The scouts in our ward got to go to Nauvoo, Illinois this year for a very special camp. I think my favorite things they got to do were a 22 mile hike from Nauvoo to Carthage following the trail that Joseph and Hyrum Smith took and then being able to do Baptisms for the Dead in the Nauvoo temple. Jared and I have been talking about going to Nauvoo as a family, but the timing has been a little tricky. Since Jared was already going to be there with the scouts, and there were more than enough leaders later in the week, we decided that Tori, Garrett, and I would also make a venture to Nauvoo. I must admit that driving 5 and a half hours by myself with two small children made me really nervous. But, I think Heavenly Father was looking over us- Garrett was an angel and either slept or played with the toys on his car seat in between feedings! Tori was just plain awesome! We had our portable DVD player with us so she could watch movies, but once one was over she was so content with just singing or chatting with me. My favorite game she came up with was to watch for bumps in the road. I would tell her when one was coming and then she would squeal with delight when we would run over it. Then she would say, "sorry Cam for all the bumps"- it was adorable and kept her entertained for at least an hour!
Today I was even more grateful we went ahead and got Cam already- she made lunch time so much easier. It was so hot outside that we were able to eat inside in our wonderful air conditioning!!!
Tori ate like a champ!
Garrett was enjoying being out of his car seat for a bit!
So, the other day when we thought Garrett was grumpy because of teething, we were wrong. He actually had a nasty virus and woke up with a rash yesterday. Throughout Wednesday and today it has just gotten worse and worse. The sad thing is that there is really nothing, other than benadryl and putting cream on it, that we can do for it- we just have to let the virus run its course. Here is our sad-looking boy at our hotel- at least it doesn't seem to bug him too much!!!
Tori loved being out of the car and jumping on the beds!
Once we met up with Jared at the hotel, we packed up and headed into Nauvoo for dinner and then to meet up with the scout group. Our first official thing we did in Nauvoo was to attend a production called Sunset at the Mississippi. It was full of fun songs, great stories, some not-so-great but very heartfelt acting by the senior missionaries, and some very tender stories shared about the early saints in Nauvoo!
Tori loved all of the fun music (and being out of the car)!!!
She also had a great time clapping along with Alec, Rachel, and Adam!
The Senior Missionaries were so much fun to watch!
The Service Missionaries (all of them college-age) were ridiculously talented!!!
Tori and Rachel had a fantastic time playing in the rocks- go figure!
This was one of our favorite songs performed- love the fiddling!!!
After the performance, our group headed to the Seventies Hall. This building was basically the very first Missionary Training Center- it was so incredible being in a place where Joseph Smith taught those early missionaries!
Garrett loved standing up in the pews at the Seventies Hall!
Our group was able to have a brief devotional given by our Bishop. And then another one of those very special moments- we were able to be there as one of the young men in our ward was ordained a deacon! Following the ordination, we had a testimony meeting- it was awesome and the perfect way to wrap up the evening! I am so very glad that we decided to make the trek to Nauvoo this year- so far it has been fantastic!!!
