Nauvoo Weekend

We decided to take a little weekend trip to Nauvoo back in September.

It is one of my favorite things and holds a special place in my heart. Back in 2004 I was able to attend "BYU Nauvoo". It was a semester long program they used to do, but sadly not anymore since there are no funds. It was here I gained my testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the love I have for the pioneers. I cannot imagine going thourgh some of the things they went through and endured. They were very strong.

I also met some great people who I am friends with still to this day.

The Nauvoo Temple, one of my favorites!

Wagon Ride

Brick Yard

Nauvoo Temple again

Statue of Joseph and Hyrum Smith

Doing a temple session

This is Wilford Woodruff's home and is one of my favorite homes. It has 8 rooms with 8 fireplaces.

If I were to build a home, I would have a fireplace in every room too. It makes practical sense. :)

Inside Wilford Woodruff's home

Heber C. Kimball's home and Shayler's great, great, great Grandpa!

Heber C. Kimball

Nauvoo House

Mississippi River

On the drive we saw lots of this.

The poor dead corn didn't make it through the Missouri drought.

Ed. Week/UT Weekend Trip

Just about every year since 2002 I have been going to BYU Education Week. My best friend Chelsea invited me when we were sophomore's in high school and since then I have been hooked. It is one of the most rejuvenating weeks of the year for me. I love it! Since Shayler and I moved out of state and I started a new job I was only able to go for 1 day this year. 

Since I flew in on Friday morning I decided to stay for the weekend and go to the Brigham Temple open house with some friends from work too. I wish I could have seen more family and friends but wasn't able to since I didn't have a car and there wasn't enough time. All in all it was a fun, relaxing, and a much needed weekend. 

Me and Chelsea....10 years ago then...

10 years now.

She is the bestes friend anyone could have. We have known each other since we were 5...forever ago!

Love this ice-cream! It's the mint chocolate chip from BYU's creamery. I get it everyday I'm there.

With Chelsea's cute kids Matthew and Graham at Red Robin.

Brigham Temple

Old work buddies. From left to right.

Hannah, Geoff, Peter, Maggie, Me, Margot, Shirley, and Farrah.

Me and Margot

She is one of my favorite people to talk to. I can talk to her for hours on one subject and not get bored!

Me and Farrah

She is the best running buddy and friend. She invited me stay at her house over the weekend and has the cutest house!

After the Brigham Temple open house everyone from the "old work buddies" picture went to Shirley's house for a bar-b-que. It was delicious. After that, Margot, Farrah, and I went to Crystal Hot Springs and then to Maddox's Ranch House. They had amazing food...especially their steak and creamy mashed potatoes.

The morning my friend Farrah dropped me off at the airport, her and her husband decided to kill their rooster since it was soooo noisy. It made for a very interesting end to my trip to say the least. :) We had to catch the dang thing first, drain it's blood, be-head it, and then de-feather it. Here are the before and after pictures. 

Mr. Rooster

No more Mr. Rooster 

4th of July

4th of July was a little different for us this year. We normally would go to Shaylers friend parent's house for their big 4th of July party they throw every year back in UT. Well those people are the same people we moved in with for a month and half here in MO. They are out here to finish up working to retire and will move back to UT. We thought we would hang out with them, but you'll never guess what they did...they went back to UT to throw their big party. Small world, huh? :)

Since we didn't know anyone well enough in our ward to hang out with, we decided to go visit some church history sites in the Kansas City, MO area.

Inside Independence Visitors' Center

Independence Visitors' Center

Liberty Jail

This is where the Prophet Joseph Smith spent 5 months in jail and received three revelations.

Far West Temple site

Adam-ondi-Ahman

It's soooo green and pretty!

We were happy we did it this day since we never got the time to go back.

Washington DC/VA Trip

Before we moved to MO, we planned a trip to Washington DC and VA in June to see my nephew Jacob get baptized. Since we moved in May and Shayler started a new job he wasn't able to go. So I ended up just going. I took WAY more pictures than this but this gives the idea of all the things I did with my family.

Day 1 

The first day was my nephews birthday which made for a very busy day. We woke up early and went to Jacob's soccer game, my niece Kadence's dance recital, Jacob's baptism, and in the evening we finally celebrated Jacob's birthday with cake, icecream, and presents.

  

Jacob's soccer game

Kadence's dance recital.

Jared and Jacob at his baptism.

Opening presents.

Hanging out with my twin nephews Ben and Sam. This is one of the few pictures I could get of them BOTH looking at the camera.

Day 2

We headed to Washington D.C. and did the "National Mall" 2 mile walk.

The Washington Monument

World War II Memorial.

My Grandpa Smith served in this war, so we all wanted to get our picture with him.  

From left to right: My Mom, Jimmy, Kadence, Grandpa, Me, and Jill.

Abraham Lincoln Memorial

Inside the memorial

The Reflecting Pool behind us which is under construction.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Inside the Jefferson Memorial

The Holocaust Museum

We weren't allowed to take pictures inside so this is the only one I have.

Grandpa Smith with a land surveying mark.

He saw this mark and got really excited and wanted to take his picture with it since he's a land surveyor.

On a side note...He is the greatest example of what it means to work and work hard. He is retired twice and is STILL working at 87 years old running his own land surveying business along with making violins. (Yes, as in the instrument you play)  :)

Pushing the twins around.

Day 3

We woke up early this day to go to the Washington DC Temple and the National Air and Space Museum.

 Thanks to my brother Jimmy for being a trooper and watching Kadence and the twins, so we could go to the temple and do a session. :)

SR-71 Blackbird

               Behind us is the Discovery Space Shuttle             

    

This is by far my favorite picture I got of Ben. (Too bad it's blurry)

While waiting for my Mom and Grandpa to get done with walking around the twins started to get restless from being in the stroller, so we parked the stroller to let them out. Well Ben got away and Kadence noticed and ran to get him. He thought this was hilarious turning it into a game between the two of them, and did it over and over again. It was the cutest thing to watch! Made me want to have a one...hopefully soon. :)

Washington D.C. Temple

Angel Moroni

Grandpa and me

Day 4

This day we went to the National Museum of American History, the White House, and Arlington Cemetery.

This is a Sunstone from the Nauvoo temple, (one of my favorite things) I couldn't believe they had it here.

From the World Trade Twin Towers

The White House

Noticed who's finally in the pictures with us...Jacob. He was still in school while we were visiting and we hadn't seen him much, so I asked my sister if he could miss school and she said it was his choice. Me being the great example and aunt that I am convinced him to ditch school and hang out with us for the day. :)

Arlington Cemetery, it was huge!

Changing of the guards at The Tomb of the Unknowns. 

I thought it was neat how during hurricane Sandy the guards stayed posted here and didn't leave.

Memorial Amphitheater

The next weekend

Everyone had left by this time and my Dad and Grandma Hayes came for the weekend.

Going out to eat.

 From left to right: Jill, Grandma Hayes, Jacob, Me, Kadence, Dad, and Jared

Sam and Ben

(It's impossible to get them to look at the camera. As soon as I would try to sneak a picture, they would look away)

Keeping Sam entertained at Target.

Great Grandma Hayes (to Kadence) letting her drive the cart.