A Trip to the Past

After our fun time in Cape, we headed up north. Chad decided that as long as we were on the eastern side of Missouri, we should take the kids and show them a little bit of history in Nauvoo, Illinois.
Chad also decided that we should be authentic and stay in a log cabin. I was a little skeptical at first, but they have updated the cabins to include running water, electricity, and the all important...cable tv! (It was the week of the Winter Olympics after all!) So other than being a little short on space, but then so are hotel rooms, staying in a log cabin was a great experience. The kids were so excited about the log cabin, especially the bunk beds. The first thing they did when we got there was to climb up to the top bunk and beg me to take their picture.
One of the nights we were there, they even wanted to share the same bed. (I guess they were going for completely authentic with lots of kids in one bed!) I wasn't sure that would go well because I have slept with both of them and they both kick...a lot! But we let them do it and they actually both slept great and thought they were so cool. (I thought I had a picture of them asleep, but I guess not.)
We had a great time in Nauvoo and learned lots of things about the pioneers. (Apparently I did not use my camera nearly as much as I thought I did though. Of course, you might be grateful for that.) Having grown up in the Midwest and experienced cold Midwestern winters, I did not think going to Nauvoo in February was a great idea. (I clearly had a lot of reluctance on this trip. But thankfully my husband held firm and we had a great time!) However, after having done it, I could be talked into doing it again. While it was cold, it was not very busy. So we could drive from place to place and not have trouble finding close parking, thus we were able to avoid a lot of the cold. Also, the missionaries had lots of time to spend talking to us and could adjust their spiels to our young children without others missing out. They gave the kids lots of attention and lots of fun souvenirs to take home.
While we were in Nauvoo, we learned how to
make bread,
make our very own rope,
make candles,
as well as horseshoes, bricks, guns, and various other pioneer essentials. They also showed us what school was like back then, as well as a variety of things that pioneer children had to do.
We even got to go on a wagon ride. It was very cold, but they snuggled us up in lots of warm blankets. Addy and Emily were so warm that they even managed to get a nap in along the way!
Addy was grateful when we finally went some place where she could actually touch all the neat stuff that she saw. (Nauvoo is not necessarily an ideal place for an 18-month-old!) She learned what pioneer babies got to play with!
Emily also showed her how helpful big sisters are, back then and now!
One of the nights we were there, we went and watched the show that the missionaries put on. It was very cute and lots of fun! The kids did an excellent job sitting still and watching.
Cole and Em cheesing before the play started,
and hiding while waiting for it to start.
Even Addy was cute and friendly for most of the time!
The highlight of the trip was seeing the Nauvoo temple. It was so beautiful sitting up on the hill overlooking the town.
Cole has been fascinated with temples ever since we went through the Draper Temple Open House, so he especially thought it was cool to see, although he wished he could go inside.
All in all, I think we had a great time in Nauvoo. I think even the kids developed a little bit of an appreciation for what the early Saints went through and what great sacrifices they made. We also had lots of good family bonding time! I think we were all still even speaking to each other when we left!
Bring on the next adventure!