On our way to Alabama

 We had a family reunion in Alabama this year.  We decided to make a long trip, and break up the days of traveling along the way.  Our first stop was at Liberty Jail.  They have a neat visitors center there with a set up of the jail and figurines inside.  The Sister Missionary that led the tour was so sweet and nice.

 Next we stopped at Adam Ondi Ahman and saw the beautiful grounds there.  Then on to Jamesport, MO which is an Amish town.  I have always been interested in Amish life and the kids enjoyed seeing all the buggies we passed and how the people were dressed.  We went to a dairy farm and bought cheese and to a couple of stores.  The people were very nice and polite.

 Then, a few more hours and we made it to Nauvoo where we met up with Malinda and Jeralin.

 We took a horse carriage ride through town and the kids had front row seats.  They explained a lot on the carriage ride and Jackie let us know everywhere she wanted to go when we were done.

 Dallin found a nest that had fallen out of one of the many trees in Nauvoo.  It was so green and luscious there, very beautiful.

 This was the kids favorite place.  They got to dress ups like pioneers and play pioneer games. We stayed a couple of hours here and had a picnic lunch.

 The sister missionaries that were there were so fun and nice, helping the kids find clothes that fit and showing them how to play the games.  The couple missionaries were awesome as well, and made the experience really neat as we went in each house or shop.

 Stilts...they are harder then they look.

 Jeralin game Alyssa more than one piggy back while were together.  Alyssa would always ask where Jeralin was when she couldn't see her.

 The plays were so fun in Nauvoo, they were at the cultural hall and the missionaries did a fantastic job.  They were always waiting outside afterward and Brea really enjoyed hugging every singe one and pushing her little sister in for a hug as well.  They let them wear their hats and take pictures with them.

 We were able to stay with Malinda and Jeralin in this beautiful house.  We were the only ones there at the time so we had the place to ourselves.  It was so nice to stay right in Nauvoo and to be there together.  We had a BBQ out back and the kids had a playground and huge yard to play in.  We used the kitchen to make pancakes in the morning.  The kids even got their own beds, which was the only time that happened.  Usually we had a motel room with two Queen beds for 6 people to share.

 We were also within walking distance to the Nauvoo Temple.  I was able to go with Malinda and Jeralin (she did baptisms while we did initiatory).  It is a beautiful temple and it was neat to be inside.  They built it just as Joseph Smith and the early saints did and it had a huge assembly hall in the bottom that we were able to take a peek at.

 Another play, this time with the young missionaries.  They were so fun to watch, just good, clean, pure entertainment.

 While we worked on making a rope brea had a little rest with her triplets.

Alyssa's 3rd Birthday

 Oh my goodness, our baby is 3!  She was soooo excited for her birthday this year.  It was really cute at first, but after talking about it 20 times a day for the past month it got a little old.  She kept telling us that we were invited to her party and that she was having a party and that her birthday was coming.  Well, it finally came and with it Brea gave her a nice short HAIRCUT!  Yes, the day before Brea (who has already had the same thing happen to her) took her school safety scissors to poor Alyssa's head and her own.  Jeff and I were both home, having a nice adult conversation in our room....Alyssa is still cute and it is a lot easier to do (be positive, be positive)

 We did have a party for Alyssa, we had to after all the talk about it the past month.  She was so excited all day.  We went to the park and played games.  You can see the bowl of gumballs in the picture.  We have a couple boxes of gumballs in our garage for Jeffs candy machines and Alyssa LOVES them, but usually doesn't get one.  So we decided to spoil her on her birthday.  She probably ate 10 gumballs, she had about 2-3 in her mouth at a time.  I was thinking how great a Mother I was to let her enjoy some gum on her birthday, until I sat down on the blanket, right on a chewed piece of gum.  Only, I didn't know it was there, not until I stood up.  Gum does not easily come off, so I enjoyed the rest of the party with sticky pink hanging of my back side.  Yes, I am a good Mom!

 Alyssa enjoyed the park and Rose Mary was very nice to push her for quite awhile.

Princess Alyssa, she walked around the park with the high heals on, I don't know how she managed but she sure thought she was something special -which she is!
Now that Alyssa is three she thinks she is too big for naps and is big enough to do whatever she would like.  She is always saying, I'm big now.  But, she still takes a nap....and is much sweeter when she awakes.  She now constantly asks what our favorite color is, instead of inviting us to her party.  She asked Jeralin that about 15 times while they were here.  She likes books and is very into Dora the explorer.  She had a keen memory and will surprise us with the things she remembers.  She feels bad when she hurts someone and will break down in tears and say she is sorry, which is really sweet to see.  She reminds us a lot of Dallin, the sound of her voice and her round face.  Yet, she has her own personality that makes her unique.  Happy 3rd to our baby!

Colorado Springs fun with Aunt Malinda and Jeralin

Malinda and Jeralin stopped by to see us for a couple of days on their trip across the county.  We love having company and were happy to have them.  We spent the day at the mining museum where the kids got to dress up and go panning for gold.

 Alyssa made a cute miner!

 There "treasures" were tiny pieces of gold....they were hard to find but the each kid found about 5 pieces of something beautiful.

 The grounds all around the mining museum were fun to explore as well.  They had old machinery and buildings and even some animals.

 Brea found some pretty flowers for Momma!

 These two cousins had fun together, playing games, visiting, and hiking.

 An old train made a great backdrop for this Momma and her four fun kiddos

 We also drove through Monument and showed Jeralin the house her Dad grew up in.  The very next day the Black Forest area was ablaze with fire and the house we drove by was on evacuation notice.  Luckily it was not burned, but 300 other homes were.

 After Monument we met Jeff at Garden of the Gods.  We are so lucky to live near such beauty and the fact that it is free is amazing this day and age.

The morning they left Malinda was so kind to read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom to the girls.  We sure enjoyed having them with us.