Nauvoo Pageant

This past week started slow, but ended with a wonderful little vacation. We got a phone call last saturday calling Jon in for an interview. In short, we got excited purchased a flight, Short Notice never cheap, and flew him Wednesday morning to Utah. He interviewed around 2:00 and we held our breath. That night while he was basking in the Morgan air he got a phone call saying he didn't get the position. Slash, money and hopes gone. However, we will keep going; he flew home on Thursday and worked hard on Friday. While daddy was gone we kept him in our prayers each night, morning, and meal. It obviously wasn't meant to be. We had a lot of fun out at the pool and the girls absolutely love Jon's Co-worker Stevie! It helps that he works at the pool every day and he rides a motorcycle. The girls dreamy eyes look for him each time we pass the pool. We captured some photos of them with Stevie on his bike. On Friday the kids and I went to the zoo to see the new Sea Lion exhibit. It was fabulous. The show was spectacular and the underwater viewing area is very cool. Finally, Saturday came and we loaded up the car. Yes, the entire family Jon included and drove to Nauvoo where we enjoyed the festivities of the Nauvoo Pageant. It was really fun to see the people they bring in for the pageant. They are from all over the world including Ireland and England, and the performers are very good. This trip I tried focusing on helping Makenna to feel the spirit and build her testimony as she is preparing for Baptism next spring. I truly want her to have a testimony and she tried hard to listen and learn and I know she felt the Spirit. What better a place than Nauvoo to capture the fire of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We were able to watch a musical, the kids were in a parade, go to an old fashioned fair, and stay up until 11:00 pm watching the majestic pageant. We visited Carthage Jail on the way home Sunday morning and Jon toured the jail with Kenna while I wrestled the three kids outside. We arrived home in time to relax and unwind from the journey. Monday always brings new hopes and encouragement so here comes Monday yet again. With more fervor and zeal to live the gospel and help Jon fulfill his calling as a provider we continue forth thanks to the wonderful opportunity to feel the testimony of the saints which sacrificed and yet still lived in Joy. Thanks to the saints who traveled by handcart and watched the beloved prophet's martyrdom. How blessed are we, how very blessed are we!!!

4th of July in St. Louis and Visitors.

The 4th of July was a memory maker for us. We had a wonderful time at a old fashioned candy throwing parade in St. Charles with our friends and then took the family down to the Arch where we lounged and listened to "Heart" play quite a concert. The kids enjoyed the festivities, rock climbing and a magic show. The fireworks were spectacular over the arch very grandeur. Then the chaos began. I seriously had never seen so many people in my life. I felt like an ant in a stampede. It took us 2 hours to get out of the parking garage. YIKES! Still worth it, I think :) Then a few days later we had fabulous visitors. Tom and Sarah came to visit and we had quite the 2 days. First we went to see "Brave" WOWSERS, loved it. Tom didn't get to see much seeing that he took Lily out and when the movie was over I found her screaming and had Peed on Him. . . OOPS guess I should have given him a diaper and bottle. ;/ The next day we went to the City Museum where we climbed around like rats in cages up and through and around every nook and cranny. There was even a 10 story spiral slide that Jon and I went on; it wore us all out so we came back and relaxed and enjoyed each others company. Family is fantastic. Thanks Tom and Sarah for coming out of your way to visit us and your new truck is a beauty :)

Six Flags and Summertime Peaches

On Monday I made arrangements to take Makenna and Autumn to Six Flags. We took our friend Shayna so there would be equal riders and left the other kids with my friend Amanda. It was SO much fun! The girls are at the perfect age to ride most of the rides and we spent a lot of the time at hurricane harbor soaking up the sun and riding water slides. Makenna was super brave and wanted to ride the big slides so I took her on a few while Autumn stayed on the smaller ones. It was fun to connect with my girls on an putting just with them and Let me say it was my kind of outing. . . There favorite ride just happened to be the big tsunami one where you ride up and then fall down a hill and get splashed to bits by water. Then after the ride you stand in front of the slide and it sprays you with a 20ft wave. Lets just say we rode it 3 times and were soaked. They also loved the tallest ride n the park, it was the swings that rises higher than the superman ride. The girls went on it all by themselves while I stood at the bottom and watched. When we got home from the event we were so tired and heat exhausted that we all fell asleep on a heart beat and when I woke up I realized Dean had stayed awake and went downstairs and watched a movie while we were passed out. At least he was good. On Wednesday Jon's company decided to go out to lunch. We decided to pass on the famous BBQ joint where everyone else was going and went to a mexican restaurant then I took him to pick the best peaches in the world. Eckerts Farm is awesome, we picked peaches last time we were here and I loved them so this time the whole family picked and I brought them home and bottled 10 jars of them. It will be fun to bring home a small piece of St. Louis. I now have bottled St. Louis Jam and St. Louis Peaches. My goal is to get some Salsa done before I head home. . . We will see! It was super fun to watch the kids go crazy over fresh peaches and Lily was the one who was in heaven the most. She devoured a few peaches while on the farm and then when I came home I found that all I had to do was put her in her high-chair with a peach and she would be quite for quite some time. Fabulous!!! The rest of the week has been slow and hot. The temp has reached 110 degrees plus humidity. It hasn't even been cool in our apartment so now I am trying to find things to do inside where there is air conditioning. I'll see if I can post a few more fun events in the last 4 weeks that I am here. Yeah, that's right I only have 4 more weeks and then I am headed home for Utah where there is camping and family and my Dad's garden, and my house. Let's just say I am starting to get excited the only thing that would make me happier is if Jon found a job and we were going together. Guess I can't have my cake and eat it too. Life is an adventure, let's stay positive and have a blast!