Sunday--Last Day

Brad and Heidi and gang left this morning before we left for church. DJ and Jen left right after church. It was a little crazy with a houseful of people and we miss them already! We wish we all could have somehow been together.
Now we're all so bored that the girls are, once again, getting all dressed up with no place to go. But not for long--this week will end with a lot of goings on with Anton, Mike and me headed for Arizona. Sterling and Peter will spend a few days at the Durfees while Sheri, Niki and the four older girls will hold down the fort here with the three little ones. Tonight the missionaries came over and taught sweet Sam her first lesson. It went well and we're sure going to miss her and Dorothy. We're planning a BBQ for Tuesday night and we'll post pics of it. Love you all! See you soon!

Saturday: Carthage & Tom Sawyer

Saturday morning we shopped a bit then left for Carthage. We always go to Carthage on the way home. It just seems to always be a fitting end for the Nauvoo trip. It was wonderful, as always, and I think Brad/Heidi and Marshall/Donelle enjoyed it too.
They look like mother and daughter, don't they? Jade's a good cross between an Eaton and a Steele--EVERYONE loved holding Emme!
When we got home Kristina hurried and curled Sabrina's hair (it took 1 hour and 15 min.) and ran her over to the Gallatin Theatre. Her Tom Sawyer play started at 7:00PM and most of us got to go. She had a solo part, sang out strong without a microphone, and we loved watching her.
She did a great job and we were so proud of her in her debut into show business! These pics are a little rough 'cause I was far away and it was dark in the theatre. This play was a great end to our family reunion week.

Friday: Last Full Day in Nauvoo

After the hard news of the night before it really fed our spirits to spend much of the next day in the temple. Our six oldest kids got to go with us in the morning--Kristina's first time. When we finally left the temple around 3:00PM I really felt like I was filled up and could now make the trip to Arizona for Kanon's funeral. Someday, I hope, we'll all be together on happier occasions.
I had to stick this one in of Anton because it's so rare that he's not making a face--what a cute boy!
Sterling bin laden--we had fun hanging out at the hotel with eachother in between activities.
We went swimming at least once a day while in Nauvoo. The kids loved it and swam for quite a long time each day.
It took ten tries to get this pic. Don't ask me why he swims with a shirt ON, but walks around all day with his shirt OFF.
While I cooked dinner with Dad and Mom, Mike took all the kids to the park. This was actually a fun, big park and we went here twice. They played until it started to rain--just in time to come back for dinner!

Big Mac hanging from the playground set.The little boys are always wanting to wrestle Peter--and he doesn't argue.Two sweet cousins...

Is he buff, or what?

Elena poses while Kristina practices her photography skills.

I'm not sure if Sheri was really swinging or not. I think she's just hanging out and looking cute.

Moo moo loves the slide and we love her! After the park we ate and took our seven oldest, Sam & Marjorie to see the new Emma movie. I hear it's playing at the theatres in some places. Wow! It's really worth your time to see this one!

Thursday: The Pageant!

After seeing a few more sights in old-town Nauvoo we headed to the pageant. Two hours before the pageant starts they have pre-pageant pioneer games. These are a favorite of our family and we never miss them when we come to Nauvoo. It seems like the first place the boys head to is the stick pull. Something about "I'm stronger than you" or "My Dad's bigger than your Dad"--something like that.
Brig and Korbie... Mac & Korbie. Who do you think won?
Who do you think won THIS one?
Someday he'll throw his dad...
What was it I was saying about "my dad being stronger than your dad?"

Sabrina, Kristina and I always have to stop in and square dance. The live band is really good and they teach you how to dance right there on the spot. I danced their last song, "Cotton Eyed Joe" and it was so fast and long I thought I was going to faint!I'm not sure what Niki and Sam did, but they sure looked cute walking around...

Walking on stilts is always a favorite and Sterling and Kristina wanted to be sure that I got them on film!Another favorite boy-stop is log cutting. You can't push, you have to only pull...

It takes coordination...

And teamwork. I think Korbie got the hang of it with Brina's help.

Right before the pageant starts a parade bagpipe band plays and everyone who wants to can join in and march right to their seats. The pageant was wonderful this year and I don't think there was a dry eye in the audience. When we got back to the hotel we found out that sweet Kanon had passed away. Even though we had prepared ourselves for the news we were still shocked (How can you really be prepared for something like this?) and all of us had a rough night. It was hard to be on vacation when we knew our beloved family was having such a difficult time. The plans for the next day helped to calm our souls and remind us to have an eternal perspective--we arrived at the Nauvoo Temple at 8:00AM.

Thursday: Nauvoo Family Living Center

We left Gallatin early Thursday morning and went a longer route so we could go thru Hannibal, Missouri. This is the birthplace of Mark Twain and the basis for his Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn stories. We saw his home and a few more things then drove on to Nauvoo. After arriving at the visitor's center we went straight to the Family Living Center which is a fun place to learn about how the pioneers made things for their homes. Marjorie Emerson and Sam Thompson rode with us in our car (14 in a 12 passenger) and (along with Brad/Heidi, Donelle/Marshall, Mom/Dad & gang, and DJ/Jen) the Rogers and Durfees all came too--in their own cars, of course. We had quite a group at times!
Here we are learning how to make homemade rope...
Grma was holding baby Emme a lot of the time--she kind-of monopolized her and I don't blame her!
Anton and Heidi are "professionals" at rope-making.
Mischa especially liked the homemade pioneer blocks--check out that tower. It's almost as long as her tongue! We stayed in this building for a good hour at least. It was air-conditioned and fun.

Family Week

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday: We went to Trenton pool (Heidi has those pics), played here at home while Heidi & Brad, Donelle & Marshall stayed overnight in Jamesport and shopped around, and rode quads and packed for Nauvoo...

Eating chips on the floor--these kids ate non-stop and there wasn't enough table space so...the unfinished mudroom floor does the trick. Notice how none of the boys wear shirts. What's that all about?

The top of the playhouse is a favorite spot for all the boys--no matter how old they are! These were pics on the babysitting days. The Arizonans had fun shopping while we had fun with all the cousins! Brig and Mac forgot they had so many friends their age!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Friday, Saturday, Sunday--We've been busy and I haven't been keeping up on the blog. I'll be better, I promise. Heidi, Brad & kids and Donelle, Marshall & kids have all come to visit. DJ and Jen got in on Monday. We thought 17 kids was a lot--we now have 24 kids and six adults in this house. How did we think we could house the whole Eaton family? We're having a blast, though, and missing the rest of you--wish you were here! Recent financial problems are making it difficult for everyone and we understand--we feel it here, too.

Friday we went shopping and cleaned getting ready for the fam. I don't know how we got all the food in the car. This pic was taken BEFORE Anton got in. What we will do to save on gas!
Later that day we cleaned and cleaned. Moo-moo wanted to get in on it and was organizing shoes in the mudroom.
Jade said, "Moo, come play with me" and Mischa said, "No. I workin." She's so fun.
Later that night, while the family was getting in, many of us went to our 2nd "Sister's Night Out" with some new friends in Missouri. We were sad :( to not be there right when the family got in, but sometimes you just have to choose between two good things. We got home about midnight that night and Heidi woke up and talked to me and the girls 'til 2:00AM!! Above is a pic of our good friend, Susan, that we've know for about 1 1/2 years (in the middle) and on either side is Barbara Irby and her daughter, Sarina. Susan and her mother made us a yummy meal and we got to finally meet her good friend from the Catholic church, Sister Helen.
Susan loves animals and has plenty living with her. The kids loved talking to the birds and trying to get them to talk back. Sam got to come with us!

Later in the evening we all took a walk down the street to a beautiful park with a pond. Don't they look cute all walking together?

When we got there we found a bunch of tame ducks that were just waiting for us to come and feed them.

Everyone (but me) on the bridge. We had a great night and added to our already great friendships. It's wonderful to do things together with just the girls.

Saturday was Youth Conference all day and Niki got to come with us (she stayed home the night before to welcome Heidi in). I didn't get a pic of Niki at the dance 'cause my batteries ran out and I couldn't find anyone with batteries to loan me. Above is a pic of the two dimple girls--Sheri and Sam.

Sharlee and Jonah--sweet brother dancing with his sister. That's Mom, Joann, behind them

I'm trying to teach Sharlee how to swing dance but don't remember enough steps to do a very good job of it.

My boys LOVE coming to the dances!! Can you tell from these pictures?

Anton, Peter, and Sterling tried everything they could to stay out of pictures.
We finally got a semi-normal one of Anton dancing with Sam, although he still wouldn't smile. We got home about 11:00 PM and still had time to talk to Heidi and gang. They went with Mom antique shopping all day while the girls babysat. Saturday was the last of my church duties to take me away and Sunday was more relaxing. We went to church, of course, and had a nice, enjoyable day eating together and talking while the kids ran around. More later!