Monday, April 25, 2011

Iowa is Wonderful!

These pictures were taken during the last part of our trip to Iowa. I am so glad we were able to go spend some time with my nieces and nephews. The kids had a great time too! We were able to do a lot of fun things together. It was neat to finally be able to see where John and Val have been living for the last several years!
Beverly playing at Tot Time. We had a great time at the local recreation center. Every morning they have a time where kids six and under can jump in bounce houses, ride bikes, etc.
My girls were very fascinated by this Hawk....so they wanted a picture with it!
This is at the Mormon Handcart Trail Park. Back in the day the railroad ended in Iowa City, and so the pioneers rode the train here and then built their handcart for the journey West.
These two boys had such a great time on this trip!
I am very jealous of there amazing library! Cecilia is playing outside the library at the park.
We went to the Children's Museum while we were in Iowa City. They had many fun exhibits. These two girls were playing in the medical exhibit.
You could roll balls down this simulated roller coaster. It was exciting for the kids to see if the balls would make it to the end of the track!
Climbing a rock wall
This picture is a little dark, but I still thought it was cute! I have to add a note about Ben! He was so helpful and amazing, helping out constantly with all seven of the kids!
This is a parachute drop. You would use the pulley to hoist a parachute up high and then when it made it to the top it would automatically drop.
They made rockets together and then launched them. They did this together for quite awhile!
The two little girls "flying a plane" together!
Leonard has some precious smiles! He sure knew how to melt my heart!
In the craft room at the museum. They made masks!
Cecilia is chilling out at the Farm Exhibit.
In the mall they had a fun carousel that the kids rode on together!
They did not want to leave the mall's play area, but it was getting late!

On the last evening we were there we went to the kiddos school fun night. The girls all had their nails painted!
Cecilia flying home!

I had to post this! I could not believe all of the wildlife that was in Iowa. In the Blau's front yard at any time you could wild bunnies, squirrels and many birds! If you can not tell from the clip all of the bumps on the tree were birds! It was crazy!!!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

A Great Adventure!

We spent the beginning of April in Iowa and Illinois. We flew out to Iowa to take care on my John and Val's four kid's while they were in Europe. The first few days of our trip were spent with my parents in Nauvoo. None of my family had been there before, and so it was truly and great adventure for us. This post covers some pictures from our flight and our trip to Nauvoo:
Julia waiting for our flight
Benson in the Denver airport.
Ben and the girls had a great time on the plane.
Benson and I on the plane
These two guys are such great buddies!
On a carriage ride around Nauvoo. Janie and Julia really had a great time together!
Here, the kids are looking at the horses that gave us a carriage ride.
Making rope together
Cute cousins!
It was so funny! Alton and Benson took turns giving each other massages!
They went to school in Nauvoo.
We were a big crew!
They were picking out a prarie diamond.
We went to a play in Nauvoo.
A picture of the Nauvoo Temple at night!
The kids hanging out in the awesome hotel room in Nauvoo. In this one room there was enough room for 12 people! It was so fun!
Inside the jail room where Joseph Smith and others were kept in Carthage.
We are inside the room where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred. It was a neat experience to be here.
They are in front of the Carthage jail.
I love these guys!
A bunch of fun kids!
Leonard, Cecilia and Grandpa...I think Grandpa was a little worried Leonard was going to be tipped by CC, but we took the picture really quick. I promise he did not fall!
Grandpa, Ben and the kids!
Grandma with most of her Grandchildren
We walked along the trail that was initially called the Trail of Tears because it was the trail that the pioneers walked along when they were leaving Nauvoo. It is now called the Trail of Hope. Benson and his cousin Alton read most of the signs out loud for us along our walk.
They were playing on a ferry replica beside the Mississippi.
Cecilia standing beside the Mississippi River.
A nice shot of the Nauvoo Temple.

I thought that this was an interesting picture of the sun and star motifs on the side of the temple. There were also moons on the sides as well.