Parks, Butterflies, Dogs and Other Things

This park was so unique and fun with “underground” tunnels everywhere.

Double arches! Check out that St. Louis arch cloud!

This butterfly house was so fun. I’ve always wanted to go to one.

The kids all tried to attract the butterflies by putting fruit juice on leaves in their hands.

Townes was the only one who was really successful, much to the chagrin of his sisters.

Mabel got a butterfly visitor for a brief moment.

The day before we left St. Louis we went to Purina Farms for a dog show and to see 

all their farm animals. The cats they have available for adoption were the kids’ favorite.

Townes discovered multiplication and his excitement about it is contagious.

He writes down all the math facts he learns in this little notebook.

We worked on a family vision board, and the next morning Margot came up with her own.

While packing up to move to the next place I found this fortune shoved in the bottom of a box.

Nauvoo, IL Day 2

Dave’s other brother, Derek, joined us for day two in Nauvoo. (It’s been so great to see family on this trip.) We had another full day of pioneer fun. It was a great trip and I’m so glad we were able to do it.

I learned so much about oxen on this 15 minute wagon ride, it was awesome!

This sun stone sits in front of one of the original quarries for the temple stones.

The Family Living Center was full of hands on activities for kids. We made rag rugs,

dipped candles,

made wooden barrels,

spun rope,

and even made our own bricks - just like the pioneers.

Decorating bricks

This is during a tour of the schoolhouse.

We recreated some of our favorite sculptures.

One last look at the temple before we headed back to St. Louis.

Nauvoo, IL Day 1

Since we were only a few hours away we decided to take a weekend trip to Nauvoo, Illinois and learn about the early pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We went just before the busy season when everything was open but there were few tourists and the weather was perfect. There are so many things to see and learn about that time period in our history, and it’s free! The last time we visited was in 2014 when the big girls were 17 months old. 

An original sun stone from the Nauvoo temple, built in 1846 

(destroyed by fire in 1848 and then rebuilt in 2002).

Petting the horses that took us on a carriage ride around town.

Enjoying pioneer games and dress ups.

Trying out the stilts

Frontier life is tough

So much work to do

We visited Carthage Jail. The last time I was here was with my mom 

so it was really touching to be back again.

A view of the Mississippi River in front of the temple.

Some of us were grouchy

Reading the stories along the Trail of Hope, where the Saints lined up to cross the Mississippi River 

when they were run out of Nauvoo.

We found some super cute pioneers …

… and some crazy ones

Touching the Mississippi River 

It’s really wide!