene finished off the day before we left. Mr. T wanted to be able to help so. Irene had Miss M push the reverse stitch button up and down and Mr. T loved to say "up" and "down" while this was happening.

One of Irene’ joys was seeing the grandkids in action. Since Mom had just delivered a baby it seemed only right for Mr. Ry and Miss M to play doctor and deliver a baby too in the playroom. Dress up clothes made this look so authentic.

Roy joined us after some business in Seattle WA and Portland OR and was able to spend 3 days plus the Easter weekend with Good Friday. On the Saturday Roy was able to accompany Mr. S with the three older grandchildren to their gymnastics class. It was a lot of fun seeing how they have developed a love for exercise, following directions and having plain fun…also no fear of falling backwards, forwards and jumping into the air.