A Little on our Trip to Nauvoo, IL

Getting Kyle all to ourselves for 2 1/2 days for a family vacation was a rare and special treat we relished. Right now we are in such a great spot with our kids -- Cade is really interested in Church History and Savannah comprehends much more than the last time I went down with my parents when they came to Chicago for a visit. Cade was 4 and Savvy was 15 months-ish.  This time around we had no stroller, diapers, or bottles to tote!

The 4 hour drive there was rather painless (a far cry from the road trip down and back that I took with my parents. I recall Savvy hollering for the majority of the way) For me personally, sitting anywhere for 4 hours isn't exactly comfortable, but it was well worth it. After all, it was a cushioned seat, I had air conditioning, and moving significantly faster than your average ox cart, which is around 3-5 miles per hour. On a really good day.

We stayed at a delightful place called The Nauvoo Grand Bed and Breakfast.  Our "room" was in the attic portion of the home which was a perfect set up for us. It had a queen and two twins up there, and very spacious-- and the same price as it would have been for any of the regular rooms that would not have been near as accommodating for the little ones. The bathroom was tiny, but we made do just fine. I wasn't there to take bubble baths and read. Maybe next time?  The ceilings reminded me of the second floor in our old Chicago home-- the upstairs was certainly built for a Woodbury. Someone of greater stature would not be comfortable and would likely hit their head at some point, but none of us resemble basketball heroes so we got along just fine up there and walked away bump free-- minus Savannah, but that's to be expected, low ceilings or not. She'll always manage to find a way to get a knot on her head.

Some of the highlights

For Michelle:
Home made breakfast served to me every morning! The food was incredible. I would have been thrilled with the average bacon, eggs, pancakes type meal, but we got much better than that.

Going to the temple. Kyle was really thoughtful and stayed at the B&B while both kids napped (Cade was a bit under the weather) so I could do a session at the Nauvoo Temple.  It was wonderful.  The Nauvoo temple is beautiful beyond description. Even the lockers in the dressing room are luxurious.  Lots of stairs to climb, though the sweet temple workers kindly offered the elevator to me. I declined but my quads were begging otherwise.  I appreciated feeling the calming Spirit and having some quiet time for reflection, both of which the temple always has to offer, no matter which one I choose to attend.

Zion's Mercantile--- food and finds!  Just before my temple session I stopped in for a delicious chicken salad sandwich (shocker-- the daily special was chocolate bread pudding with a scoop of ice cream and I did not order it. I know, what's wrong with me!?)  and found some darling candlesticks. While I like to find crystal or glass candlesticks at antique stores when I go out of town, Zion's Merc carries some darling ones and saved my family painful detours through rural Illinois in search of the perfect set.

Chatting with the missionary couples who serve in the historical sites and the temple.  The sites and temple run on 380 missionaries who are all there voluntarily. These couples leave the luxuries of retired life behind and serve for 18 months (some more, some less) on their own dime so that people can experience the incredible Spirit the city of Nauvoo has to offer. It was fascinating to me to hear about all of the logistics that go on behind the scenes to make Nauvoo the historic gem that it is. These senior couples (some of them near 80 years old!) work 13 and 14 hour days, survive on 6 hours of sleep, and remind me of how much one can really get accomplished in a single day. I learned that if Kyle and I want to serve a mission in Nauvoo when our kids are grown and out of the house, the only for sure ticket in is to be a teamster with horses. It's a dying art we are told, but if you have horses and can bring them to Nauvoo, they'll be happy to take you. :)

The bricks.  What a significant meaning the Brickyard had to me.  Why were so many of the early saints so bent on building their homes with bricks once they reached Nauvoo?  Building a brick home signified permanence. Be truly settled. Having a home.  After being driven out of every city the Mormons had settled in, Nauvoo was finally a place they could happily settled down in without fear of being run out. Or so they thought. This really struck a chord with me.  Some of these families finished their brick homes just a few months before they had to leave and move westward to seek refuge for a new Zion.  I've been settled in my home for about 6 months now, which has had the most permanent feeling any dwelling we've ever experienced in the last 7 years.  If I was told I had to move in 2 weeks would I do it? My heart breaks for all of those families who were driven out of their Beautiful Nauvoo so that we could enjoy the blessings of the gospel that we have today.

For Cade:

Catching lightning bugs at night in the field behind the B&B. He named his first one Bronie. Bronie died the next day, so Cade and Daddy caught a bunch more the next evening and name them all Dave, in honor of one of their favorite Dr. Seuss stories.

Catching a toad just before the "Sunset on the Mississippi" show. When Cade brought him home that night the frog was being really still, so he thought it died and placed him in the trash can. When he woke up the next morning, the little guy was no longer in the trash can. Smart toad. :) Apologies to the Nauvoo Grand inn keepers.... there is a frog on the loose in your home.

Getting a Prairie Diamond and a horse shoe made for him at the Blacksmith Shop.

Carthage Jail.  Cade is fascinated with Joseph Smith and to be at the place where Joseph was martyred was really special for Cade. We had been there before, but he didn't remember it, so I was glad we took him again. Cade kept asking the tour guide/sister missionary questions about Porter Rockwell (Joseph Smith's body guard and Cade's church history hero). "Where was Porter Rockwell when Joseph died?  Why wasn't he at the jail with Joseph?  How did he know when Joseph died?  Did he get the mean guys in the mob and kill them?"  It really bugs him because he just knows if Porter had been there, Joseph wouldn't have been killed.

For Savannah:

Ice cream, or Custard rather. Can't remember the name of the place, but it smelled heavenly of sugar, spice and everything nice.

Dressing up like a pioneer at Pioneer Past Times and playing house in the little log cabin and riding the pretend horse.

Catching a firefly at the B&B. She named hers Chrysanthemum.

Watching the very kid friendly play, "Just Plain Anna Amanda."

Singing "I am a Child of God" on the carriage ride.

Watching one of the oxen do his business during the  Ox Cart ride.

Dancing in the field while the Young Ambassadors were performing.

This morning she told me, "all the places we went in Nauvoo were my favorite." So cute.


For Kyle. (He may have to edit some of this, but I think these were a few of his favorite moments)

The Jonathan Browning Home and Gun Shop. Kyle was quite near drooling during the tour of the Browning House. It has been said of his son that no one else has contributed more to the national security of this country than this man. He was a remarkable inventor and passed his knowledge, talent and business on to his sons and the Browning gun industry is still in the family today.

Going to the Seventies Hall and finding the name of one of his ancestors as one of the Seventies who served in Nauvoo.  He was able to research at Land and Records in Nauvoo where he owned property and was given a map of where to find them. He later discovered a grandfather on his other side was also a settler in Nauvoo and owned a significant amount of property and apparently some of it is still in his name today. He was particularly close friends with Joseph Smith. We drove to a few of the plots and took some pictures. Kyle walked around and told Cade some of the stories about them.

Watching the World Cup (while the kids napped). :)

Fire fly catching with the kids.

Dancing with Savannah in the field (she was determined to be just like the Young Ambassadors on stage dancing and demanded a partner)