It's good to have you in Nauvoo!!!

As the week wrapped up, we took a trip up to Nauvoo, IL to see the Church sites. We started at the Visitors Center.


From there we headed out to see some of the sites. The first stop was the Scovil Bakery to get our gingerbread cookie. We then headed to the Family Living Center to taste homemade bread and learn about pioneer life. We learned how they made cloth, baked in the bustle oven, dipped candles, made barrels and pottery, and weaved rugs. Michael's favorite stop was the rope making and even got to make his own rope.




After a few more sites, we headed to dinner at the Hotel Nauvoo. Rachael had a grand old time eating there.

After eating and watching the senior missionaries put on Rendevous in Old Nauvoo, we headed back to our hotel for a nice swim. The water was a little cold but the kids had so much fun in the water and didn't want to get out.



The next morning we headed to breakfast and then stopped by the Nauvoo Temple. (Ok...Harry and the girls did. The guys did laps in the cars around the Temple.)

Statue of Joseph and Hyrum Smith before they headed to Carthage where they died.


We then headed to a few more sites since it was still raining off and on.

One stop was the printing office where we learned how they printed the different papers. Michael even got to help with the demonstration and help print a newspaper.
We also headed to the blacksmith shop to learn how they made the wagons and wheels as well as all the other metal things they needed. The Elder there made a little horseshoe that Rick ended up getting to take home. All the rest of us got Praire diamond rings to take home.

After a few more sites, including the brickyard to get our Nauvoo brick and the Browning gunshop, we were able to go on the wagon ride. The kids actually do really well on the hour ride.

I think the wagon ride is the best way to see everything in Nauvoo. You pass by most of the sites and buildings and get a little history without having to walk to them all.

Some of the sites/places you pass include the oxen rides,

the post office , John Taylor's home (next to the post office),
the tinsmith, and the Smith Family Cemetery where Joseph, Hyrum, and Emma Smith are all buried.

On our way out of Nauvoo, we stopped by the cemetery to walk around it and see the large memorial to Joseph, Emma, and Hyrum.

It was a great trip up there. I'm always amazed at the sacrifices the early Saints made and how they lived. It helps me appreciate what I have now. It was really neat to take everyone up there and show them around too.