Nauvoo, Illinois trip - May 2009

This post is way out of chronological order but thought better having it towards the end of this year's blogging journal than not at all. We wish we had more of you family members in on these trips but will just have to see your pictures on your blogs. This is the Independence temple of what was the Reorganized church but now goes by another name, community of Christ Church.

This is Liberty Jail, in Liberty, Clay county, Missouri where Joseph Smith and 4 others were imprisoned in the winter of 1938.

Liberty Jail

This is in Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri. A statue of Joseph Smith in front of the store. Nearby is where the cornerstones for the Far West temple were laid.

Plaque at one of the cornerstones at Far West.

This is overlooking the Adam-ondi-Ahman valley in Missouri. Orson Pratt said the name means "Valley of God, where Adam dwelt.

We made a stop in Hannibal, Missouri where Mark Twain lived.

The Mississippi River

We got to Nauvoo, Illinois. This is the visitor's center.

This is the view from the Nauvoo temple overlooking the town and the Mississippi River.

We went on a buggy ride through the town and talked to many of the missionaries there.

Nauvoo temple

This is where Brigham Young lived. We were able to find out where the plot of land where our ancestors lived at the family research center.

This is Orson Hyde's house. He is the ancestor of our friend, Marjorie Nichols.

Then we went to Carthage Jail about 15 minutes away in Carthage, Illinois.

Previously we had met up with Mindy Lukens at the visitor's center. She is a long time family friend who was then serving a mission there. She gave us a tour through the Carthage Jail which was very interesting.

November trip to Bishop, Calif. 2009

This is the park in Bishop, Calif. that we went to years ago when Anna and Dustin were little. We put a blanket down and had a snack and fed the ducks. It's a beautiful little park around the visitor's center.

These pictures really don't do justice to the real beauty of the park but you can see the colors and get an idea.

These ducks are probably the descendents of those very same ducks that we fed years ago with Anna and Dustin.

These were just a few of the ducks that were there. There were some pretty white geese too that couldn't compete very well as their necks were too long but they still looked well fed.

The park was not as busy as it had been the day before because schools were closed for veteran's day. It sure brought back memories.

We stayed at this hotel. The room's sliding glass door opened to this creek that ran on the side of the hotel going across the street to the park. The ducks would come right up to the door begging for bread.

A view of the hotel from the park.

This is the bakery Bishop is known for by everyone. Home of the famous sheepherder bread and many other delicious foods.

This place was always busy with people from everywhere it seemed.

This car was on display outside between the bakery and the hotel.

A view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains

There were many interesting rocks to collect for souvenirs.

This is another park in the area with picnic tables and places to walk and relax.

Nichol's Cabin Nov. 6 - 7, 2009

The Nichols, Duane and Marjorie are very generous to share their cabin with friends. We were lucky enough to be invited over Fri. night and Sat. and had a great time.

Group picture of us at Nichol's cabin. Ken Murphy is taking the picture.

Lisa Murphy at the apple orchard

Our good friends and neighbors, Nate and Barbara Wilson

John and Jane, Nov. 7, 2009

October 2009 Pictures

It was actually in September that we went up to see Dustin and Chiara. We went up the Provo Canyon at a place called Vivian's Park to see them come down the river in tubes.
John at Vivian's Park

Trevor, Dustin and Chiara

Coming down the river!

Afterwards, we were hungry and went to eat at Wingers Restaurant.

Then in October we visited again and got to see El Tigre, the new addition. Looks like a little Marble.

John and I went to Orlando, Florida so he could teach some classes. Afterwards, we went to downtown Disneyworld. Here is John with Pete's dragon.

Peter Pan balloon

Jane and Trex

John inside of Ghiradelli's chocolates

After that we went to Colorado so John could teach again. Afterwards we drove up to Estes Park and drove through the ghost town of Caribou on the way.

Only two stone partially left buildings were what remains of where they lived in Caribou.

The people left after a diptheria epidemic and fire occurred and had mined out most of the silver.

At the top of the town looking out a long ways.

We stayed at a place called the Silver Moon Inn which was very picturesque.

There were elk roaming around the first day we got there and they seemed pretty tame and used to people.

That evening they left and didn't return but when we drove up to see the Stanley Hotel, there were a lot of them there on the grounds.

Big papa buck

Some of his harem and offspring

Down at the golf course we saw even more as we were driving through town.

John with moose at the visitor's center shop.

We went to this very same pizza place when the kids were young. It had changed a little inside but it sure brought back memories of that trip.

Looking at the Stanley Hotel from the visitors center.

John in front of Stanley Hotel

Side view

We went on the ghost tour at the hotel. They say that children can be heard and sometimes seen in the halls and stairs.

We didn't stay in the actual hotel but in the villa behind it. These pictures are of the inside of the place.