Our Journey to Mt. Rushmore

Not enough time to add photos this morning since we are trying to head out...home by tomorrow night!
We spent the day at Mt. Rushmore yesterday, it was fantastic! We were so happy to see mountains again and were pleasantly surprised to see the beautiful surroundings of Mt. Rushmore, really had no idea it was set so wonderfully high in the mountain tops ~ very majestic sitting high above us all!
The weather was perfect, the crowds were small in numbers, the leaves changing -- stunning to see with all the deciduous trees mingled between the pines. The only drawback to being here at this time of year was the fact that most of the "attractions" were closed, it was shocking. Hotels, restaurants, caves, gold mines, even ice cream shops CLOSED for the season!
The little girls kept asking if we'd made it to Mt. Mushmore, very funny, don't know how many times they said that, kept us giggling! The worst thing was that I apparently did not prepare my little ones for what exactly Mt. Rushmore was, they had no idea what to expect. We'd been there for quite some time, walked through, taken photos, read about the four presidents, checked out the whole sculptor's building area and headed into the Visitor's Center to view their little 14 minute video. It was in there, again at the end of our touring this area, that I asked if they had liked seeing Mt. Rushmore. Cassie looked up at me and said, "What, we've made it to Mt. Mushmore???" I was a little stunned and then realized she really didn't know what Mt. Rushmore was, so we had a little talk about where we were and I apologized for not announcing that we'd arrived! A similar thing happened as we were driving along a beautiful scenic drive where you could view Mt. Rushmore through some small tunnels that had been cut out of the mountain tops for your car to pass through. I said something about coming up on some "tunnels". We stopped, took a couple of pictures and we're on our way back down the mountain, when Wyatt asked when we were going to get out to play in the tunnels!!! Failed again! The expectation was so much more than what I had meant. So, again, I apologized and we moved on. One thing that was open that we ended our evening with before heading back to crash in the hotel, was BEAR COUNTRY U.S.A. We had a blast...the animals were everywhere and so fun to watch. Can't wait to share photos of the "Three Little Bears" we watched as they tumbled and played and fought each other to the top of a tree.

Well, we are off for another journey on the road today! Take care and be looking for photos when we return home :)

The Journey Continues...

Just passed by JOHN WAYNE’S Birthplace…Desoto, Iowa…my kids are missing out…mental note to self ~ rent a John Wayne Movie for these kiddos, when we passed the sign, several of them said, “Who is John Wayne?” Oh, I’ve failed!!!

One thing we’ve loved looking at are all of the water towers as we’ve driven through all of these states. They funnest things you can imagine, others have created! We just passed by one that made me smile…It was a giant smiley face, even yellow to boot! Wish I had taken photos of all of these fun water towers. Another silly thing we’ve noticed is the difference in the windmills here compared to the ones we’ve seen previously. The shape, size and height all differ. These are much shorter with very thin, pointed blades and the blades appear to be attached to what looks like a little airplane. Kinda funny! But they are still white. We just passed a sign showing a Danish Museum with a Danish Windmill, but we’re not exiting off…too many things to do, so little time to do them all in and worse yet, not enough money to do all that is available. Have to be choosey and this one didn’t get the thumbs up from the crowds!!! Bummer, I think it would have been adorable…

Spent last night in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The kids went swimming, I did some blogging. This morning we ventured out to The Sioux Falls Park to see the falls. Beautiful place. The water was raging. Danielle spoke to a lady who lived there and she mentioned that they had been experiencing some pretty serious flooding and that it was unusual to have the water flow we saw. How lucky we’ve been each place we’ve visited! (not so lucky for them to have the flooding, just for us to see the benefit of it) We got some great shots of the kids having a good time. (I'll be uploading them soon, still in the camera and the camera is in the car and I really don't want to head out in the dark and can't have anyone else, like my sweet hubby, do it for me, cause they are all snoozin' ~ the snores are happenin' in this room tonight!!!)

We are on the road again and the next stop we’re planning is to hit the World’s Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. AMAZING!!! They actually rebuild the outside of this palace each year with corn cobs that have been cut in half and then nailed on. Sounds kinda silly, but I’m telling ya, it was pretty impressive! Seeing it up close is the best, because the detail is outstanding. (Photos coming on this one, too!)

Off to Rapid City…it’s a Loooonnnnngggg way…well, not really, but to our kids it’s feeling like a loonnnnggggg way. We’re trying to work on our books of Nauvoo and all that we’ve seen and learned over the past few weeks. I’m loving the work our kids do…so sweet and they really have paid attention and gained so much from being here.

Another stop along the way…we are famous for stopping to see all the cool things that are along the way. It’s not about arriving to your final destination, it’s about the journey there. We just visited an amazing place…The Pioneer Auto Show in Murdo, South Dakota. Not just an auto show, but a fantastic world of antiques! You name it, it was probably there! And right smack in the middle of…nothing! So many treasures, the boys were in boy heaven looking at all the Muscle cars, Danielle just loved all the old trucks, the little kids ran around doing a fun little treasure map following clues that led them from one building to another looking for the most exciting things little people can search for…kept them busy the entire time while everyone else had a great time seeing their favorites! (lots of great photos coming here, too!)

Okay, I have officially found my very favorite fields ever! Fields full of giant sunflowers, they are starting to die off, but with my imagination I can “see” just how miraculous this must be as they are in full bloom! Someday, I’d love to see that, I’m sure it would just take my breath away! Why don’t we have these in Idaho? Maybe that would be a fun thing to start!

We’ve arrived in Rapid City…biggest city I’ve seen in a long time…makes me a little more ready to be back to the Boise area…we could see lights for the longest time before we actually arrived. Cannot wait to sleep tonight and tomorrow will be a fun one ~ we’re off to see Mt. Rushmore and a huge array of other sights. Should be a fun one – and we’ll be back to the mountains, it’s been a long time since we’ve all seen mountains.

Well, time for a little shut eye...sure hope I can sleep with all these little snoring bodies all around me! If not, I'll be up and back at it and maybe I'll even venture out in the dark to retrieve the camera for all the great shots I left out of this blog. Until then...keep smiling!

The Journey Home...part 1

After leaving Nauvoo, we spent our first night in Des Moines, Iowa and visited the most amazing store! Bass Pro Shops…I have no idea how many pictures I took in this store. The artwork that filled the walls was breathtaking and the wildlife displays were done so beautifully.

Suspended from the ceiling were so many beautiful scenes, from looking up under the fish and the boats to the birds flying through the air, such a treat everywhere we looked!

This store actually put the Cabella’s from Wyoming to shame, hard to believe because it was pretty spectacular in itself, but this was really the best! We spent over an hour there and I think we could have been there half of a day. Not a single kiddo was ready to leave, including the biggest one -- Dad! hehe :)

On one side of the store they had an amazing restaurant and bowling alley. But this was no ordinary bowling alley, just take a look! Anyone would want to take up bowling just to bowl on these alleys. It was set up as an ocean scene.

These were the lanes you bowl down...so amazing ~ looked like the ball would just go right into the water full of fish and all -- and check out the ball retreival area ~ Scary!!!

Suspended above us, was an immense variety of ocean life coupled with a shipwreck nestled just above a freshwater tank filled with Nemo’s and Dory’s. Wish we could have tried our hand at bowling, but it was almost as much fun to just marvel at their creativity! And check out a couple of the fun bowling balls! Nestled between two areas of bowling lanes was another fun area for families to play together...had to get all the boys here!

And to end this fun place, I'll show you a few "fun shots" :)

"Come on, Daddy, I REALLY want one, please???"

"Come on Daddy, I really want one, please????" Ditto for the next two photos...

Until we reach this shot...it changes just a bit here..."COME ON MOM, WE REALLY, REALLY WANT ONE, PLEEEAAAASSSEEE???" Now this is some serious luxury...a boat that looks like this? The furniture in our home isn't this cush!

A fun way to start our day of driving...and we're off...what will we see next? What a journey!!!

Sarah Granger Kimball Home

This was a beautiful home with a spectacular view...the Nauvoo temple was such a sight to see as you peer out the front window or walk out through the door.

As I looked at the fireplaces these women cooked their meals on, I felt a sense of guilt at having my thoughts of "oh my word, I have to cook another meal" at least I get to do it in a quick and easy manner. All I have to do is go over and switch on my gas stove or oven and voila, I have instant heat, none of this fire stuff day in and day out. And then the long flowing dresses to contend with on top of it all. Many a woman suffered horrible burns and some even death after their dresses caught fire. The worst that happens to me is I burn myself now and again, but it's just a finger or something simple. (Note to self: I need to be more grateful for the ease of my life.)

This was amazing to me...how on earth would a person have been able to come up with the pattern for such an intricate piece of work. Still beautiful after so many years! Makes me wonder how many little people slept under this blanket made with so much love and care...

Had to share this photo, even though it's a bit fuzzy. See that wonderful little door? Doesn't seem like anything too spectacular or special, but oh it was! This home had two closets in it. Having a closet in your home was not a common thing. Only the wealthiest of people had closets in their homes. As I think about it, I don't remember seeing any others, wish I'd have checked that out a little more in a couple of the larger homes. I do remember seeing closets in the Mansion House, the home that the Prophet Joseph Smith and his wife, Emma, lived in for just 10 months before his death.

Another shot of the whole crew...we were quite a sight for so many of these sweet missionaries...I think we may have scared some, but after being with us, we warmed their hearts and they loved us, almost as much as we loved them!

And here are a couple of extra shots of some of the beautiful furnishings of this sweet home.

Time to say Good-bye

Leaving Nauvoo…

We left late yesterday evening, Tuesday, September 28th…I can’t fully describe the feelings with justice to how very hard it was to leave this place that became “home” to our family for the past few weeks. It was so much more than a physical house for us…emotionally and spiritually it felt like home. So welcoming, so sweet, so real, so simple ~ so peaceful…yes, even with 16 people in one little home, it was Peaceful…not peacefully quiet, a sense of peace that your heart feels even when your ears may be ringing with noise from little people all around you. Peace that your spirit feels and welcomes and appreciates. Peace that allows you to “feel” all of the essential emotions that sometimes lie dormant inside of us, just waiting for a safe place to come alive again.

We've spent 2 ½ weeks in this beautiful city and I still didn’t feel I could leave it…the Spirit that is present in the streets, in the homes, in the buildings, in the sweet people, and in the Temple are simply a treasure! I believe my favorite experience while here happened on a daily basis…each place we visited testimonies were shared with my children, stories that brought tears to the eyes of the storyteller as well as to all listening will forever be remembered, each detail is immaterial, but each feeling will hold precious memories that I hope will carry our children through a lifetime of trials and that they’ll be able to pull from their memory bank to strengthen them in times of need! I have been strengthened by the examples of the women that I’ve learned about while being here. When I think of what they endured, I don’t know that I could have survived the hardships and trials that they struggled through. I guess because I am a mother and a wife, I can more closely relate to them and to the heartache they felt as they lost their children and their husbands, as they labored so diligently and faithfully to do all that was at their hand.

As we drove away from "our home in Nauvoo" Danielle played the songs that we had come to know and love that were sung to us many nights in the Rendezvous of Old Nauvoo Production. This only added to the intensity I felt as we drove away. The tears were a rollin' and I just had to swallow it up and be grateful to be heading back to my real home with my dear hubby and kiddos....it's so good to be together again! How we missed our sweet Daddy.

Brick Yard

This place has something for everyone to enjoy...

One of our stops was the Brick Yard. They explained how the bricks were made and "cooked" and the very end we walked away with a brick of our own to take home for a souvenir.

And it was a great place to "Ham It Up" for a moment or two!!!

Who will make it to the front of the pack???

In just a little over 12 hours, I will be jumping into my husbands arms!!!

That is if I can fight my way to the front of the pack of kids racing toward him at the same time I will be :)

So the question is...should I be the nice momma and let all my kids who so desperately want to see their Dad lay their hands on him first??? OR, should I be the selfish wife, forgetting I'm supposed to be the nice momma, and try not to knock too many of them over as I push and shove my way to the front of the pack???



Just wondering what you would do if you were in my shoes in just a few short hours??? Gotta be heading out of here in just a few hours, it'll take us almost as much time to drive to meet him as it will for him to fly all the way from Boise. CRAZY! But it will be a fun ride cause everyone will be filled with anticipation and excitement.
We're planning to spend the day playing around in St. Louis....what an adventure this past few weeks has been for all of us. I'm really quite sad to see it all coming to an end, but I am so happy to be heading back home as a family with our Dad with us again.

Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo

The Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo Show put on by the couple missionaries was a hit for our kids! We've seen the show twice and they NEED their Dad to see it again when he returns...which by the way is tomorrow!!!! Hooray we are missing our Daddy so much...we've never been apart like this before and I've had some very homesick and Daddy-sick kids for the past few days. So, we visited last night and he's coming Saturday now. Cannot wait to see that adorable man of mine!!!!!!!

A Date with Grandpa Nick...a break for the Mommas!!!

So the day the van broke down and while my little Wyatt was snoozing after being loaded up on Tylenol to control his raging fever and headache, Grandpa Nick wanted to take Lynnelle and I out for a "Date". We had a great time, but it was a total secret ~ we had absolutely no idea where we were heading or what we were going to do. After driving past many a corn field mingled with a few soybeans fields here and there, we arrived at this sign...Oh My! We were in for some fun today!!!

If you can't see the sign so well, our arrival was at the Hancock Gun Club, for Private Members only. We were the only ones there. Oh good, no one would witness me making a fool of myself, was my first thought, well with the exception of Lynnelle and Grandpa Nick. It was fantastic, we had a great time. Grandpa Nick gave up some great teaching and safety for the guns, showed us how to load and unload, how to aim using the sights, or is it sites, don't really know, but I think you get the picture. Anway after our teaching moment, he set up free to shoot away.

My very first shot...guess what happened??? You might not believe it...but I really knocked down the bowling pin. WOO HOO...jumping up and down, but carefully mind you, because I do have a loaded gun in my hand!!! We shot several times, using two different hand guns. My preference was definately the 22, not such a kick and a whole lot less scary and raging loud. I guess I'm just a bit of a wimp, but that noise just penetrates my entire being and shakes me to the very core, so the 22 was the best fit for me. On my last time of shooting (10 rounds) I hit 3 down, but one just would not go and then all of sudden I knocked 'em all... 5 bowling pins on the ground!!! PROUD MOMENT for me :)

What do you find in a Round House???

Well, let me tell ya...

This amazingly sweet little lady invited our whole crew over when she found out we were homeschoolers...We were in for a treat! She and her adorable husband spent an hour and a half entertaining us. He is Tongan and she is Hawaiian. Together, they had and raised 14 children, no wonder our crew of 14 kiddos didn't seem overwhelming to them!

She makes the instruments they are playing for us....the harp was a favorite for most of my kids. I am missing a couple of kiddos today, Wyatt was sick and Myles so sweetly offered to stay behind to watch over him. (I think it's because he isn't a music lover, but I'm just gonna believe it was because he didn't want me to miss out on this incredible experience!)

Her husband is playing while she has this "little stick guy" dancing about...the kids loved it!

So you've probably already noticed this gorgeous floor. It is in the center of this round home. When we first arrived she had each of the kids stand in the center and say or sing something. It is called a Vortex and they could actually "feel" it when they spoke or made noise. It was so beautiful to look. She cut all of this out to be the centerpiece for her home. This home, by the way, had been a dream for them for many, many years. It is still somewhat under construction, but so amazing to walk through! From the outside you'd never guess the treasure that awaits you inside!

This was precious...Natalie had been standing just watching and listening and the next thing I know, she walks up ever so sweetly and puts her hand out just to feel underneath. Then after being satisfied, backed up and sat down to watch again.

This is a Psaltry...Bryce had a moment to take a turn at it. It's similar to a violin sound, but without all the SCREECHING noise that happens. It was really a beautiful sound to listen to.
Danielle and Cassie giving it a shot.And then comes the harp, they each had a turn to pluck away. The girls so desperately wanted one...and for a meager $4,000 I could purchase one for them. Not enough pennies in my pocket, so not today :( But if money were no big deal in my world, I'd have purchased one on the spot, without giving it a second thought!)

Great field trip!

Back home for lunch and out to a couple more places, (which I'll share soon) and then a little down time, the heat was so much that we just needed a break... and then we received an amazing break ~ all of a sudden a huge rainstorm hit...My little ones ran out and in just moments they were soaked to the bone, water dripping right off the ends of their little noses and so full of smiles.

What a fun end for an afternoon!

One of my very favorite thoughts I will leave with you tonight and then I'm off to bed...tomorrow is another adventure!!!

It's not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.

(When it pours again like last night, I am so totally dancing with all my kids out in the rain and then maybe we'll go for a skip around the block! It might take a little convincing for my boys, but my girls will be all over it!)