Nauvoo, Winter Quarters, Independence

Dad and I are walking in Nauvoo on the same street that the saints used when they were fleeing Nauvoo. President Hinckley called it the "Trail of tears" or the "Trail of Hope"

Mom with Lloyd Newell in front of the Nauvo Temple

Here is a view from my seat....how it looks when I am singing. it looks crowded and sometimes it is. I am not sure which arena this is but they all look alike after awhile. We are being well received and the people are nice everywhere. We do a lot of eating and sitting and then more eating. we plan on starting a new weightloss on July 1!

Here is the Missouri River. We had an early morning Photo shoot down here when we were in Omaha. It is not far from Winter Quarters. My story behind this began the night before. I flet like a hit a wall during the concert. I was so tired. I wasn't sure I could even finish the concert. many sisters around me were getting sick, sitting out and just not able to deekp up the pace of this choir trip. I remember thinking that I just want ot go to bed and not get up. After a quick prayer, I did make it through the concert. I got back to the hotel (at 11:00) and went right to sleep. I did debate whether I should get up or not. I set the alarm, and did rise early, (5:00 A.M.) and I made it to the photo shoot. Infact, I felt so good. I had energy, my foot did not hurt, and I felt like it was such a blessing. angels must have carried me through.

Well, here is dad in front of the Temple at Winter Quarters. I have tried and tried to get it to rotate. I thought It was until it posted. please forgive me. I am still learning how to do this.

On the road

Here we are on the choir trip 09 We started out in Cinncinati where we sang in an outdoor arena. It is hot and humid where ever we go. Then on to St. Louis where you see Dad here trying to lift the arch! I know that you may not believe it, but dad got mom Brower up into this arch. It is 630 feet above the ground. I did not look directly down from the little windows, but dad got some pics from above. I just walked in the middle of the arch to be safe!!!!!!!







Here we are in Nauvoo, standing at the spot where Ariah Coats Brower had his little house back in 1843. the mand with us is Dale Boman, another decendent of AC Brower. He was the one who gave us information on AC Brower--we found out that he worked with John Taylor in the printing business and assisted with the Times and Seasons. He was also on the new and old police force, helped with the making of Joseph's and Hyrum's Death masks, and knew the Prophet Joseph and John Taylor well. We should be so proud ---we are famous!

Our New House

I never thought it was going to happen but Friday May 1st Aaron and I got the keys to our house!! I was worried we wouldn't get keys until the 4th or 5th because our loan officer called me and said she needed more papers signed and the computers were down so she didn't think it was going to happen on Friday. I was not happy to hear that but at about 4 or so our realtor called and said he had keys for us. When I heard that I felt like a weight was lifted off! Buying a house was so stressful, I am so happy we stuck it out and dealt with all the crap they kept asking us for. I love to wake up and see my huge master bedroom then take a shower in my big shower and well just to have our OWN HOME is amazing! Of course I was talking to a lady I work with and she said give it 6 months and all the stress will be gone. I know exactly what she is talkig about, now we have the stress of putting stuff away and putting in a yard, garden, shed, and a patio. The question is which one comes first. We have dirt and lots of it and the bad thing is right now we have had some really windy days so I have sand/dirt all over my windows and I don't like it at all. I've decided that it's great having a new home but now I just wish I could stay home and enjoy it and get things in their place, but I have to work so we can pay for the house now! I did take Monday off and get a lot of things done, there's a lot to do when moving! I had Krista take some pics of us moving so I will post those on here, she took some pretty random pics that I won't post, things like the microwave at the new house and a cupboard??? Not sure what she was thinking but oh well!


This is of some of the boxes in our old house, if you've ever been to that house we didn't have much room and so Aaron had to stack boxes. We did add to it as this was about a month ago or so!

Our Nephew Seth was having a lot of fun he was a big help.


Sierra and Rachel were actually moving big stuff not just little boxes!!



We were happy to have Neil & Amie come from Pahrump and visit us. I was even more happy that they helped us move, I am very thankful to Amie for helping me pack and unpack the kitchen! I couldn't have gotten it all done so fast by myself! When we got to the new house we had people waiting there to help us, we were about 10 mins later than we told them! I can't believe how fast the truck was unloaded. We had men, women, and kids there helping us unload. Actually I didn't take anything off the truck every time I turned around someone was asking where to put something so I just directed traffice! I love our new ward in Dayton, the people are GREAT!!! I did tell some of them I would bake them pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!!!



Unpacking the truck at the new house!





Sunday after we moved. We didn't make it to church but we did get some guitar hero in! The kids and adults were all tired so it was nice to just play for a little while. Also Aaron and Neil went and picked up our new couch! We all love it!

I know I should have posted these before the pics of the house painted, but what can I say I like to do things backward! LOL At least I got these posted on here this year and not next year! He he

Carson Stake Pioneer Trek

 

Well the first Sunday that Aaron and I went to the Dayton ward, our new ward, we found out there was a pioneer trek this summer for the youth ages 14-18, since Aaron and I had been on a trek with our old Stake we decided we wanted the girls to go on the trek so we signed them up! Well that was about a month or two ago, I really can't remember. Anyway, Sierra was not excited about going and Krista was kind of excited. Krista was like me when I went on my first Pioneer Trek I didn't want to go because I had to wear a dress! Well the Lord had another idea and I was called to be on the Youth Committee for the trek! LOL Well the girls went on the trek this past weekend and I was shocked when they got back to hear what they had to say. First you need to know the conversation we had on the way to the church it was something like this: Both girls kept saying they looked stupid and they didn't want to go on the trek, I kept telling them the Pioneers looked like that but they didn't have good hiking boots. Then when we got to the church I asked Sierra for her bag of stuff, I had a feeling she had makeup with her, well I got an IPOD and some eyeliner from her! She wasn't very happy about that and said, "I can't even have eyeliner?" Of course I said no! So they left for the trek and while they were gone Aaron and I were wondering if they were having fun or complaining the whole time! They got back home on Saturday night around 8pm and the first thing Sierra said was, "I actually had fun, but I'm not going ever again!" I didn't care about the last part, I was just happy to hear she had fun! Krista on the other hand said she had fun and wants to go again in 3 years when they do it again! LOL!!

I had an old camera that I sent up with Krista and Sierra so they could take pics while they were up there, I'm surprised they actually remembered to take the camera out and get pics, so these pictures are from them! Since we are so new in the ward/stake I had no idea who's family they would be in, well it ended up that they were in the Heusser family. Bishop Heusser is our Bishop and his wife is just awesome! The girls said they had a bunch of fun with them, oh and they both thought their "Older Brother" was reallly cute, but he has a girlfriend! LOL I'm glad we told them they had to go on the trek I know it was a good experience for them and they will always remember it!

Painted..Mostly

 

 

 

 

Ok so I've finally decided to take a few pics and post them! I still haven't gotten all the decorations up and my house is a disaster still but I have a few walls painted! I am so glad to have great sisters that came out to help me! I think I have more pictures on my computer of us painting and having fun but my computer is stupid and I can't log on to my account to get to the pictures, so when I am able to get to the pics I will post more! :) We all like the house painted and can't wait until I can paint more of the house. I love being a homeowner but man it's expensive! Aaron and I have our work cut out for us for the next few years! Of course we will get this house just right and then we will move somewhere else! Isn't that how it always works!! We do love Dayton and we love our house so I actually think we will be here for awhile! I will post more pics of the house as we make more progress!

Painting Time

 

 

 

 

I had to post these pics really fast of our progress. My sisters are great fun and I'm so glad they came out to help me with this HUGE project. We are almost done with the painting, we should finish today and have time to play tomorrow! I will post more later this week when we are all done! :)

Girls Weekend in Reno!!!

Tuesday Marisa and I met up in Tremonton, dropped off our kids, and headed out early Wednesday to Reno to visit our sister Tiffany. After our 8 hour drive we arrived there in time to have yummy enchilada casserole and then headed to Home Depot to go get paint for our big project. We had gone to Reno, not only to play, but to help paint Tiffany's new house, which has all white walls!!! So we started taping Wed night and finished up Thursday doing all the prep work so we could spray her walls.
It took ALOT of tape and paper!!!!!

Tiffany sprayed the front rooms and Aaron sprayed the family & kitchen.

On Friday, we did some touch up paint and finished all the cut in that we couldn't do with the sprayer.
And finally.....the finished product.....

We finally cleaned ourselves up to head out to dinner Friday night.....to a SUSHI BAR!!!

Aaron & Tiffany took us to RickShaw's Sushi and we met up with their friends Rachel & Wayne. They all LOVE sushi!! Marisa & I have never had it before!! Marisa was the brave one....she tried a FISH sushi!!!!!

So what did Marisa & I eat??? We shared a plate of Teriyaki Chicken......it was REALLY GOOD!! No sushi for me please!

The sushi looked so pretty and interesting, but it still didn't look good enough to eat!

Except for the dessert Sushi.....banannas and strawberries covered with chocolate and whipped cream!! How can that NOT be good??

So I don't think it was technically sushi....but I think it was pretty close!!!! It was a great weekend and I am so happy for Tiffany and Aaron and their new home! It is beautiful!! Can't wait for the Christmas party they are having there this year! Thanks for your hospitality!! I know Marisa and I enjoyed our time with Tiffany and our road trip....where we almost forgot to put gas in the van and we almost hit a COW!!! It was fun!!! Love you guys!!

Our last day!!!

Yes, Austin has a mohawk for the last day of school. He came in Friday morning and asked if I could help him with his hair. I was very confused because he's done his own hair all year long. Why would I need to help him on the last day of the year. Then he told me that he and Grant wanted to do their hair all crazy for the last day. It must be a 5th grade thing.

After getting the kids off to school, I hurried to get to school before 9 am so that I could be to Kenzie's graduation. She was so cute the whole time. She kept pulling funny faces at me and smiling after each song they sang. Mrs. Ryan asked the kids to wear something nice for their graduation and Kenz came in with some scroungy looking shorts and a shirt with spots all over it. The night before she told me that she wanted to wear a skirt to school. I asked if she wanted help finding a skirt and it became a little bit of a hassle. We finally found something that worked and she looked very cute.


Mayci was very tired that morning. She sat through Graduation very good. No complaining at all. Once it was over, she was ready to go have lunch and a nap!

SHE PASSED!!! She's officially all day long school now. It will seem weird. I could have been all the way done if Mayci wouldn't have come along. What would I do with all that free time though?

Mrs. Ryan and Kenzie! We made a quilt for Mrs. Ryan and gave it to her. We had all of the other kids in the AM class put their hand prints on the quilt with their names. I think she liked it. She is a BSU fan so of course we had to use the appropriate colors.

These two are too much alike! Madison and Mrs. Brooks are both so bubbly and fun loving. I'm glad that we get another year with Mrs. Brooks.

Braydon loved Ms. Cunningham soooooooooo much! We're crossing our fingers that she moves up to 4th grade next year so that Braydon can have her for 2 years in a row. There is talk that Ms. Cunningham will move up to take another teacher's spot! I hope so!!!

Mrs. Fonnesbeck was so perfect for Austin. She would sing songs and act silly! Austin said she was a lot like his Grandma Brower! I can't believe that Austin is going to be in 6th grade!

This was at the end of their day. The library gave all of the students kazoos to kick off their summer reading program. We took the kids out of school early so that we could leave and head for Utah. My little brother graduated from high school and so we hurried down to see him graduate. More pictures to come later. Now, we just need to keep my 5 kiddos busy for the summer so they don't get too bored! I'm sure it won't be to hard to find something for my kids to do. (I've been adding to my to-do-list for a month or so now!! That's why you have kids, right?)
HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE!!!!