He's a Poet...and He Knows It!

Jeremy really got into his poetry assignment a couple of months ago and came up with this piece.  It was not one of the required poems, but it was by far my favorite.  Enjoy!

Your Armor

by Jeremy Cannon

To wear the suit;

To be the hero;

Beneath the iron plates

And chain mail.

Enthralled by the protection

In the midst of battle

While slashing and hacking

Your enemies.

You find yourself dependent 

Upon the armor;

The metal that envelops and

Coats you.

Your skills and sword

Are your saviors;

Your shield and armor,

Your protection.

But when the clubs

That shatter bones

And the blood-stained swords

Do vanish

To be replaced by words

That shatter souls

And vengeful attitudes

That cripple.

The iron plates cannot block

The harmful, hateful words;

Perhaps, what is needed is

New armor.

So replace the plates

With a strong spirit;

The shield with the ability

To ignore.

Your sword is now wits,

Which become sharper

When skill is replaced

With wisdom.

To have that spirit;

To be truly happy;

Beneath the joyful expression

And purity.

Grateful for the protection

In the midst of society

Ignoring harsh comments

And retorts.

Your wits and wisdom

Are your new saviors

Now that you have the

Better armor.

Happy Birthday To Me!

I have the best family in the world.  I got to relax all day long.  They fixed me dinner and a delicious cake.  Each one picked out their own gifts and I loved all of it.  Being spoiled is awesome!!

 Naomi found her Angry Birds hat and decided I needed a Perry the Platypus hat as well.  She was absolutely right.  I am stylish, happy and warm all at the same time.  The boys picked out Evanescence albums for me and we rocked out to those.

Warm feet and head!  I am ready for the cold now.  Thanks, Honey!

Did I mention that I have the best family ever?!!!!??

The Tooth Fairy

 

 

When I picked Naomi up from her friends house after school on December 1st she was excited to show me how loose her tooth was.  When she started to wiggle it, it fell out.  We rushed home to put it in an envelope.  She insisted on putting it in a plastic baggie. 

WAIT!  I need to give you some background information so this story will make more sense.  Our tooth fairy is incredibly efficient and will sometimes come while the kids are brushing their teeth.  The last time Naomi lost a tooth we put it in an envelope so it wouldn't get lost and she carefully placed it under her pillow.  Steve got home from work just in time to help put the kids in bed.  Naomi had been waiting all day to show him her tooth.  Well, the tooth fairy was very efficient this particular night with dramatic/traumatic results.  After brushing her teeth, she climbed into bed to retrieve the envelope to show her daddy her tooth and found that the Tooth Fairy had already come.  She was devastated.

Okay, now back to December 1st.  She put the tooth in a plastic bag this time so she could SEE it.  She didn't let the bag out of her sight.  At one point she had to put the bag down to do something.  She quickly picked it back up, handed it to me and very seriously said, "Mommy, watch this tooth so it doesn't turn into a dollar before Daddy sees it."  I am glad that she dashed off to complete her task because I couldn't keep a straight face for very long.  I love this little girl. 

November - Just a bunch of nuts

We are having WAAAAAAYY too much fun doing our Christmas shopping this year.  If we are not having fun we are not doing it right. 

As unfun and stressful as October was, November made up for it and then some.  November 1st Jeremy was awarded the "Outstanding Student" award for his grade.  He also made the Sweet 16 for having one of the 16 highest math scores in the entire 8th grade.  November 2nd the parents were invited to the poetry cafe in Ms. Baker's 8th grade literature class.  She had the room decorated with lights and table cloths.  Each student read two of the poems from their project.  We snapped our fingers instead of clapping.  It was tons of fun.  Jeremy also won his class spelling bee that day. 

November 3rd we went to see Wreck-It Ralph as a family.  We all really enjoyed it.  Going to movies as a family is one of our favorite things to do.  We especially love it when the movies of our choice are playing at The Gem Theater in Kannapolis.  The Gem is an old theater that has been turned into a movie theater so it has a balcony and fun murals on the walls.  You can't beat the price of $4.00 a ticket either. 

November 4th Jeremy was set apart as the secretary in the deacons quorum. 

November 6th we all stayed up late to watch the election results trickle in.  President Obama was re-elected in a very close race.  Governor Romney ran a good race but fell short in the end.  The popular vote ended up being 49% for Romney and 50% for Obama.   I love it that the kids are so involved in and interested in the way the United States functions.  They need to know how it all works.  They are the future. 

November 9th-11th Steve was a leader at the Outdoor Leadership Training for the scouts.  He is having a blast working with other scoutmasters in the district and especially loves teaching at these events. 

November 9th, Nicholas attended his first school dance.  I was nervous because Nicholas normally doesn't like loud and crowded places.  When I picked him up he was full of stories of how fun it was and all the things he did with his friends.  We went straight from the dance to the Boy Scout auction at church.  I don't know how much money we earned in the end, but it was a fun night. 

November 11th was the primary program.  Nicholas and Naomi did a great job.  Jeremy loved sitting in the congregation and watching.  That evening, after Steve got back from camping, we celebrated Naomi's birthday since the week was full of other activities every night.  We ate her favorite dinner, stroganoff, and had rainbow Jell-o for dessert.  I can't believe my baby is 7!!!

Monday was a day off of school for Naomi, so Steve and I took her to the computer store to purchase her Nexus tablet.  She had saved up her half of the money right in time for her birthday.  They didn't have one in stock, but another store in Tennessee had one and would send it overnight to their location.  Naomi was okay with that.   Later that afternoon we went to the mall to give Naomi another one of her presents.   I had been teasing her for weeks that one of her presents was going to make her jump right out of her pants.  When we started approaching the Mall Jump she figured out the clues I had been giving her all along.  She begs to try it everytime we pass it and today she got to do it.  She was really excited and it was worth every second of the high-flying fun. 

Nicholas found a watch he really liked at the mall and wanted to know if Santa could get it for him.  Luckily the store had a lay-away program for Santa.  We put Nicholas's name on the watch and he was satisfied that Santa would come through.  That night as I was putting him to bed he started crying because he was worried that his other watch would feel bad because it wouldn't be his favorite watch anymore.  He is such a sweet kid. 

November 13th, Naomi's actual birthday, was a busy day.  I took icecream sandwiches to her class over lunch as her birthday treat.  I was also tutoring math and reading in her class that day, driving carpool for Nick, fixing dinner, picking up Naomi's Nexus, and helping in scouts. 

November 17th Jeremy earned the money for his tablet.  We took the kids to the computer store again.  The employees there are starting to call us by name - kind of like "Norm" on the show Cheers.  I don't know if that is a good thing.  Anyway, Jeremy picked out his tablet.  Since the time Nicholas purchased his in September, the tablet market has exploded.  He was a little upset that Jeremy could get a better tablet for the same price Nick had paid in September.  Steve and I had already thought this might happen and had a plan in place.  I offered to "buy" his old tablet from him so he could get this newer one with a front/back camera, 16 GB of memory and a mini-SD card.  It was definitely a win-win sitution.  It was good lesson in how fast technology advances and what happens the prices of items when they become "outdated" so quickly. 

November 19th I cooked two turkies to take into Nicholas's class for the annual Thanksgiving Feast they have for the 5th graders.  I loved getting to meet some of his friends and their parents.   This is a good group of kids. 

November 21st Nicholas and Naomi went to the dentist and got great reviews.  Nicholas was very relieved that no more teeth had to come out.  The doctor just said he needed to brush his teeth better and suggested getting a Sonicare for the kids.  YIKES!!

That night I had a Girl's Night Out with Tabitha and Tracy.  We went to see the new Twilight movie.  It was surprisingly good.  I don't know if it was the movie or the fact that we were without children that made the night so much fun.  It could have been both. 

Thanksgiving Day was great!!! The kids helped fix the meal and clean up afterwards.  Steve went to the midnight sales.  He is a Black Friday junky!!  I am not complaining because he found Sonicare toothbrushes for 60% off at Kohl's.  Combine that with an additional 15% off since I have a Kohls card and a $10.00 coupon I got in the mail earlier in the week and the result was 3 toothbrushes with refill heads for everyone for the price of one.  The kids now have Sonicare.  Next dental visit should be the best one ever for everyone. 

November 23rd everyone straightened up the house in anticipation for Nicholas's new friend to come and play.  Nicholas is taking Mrs. Hammond's advice seriously and is making new friends.  When he came home one day asking if Tyler could come over, I got on the phone immediately and called Tyler's mother, whom I have met on several occassions at school parties.  Her excitement matched mine since Tyler is apparently very much like Nick, a little hesitant to make new friends.  They had a blast playing all day long and were exhausted by the time we took Tyler home. 

November 28th Nick got his progress report.  He was over-the-moon excited to show me and Steve that his Social Studies and Language Arts grades had both come up from a C to a B.  I love it that he has a teacher he admires and who motivates him to try harder and be better. 

I told you that November was a great month!!!  Here's to a fantastic December!!

October - Scary Stuff!!!

 

October started out with us joining a fitness club - Yea!!! - and then having to cancel our membership the very next day because Steve needed to have a new crown - Boo!!!  That was the first two days of the month.

 

 

On the 3rd of October Jeremy came home from school VERY upset.  He had gotten into his first fight.  Apparently, the other kid was using some offensive language around the girls in the group and Jeremy told him to clean it up around the ladies.  The kid started throwing punches and being even more obnoxious.  It ended when the other kid threw Jeremy's shoe into the pond and an adult came running to help Jeremy out.  The other kid scrambled.  Thank goodness this did not happen on school property or Jeremy might have been suspended within he first week of school.  I told him I was proud of him for defending the girls, but I didn't want any more fighting.  He agreed that maybe this group was not the best social time and he said he would come straight home from school from then on. 

 

Over Conference weekend we decided to give our house a face lift.  The shutters were all sun bleached a different shade of green and it made our house look sad.  We planned out the project between sessions, got the shutters cleaned off  and I bought the paint later in the week.  By the next weekend our house was smiling again.  It is amazing what a couple coats of paint can do. 

 

While Jeremy and Steve went to the priesthood session of conference, Naomi, Nicholas and I stayed at home and read books.  Nicholas wanted to finish The Hunger Games and Naomi was in the middle of the Magic School Bus series and wanted to learn more about science with the gang.  It was a great night for everyone. 

 

 

Naomi and her friends decorated her room to look like an apple orchard and pumpkin patch.  It was really cute.  Once the "season" was over, she took down the decorations and is carefully storing them until next season.  I love her imagination. 

 

Here are some of the wonderful pictures she has been taking with the camera.  I told you she has an eye for things most of us wouldn't even notice. 

October 10th I got a call from Lake Norman Charter school telling me that Nicholas had fallen in some mud during recess and would need a COMPLETE change of clothes.  I rushed to the school and found a very muddy Nicholas.  We got him all cleaned up and back in class before he missed too much. 

October 16th I got another call from Lake Norman Charter telling me that Nicholas was in the nurses office with a fever and complaining of a sore throat and headache.  I ran over to the school and picked him up.  The nurse told me to watch him closely as strep throat was going around.  Steve left for Chicago that afternoon.  (Remember, nothing good happens when he is out of town - foreshadowing.)

October 17th, Nick was still sick and to make matters worse he had a tooth that looked like it was broken in two.  I took him to the dentist and he ended up having to have two teeth pulled since the adult teeth were growing in underneath and causing the baby teeth to crack and/or grow at odd and uncomfortable angles.  As much as Nicholas HATES having shots in his mouth, he was relieved to have the two troublesome teeth out of his mouth.  He really like the "new" dentist.

While all of this was going on, the truck was in the shop getting new struts.  I was driving around in a rental truck which Nicholas thought was cool, but all this truck did was make me miss my real truck. 

The next morning Nick woke up at 5:00 crying that his throat really hurt.  As soon as the doctor's office opened I called and got Nick an appointment.  The doctor took one look in Nick's nose and mouth and diagnosed a definite sinus infection with a very likely case of strep throat.   He didn't bother with the strep test since Nick would need an antibiotic to treat the sinus infection.  The poor kid felt miserable, but at least we now had the proper medicine to help him get better.  I got my truck back that afternoon and Steve came home from Chicago as well.  I told you nothing good happens while he is gone!!!

October 19th and 20th the scouts went camping and Nick was extra sad because he couldn't go.  The doctor advised him to sit this one out.  It was tough on him, but he did it. 

October 22 I had Naomi home sick, but she made a speedy recovery and was back in school the next day. 

October 24th I braved the long lines and exercised my civic duty and right to have a say in who was elected as the next president of the United States of America.  The whole process always fascinates and frustrates me, but I am grateful the freedom to vote. 

October 25th Nicholas had a day off, but Naomi and Jeremy had to go to school.  He wanted to go out to breakfast so I took him to Denny's.  He loved it!!! Later that afternoon we went to a parent teacher conference with Mrs. Hammond.  Although his grades were good, she helped him set the goal of improving the quality of work he was handing in and to bring up his language arts and social studies grades a bit for the next quarter.  She also gave him a challenge to branch out and make some friends.  He is taking both suggestions very seriously and had made great strides so far.  More on that later. 

Halloween was the least scary event of the month!!  We had homemade chili, breadsticks, pumpkin donuts and cider along with out Trick or Treating.  It was a fun night and we all fell into bed deliciously exhausted. 

Enjoy the following random pictures. 

 

He was supposed to be folding his laundry, but it made such a comfortable lounge chair!!!

 

Bring it on!!

Raking leaves into a neat pile so that they could jump in it.



September

September was full of this and that.  Just one week into school Jeremy's teachers realized that he needed to be in the Honors Program.  I want to specifically note here that I had NOTHING to do with this.  Jeremy is a hard worker and always does his best and the teachers noticed his quality of work was beyond that of his classmates and moved him up.  That said, I am very grateful they noticed as early as they did because he was not very happy with the academic setting in his classes.  He was switched immediately and really enjoys the challenge. 

 

Naomi was made the hall monitor and you would have thought she won a major prize by the way she smiled and giggled and talked about it. 

 

Nick struggled for the first part of September.  The pressures and responsibilities were starting to mount and he was feeling the pressure.  The girl in his carpool was not coming to the car when she was supposed to and that made him very upset because he didn't want to miss his ride home.  Once I explained to him that I would just pull around into the parking lot and we could find everyone he calmed down.  He was also having a difficult time getting organized.  One day he left some homework on his desk and was very upset about getting bad marks for not being better organized.  His teacher said to give it time and he would figure it out.  Within a couple of weeks he was all smiles about school and even made this comment to me on the way home one day - "Mom, I love reading Lemony Snicketts because he describes things when he writes."  This is coming from the kid I had to bribe to read.  Mrs. Hammond is bringing the world of literature alive for him.  Way to go, Mrs. Hammond!!!

 

September 12th was Curriculum Night at Highland Creek Elementary.  Mrs. Stinson walked us through the kids day and explained what they would be learning this year.  I was excited about the year after hearing the agenda. 

 

September 15th Nicholas decided that he wasn't going to buy his new tablet, for which he had been saving for months, until his molar came out.  In a moment of slight impatience he grabbed a hold and yanked.  To his surprise the tooth came loose.  We were off to the computer store the very next day to purchase his tablet. 

 

September 21st Naomi got off the bus and looked like she felt awful.  When I picked her up I could feel how hot she was.  Her temperature was 103.5.  The doctor said there was a virus going around and it was only a matter of time before someone came home from school with it.  I guess it is better to get it over with soooner rather than later.  The poor girl felt awful for two days until the fever finally broke.  She was a trooper through the whole thing though. 

September 25th was our first pack meeting of the year.  Cubmaster Adams had picked a pirate theme and the kids really got into it.  She had decorated the room like a pirate ship, complete with a plank, and sharks and everything.  The kids had a great time pretending to walk the plank.  We made paper parrots and everyone dressed the part.  It was an awesome night.

 

Jeremy had a girlfriend for a whole week until her parents found out she had a boyfriend and told her to break it off because she was too young.  They are still really good friends though.  He was sad for a couple of days, but then realized he didn't have to worry about holding hands and "all that crap."  His inner Don Juan will just have to wait for a couple of years.  

August - Back to School

After such a busy and fun June and July we decided to take it easy for the last month of summer.  We spent a lot of time at the pool and staying up way too late watching the Olympics.  We all loved watching the women's gymnastics team battle it out for the gold.  We were addicted to swimming as well and got caught up in watching Michael Phelps win his 19th gold medal and become the most decorated olympian in history.  Nicholas couldn't get enough of the men's synchronized diving.  We watched those competitions several times on the internet for weeks afterwards. 

 

 

August 7th, Nicholas, Drew (his buddy who had spent the night) and I went to Lake Norman Charter School to pick up Nicholas's schedule and school supplies.  They both had a blast looking around and meeting new people. 

 

August 8th, we all went over to Ridge Middle School to get the tour for Jeremy.  We met Ms. Smith, the 8th grade counselor, and Mr. Menan, the 8th grade vice principal.  After the tour, Jeremy interviewed Mr. Menan for his Citizen in the Community merit badge.  While waiting for Jeremy, I got talking to another mother who was gathering information for her new student.  She asked where Jeremy had gone before Ridge Middle.  I was telling her I homeschooled  when another woman overheard me.  She introduced herself as the district director for teacher training and asked if I might be interested in being a substitute teacher for the district.  That will something to tuck in the back of my brain for a later date.  It was validating to know that my skills are sought after in a professional setting after being domestic for so long. 

 

That night we watched "Back to the Future" with the kids.  It was fun to watch them watch the movie.  They were so stressed out about whether Marty would make it back to the future and if Doc would get shot.  It brought back memories of seeing the movie for the first time myself.  Fun stuff!!

 

 August 15th was the Meet and Greet at Lake Norman Charter School.  Nicholas got to walk through his schedule, find the classrooms and meet the teachers.  He is especially excited about his Language Arts/Social Studies teacher, Mrs. Hammond, and his Math/Science teacher, Ms. Idol.  They are both so excited about the subjects they teach that it is contagious with the kids.  He immediately took to Mrs. Hammond when she asked him how he liked being homeschooled.  She had some some research on each child so she would know more about them before meeting them.  This made Nicholas feel special.  This is looking as if it will be a great school year for him. 

 

August 16th was the first day of school for Nicholas.  He was really excited.  By the time he got home he was exhausted and upset because he had gone to the wrong class once and his backpack had ripped.  I told him not to be upset because that backpack was three years old and gave him a backpack to borrow until the weekend when we would have a chance to get to the store and pick out a new one.  Other than those two complaints, he really liked his first day.

 

 

August 21st, after Nicholas got home from school we all headed to the pool for to make the most of the time it was going to be open.  The kids have appreciated their summer much more this year with the anticipation of school. 



 

 

Naomi started taking pictures of things and is developing a really good eye for pictures of items that normally would go unnoticed.  I love watching talents develop in my kids. 

 

August 22 was the openhouse at Ridge Middle for Jeremy.  He picked out his gym clothes, a school sweatshirt and his agenda for the year.  We are really glad we visited each teacher because he was scheduled for 8th grade band which was only for student who had been in band the year before.  Everything ended up even better though because Jeremy got into a group called "AVID" that helps the kids get academically prepared for college.  To this date (three months into school) it is by far his favorite class. 

 

August 23rd was the openhouse at Highland Creek Elementary.  Naomi fell in love with her teacher, Mrs. Stinson, instantly.  Nicholas had Mrs. Stinson for reading and spelling in first grade and loved her as well.  This school year is shaping up to be a great one. 

 

August 27th, 2012, commemorates 19 years of marriage!!!! It is also the first day I was childless during the day in 13 years.  All three kids were in school.  WOW!!!

 

To record the day in history we recreated the First Day of School picture from 2007.  I still have that one on my refrigerator.  It is one of my favorites.  Look how much the kids have grown!!

 

 

 

Naomi was all smiles on her first day of school.  She was ready extra early and was the first one to the bus stop and first one on the bus.  She came off the bus all smiles as well with many stories to tell about all her new friends and the rules and the teachers and....  Her favorite thing of the day was learning about being a bucket dipper or a bucket filler.  She is determined to be a bucket filler.  

 

 

 

Jeremy rode his bike the first day of school.  He thought it was extra cool that I would trust him to go all by himself.  It is a tough and a wonderful thing watching/allowing them grow up.    He left the house all smiles and returned with many interesting stories.  Only a middle schooler could have these tales to tell.  For the most part he really enjoyed his first day of school, despite the lglaring lack of manners, tact, morals and restraint displayed by his fellow classmates.  In his gym class one fo the boys kept flipping him off and dropping the "F-bomb" on him.  One email to the coach cleared that one right up.  Welcome to middle school - the petri dish of social experimentation.  He is a great kid and will get the hang of it soon, but we will have daily talks about things that he doesn't understand, i.e. new slang, curse words and hand gestures, girls, etc.



August 28th Jeremy was advanced to the rank of Star as well as receiving three Eagle-required merit badges.  We are all so proud of him.  He is working really hard toward his goal of Eagle Scout. 

 

To finish off August with a fun activity we camped in the back yard.  Nicholas master-minded the entire event (which also passed off several of his Outdoorsman requirements for cub scouts).  We built a fire, made hobo dinners (a huge hit), roasted marshmallows, pitched our tents and slept out.  It was a nice, cool and clear night.  We did a little star gazing before falling asleep.  What a great way to end the summer. 

 



 



July - We LOVE to roadtrip!!

July is my favorite month.  The peaches are in season.  We celebrate my favorite holiday, the 4th of July.  The pools are open.  The kids are out of school.  We go on our big family vacation for Steve's birthday.  We celebrate Steve's birthday.  It is full of the funnest activities of the year for me.  So, that said, get comfortable before you start reading because this is my longest blog month of the year. Enjoy!



The 4th of July with our friends, the Tufts.   



I love the hot day juxtaposed against the coolness of the pool.  I love spending time with good friends and celebrating the greatest nation on Earth.  I love the child-like excitement and anticipation that come with watching fireworks.  I love my crazy neighbors who also REALLY love the 4th of July and put on an excellent show.  It is just a great day to remember all the awesome things that make our nation so special and unique.  Happy Birthday USA!!!

 

 

After attending two long weekend camps and working on his project for a year, Steve was finally awared his Woodbadge rank on July 10th.  Only a small percentage of Boy Scout leaders actually earn the highest level of training.  We are so proud of him.  

July 13th we took the cubs on a fieldtrip to the Bank of America trading floor.  It was a really cool experience to get to see where all the action happens.  One of our den leaders used to work the floor and told us all about how everything worked.  The boys loved it - especially getting to take the super fast elevators up to one of the top floors of one of the tallest buildings in Charlotte. 

While Nick and I were with the cub pack and Steve and Jeremy were camping with the scout troop, Naomi spent some time with our friends, the Tufts.  They had a great time together at the Chick-fil-A cow appreciation day.  



Jeremy came up with a new Cannonism - HUMBILITY - being humble with humility.

July 18th was the funnest play day ever.  Jeremy, Zach, Nicholas, Drew and Grover played all day long and completely exhausted themselves.  They played hard.  Toward the end of the day they were all racing down the stairs and jumping the last few to save time so they could get to their next outdoor adventure sooner.  Nicholas was the last one down and when he jumped he didn't land straight.  I heard his ankle pop and he screamed.  I got him to the couch and saw that the swelling was already starting.  We propped it, iced it and medicated it and after about a half an hour he felt a little better.  He still couldn't walk on it though.  Normally this would just be a bummer, but the fact that we were leaving on our big roadtrip the next day made it a BUMMER!!!  I still had my crutches and several wraps from when I had knee surgery and we got him all bandaged up so he could continue, much more slowly, to tag along with the group for the remainder of the play day.  By the end of the day, and after icing it several more times, Steve and I decided that it was not broken, but he would have to be careful until it healed a little more. 

July 19th, we all woke up early and headed out on our road trip to Minneapolis so Steve could conduct a culinary clinic there and we could visit family along the way.  The kids were especially excited that we would be driving through so many states and seeing so many historical sites.  Jeremy was working on his Citizenship in the Nation merit badge and had to visit a site that was on the National Historical Registry.  We had a list and were ready to go. 

Our first stop was Nashville, TN.  We got to see the Grand Ole Opry and the Opryland Hotel.  Both were a huge hit.  They decided that our next trip will have to be to Nashville so they can explore a little bit more. We spent the night in Paducah, KY.  Three states in one day.  We were exhausted. 

July 20th we started out bright and early so we could catch some new and exciting sites.  Our first stop was the St. Louis Arch.  Nicholas was especially excited about getting close enough to touch it.  I was surprised by how big it is. I have only ever seen it from the freeway and wasnt' prepared for actual, up close size.  We spent several hours exploring the museum and walking around outside. By this point Nicholas had decided that the crutches were more of a hinderance and just hobbled along, but his ankle was feeling much better, thank goodness.  We didn't have time to take the tour that day so the kids decided that another family vacation would have to include more time to explore the St. Louis Arch. 

Hannibal, MO, the birth place of Mark Twain, was right on our way to Nauvoo.  We got out and walked around for a bit.  I have always loved the way Mark Twain writes and found myself experiencing deja vu as we walked around and saw the places he described in his books.  The kids got to paint Tom Sawyer's fence and we timed our visit just right to witness the arrival of a paddle boat.  It was great!!  We arrived late enough in the day that we only had 45 minutes to see anything before the town shut down for the night.  Once again, another family trip to spend more time exploring.  We made it to Keokuk, IA, for the night.  The kids saw Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Iowa in one day.  We all slept well. 

 

 

July 21st we woke up with a very sick Nicholas.  He had spent the early morning hours in the bathroom throwing up.  He was really upset because today was the day we were going to explore Nauvoo.  I love his determined nature.  He wanted to say a family prayer because he knew that would make him feel better.  The faith of a child is an amazing thing.  Within an hour he was feeling much better and we were on our way to Nauvoo.  This was a truly amazing way to start such an incredible day.  We got to Nauvoo and went to the visitors center to find out about the horse carriage tours as we had heard this was the best way to see Nauvoo for the first time.  While we were waiting for the next tour we got talking to some sister missionaries.  One of them was from Riverton, UT, and was actually in Rick and EllaRene's ward.  We talked until it was time to leave on our tour.  The kids all pointed out what they wanted to visit when the tour was through.  I loved riding down Parley Street and imagining it lined with wagons waiting to leave Nauvoo for the West.  I tried to imagine the excitement and the sadness the Saints must have been feeling at the time.  It was a somber feeling. 

 

After the carriage tour the kids wanted to see the Nauvoo Temple up close so we drove up to the temple site and let them look around for a bit.  My kids constantly amaze me.  When they saw the bronze statues of Joseph and Hyrum depicting their departure for Carthage they became very quiet, almost reverent, as if they were absorbing the impact of that moment as the prophet and his brother might have done at the time.    I think it really hit them, especially Nicholas, that they were related to these great men.  Hyrum is their great, great, great, great grandfather and Joseph is their great, great, great, great uncle. They definitely have a new appreciation for church history. 

 



 

 

We got back in the truck and drove back down to the town of Nauvoo.  I didn't realize how spread out it would be.  The kids got to visit the home of Lucy Mack Smith, their 5-great grandmother.

 

 

At the blacksmith shop, Naomi was chosen to demonstrate how a young child would be given the job of rotating the wheel for several hours while the hot grease was settling into the axle for a smooth ride.  

 

 

Everyone got in on the action at the Family Center.  The kids especially liked learning how to make rope. 

Visiting the graves of Joseph Smith, Emma Smith and Hyrum Smith.  There was a quiet and peaceful feeling at the gravesite. 

 

Next we were off to Carthage Jail.  None of us were prepared for the impact this experience would have on each of us.  WOW!!

Here we are in the holding cell where they kept Joseph, Hyrum and their supporters stayed to keep them safe from the mob.

 

Nicholas is standing next to the bullet hole that was made by the bullet that killed Hyrum.  He thought that was scary and cool at the same time.  Everyone was very quiet as we exited the jail.  All of us have a better appreciation for our ancestors and what they went through to help build the Church.  Their faith is amazing. 

 

July 22nd we headed out for Minneapolis.  We had to stop at the World's Largest Frying Pan in Brandon, Iowa.  The trip wouldn't have been complete without it.  We made it to Minneapolis in the late afternoon.   We went straight to Ginger's house to see her new place and let her be our tour guide for the night.  She took us to Minnihaha Park.  The kids got to see the largest waterfall on the Mississippi and explore a swimming area Ginger designed and helped create.  She took us to see the Stone Arch Bridge and explained the history of the first bridge built to span the Mississippi.  We then went back to her house to chill.  The kids loved playing with Gertie.  

July 23rd, since no road trip would be complete without a little bit of car trouble, we took the truck into the local Nissan dealer to find out why the carpet on the front passenger side of the truck was getting so wet.  They found that the hose from the air conditioner to drain outlet was too short and so all the condensation was leaking onto the floor.  After a few more calls to our mechanic in Charlotte we decided to wait until we arrived back home to get it fixed.  After that adventure we headed out to the Mall of America to explore.  We didn't get very far once the kids saw Nickelodeon Universe.  I didn't take long to decide to buy all-day passes and spend the day alternating between riding the rides and exploring the mall.  It was a great day.  The kids got to ride on a roller coaster for the first time.  We have never taken them to an amusement park like this before.  It was a hit.  I also discovered that Steve doesn't like wild rides.  This would probably explain why we have never been to an amusement park together before.  Steve rode the more mild rides with the kids and I went on the wild ones.  We work very well as a team. 

After the amusement park we went back to Ginger's house to pack up and get ready to check into the hotel.  Ginger kept the kids with her so they could let out some more energy on a walk with Gertie while Steve and I got us settled at the hotel for the night.    We met them at Lake Harriet.    Minneapolis is a beautiful city with so many beautiful parks!!  Everyone was hungry at this point.  Serendipity is a fun thing.  Because there were no McDonalds or Burger Kings in the area we had to look around a bit and check things out.  We found a restaurant at which Jeremy could eat that everyone really liked.  Chipotle is a new favorite and Jeremy was thrilled to find out they are building one in Charlotte right around the corner from our house. 

July 24th we chilled at the hotel all day, doing laundry and playing in the pool while Steve prepped the site for the clinic and went grocery shopping with the chefs.  That night we went out to dinner again.  Jeremy found a Chipotle and Nicholas found a Five Guys right around the corner from each other.  Everyone was happy.  Afterwards, we met Ginger at the movie theater to see Ice Age 4.  It was a great night. 


The next day I dropped Steve off at the clinic site so the kids and I could have the truck for the day.  After breakfast we headed out for the children's museum in St. Paul.  We spent the whole day there.  The kids loved all the hands-on exhibits. 

 

The boys loved the physics area where they could experiment with several different air exhibits.  

 

Naomi gravitated towards the biology section where she spent significant time examining samples of water taken from the Mississippi.  After a full day of exploration we headed back to Minneapolis to pick Steve up from the "office" so he could change for dinner that night.  At every culinary clinic they like to take the students to a local restaurant so they can see first-hand what makes a great restaurant, or in this case, a terrible restaurant.  Either way, it is always a great learning experience.  The kids and I chilled at the hotel for the night.  I was surprised that the kids still had energy for the pool, but they did. 

 

July 26th, Steve's birthday, he had to work the final day of the clinic.  The kids and I packed up the truck and spent some time at Lake Harriet so they could show me the giant spider web in the kids playground.  I had not gotten to see it before since everyone was so hungry by the time Steve and I got back from the hotel.  They were especially excited to show me since THEIR Aunt Ginger had designed it.  It was WAAAAAY cool.  

 

Feeding ducks is always a favorite past time for us.  The kids relaxed by Lake Harriet until Steve called and said he was done and ready for us to pick him up.  We said goodbye to Minneapolis and headed out for Mason City to visit Bradden, Sunny and clan.  

 

Sunny and Bradden had a birthday party all ready for Steve when we arrived.  He was so excited to get to eat Papa Murphy's Chicken and Garlic Pizza.  We also had an ice cream cake.  Olivia and Hyrum are so cute and the cousins had a great time playing.  Bradden and Steve went to the see the new Batman movie that night.  Sunny and I stayed with the kids and let them play until they dropped from exhaustion.  Steve said it was the perfect birthday. 

 

July 27th, we headed to Crystal Lake and the kids played on the beach and in the water.   

What is it about kids and holes???!!!???  Are they secretly planning on burying all the adults and taking over the world?  Whatever the reason, the cousins had a riot playing together in the sand. 

 

Steve and Olivia chilling on the couch.  They really hit if off well.  Later that afternoon we went to a local park Sunny chose for the location of our family picture shoot.  I have never had that much fun during a photo session before.  If anyone needs a great photographer, call Sunny!  Afterwards we let the kids play around at the river for awhile.  

 

After diner that night (a very yummy barbeque complete with Iowa corn on the cob), Hyrum took us to the snow cone shack across the street from his house.  The kids all got snow cones to enjoy for dessert.  

July 28th we packed up early and headed out on our way home.  It was going to be a race to get home in two days, but we were up to the challenge.   We stopped in LeClaire, Iowa, to check out the Buffalo Bill Museum.  It was realy cool and the kids got to see one of the oldest paddle boats. 

 

We also stopped in Peoria, IL, at the Dan Fogelburg Memorial.  Dan Fogelburg is one of Steve's all-time favorite singers.  Our trip would not have been complete withouth stopping here.  

 

We made it to Indianapolis that night and crashed after spending a little time in the pool to get rid of some excess energy after sitting the truck all day.  July 29th we left early in the morning and continued our trek towards home.    

 

Due to road construction we got pushed off the freeway into a tiny little town in Ohio and found this wonderful sign on someone's lawn. We took the warning seriously but got a good chuckle none the less.

 

Once again, we had to take a detour to get around some major road construction and ended up in Corbin, KY, the home of Colonel Sanders.  This is the birth place of Kentucky Fried Chicken. 

 



 Hanging with the Colonel. 

 

 

We came through the Cumberland Gap into Virginia and got to go through a really long tunnel which the kids though was the "ultimate cool". 

 



We stopped on the top of Powel Mountain (2,319 feet) and enjoyed the view.  The valley reminded both Steve and me of the Heber/Park City area.  It was stunning beautiful. 

 

 

That night we slept in our beds again!!  We truly live in a beautiful country with so much to see.  We traveled 4,400 miles through ten states in ten days.  It was a great experience.  It only took us two days to travel half of that distance (2,200 miles).   What took us two days took the pioneers months to accomplish and they didn't have air conditioning, motels and fast food restaurants.  I have a new appreciation for the amazing courage, faith and determination it would have taken to follow the prophet to each new destination and have to start rebuilding all over again.  I am also grateful that I get to road trip in the 21st century!!  We will definitely have to plan another road trip again in the near future.

 

 

JULY IS AWESOME!!!!