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!

Wednesday--Mutual Night

This morning I went visiting teaching to three ladies, which most of you know takes half the day. I got home about 12:30--just in time for Anton to take the car to St. Joe. The girls and I worked in the garden for a while (Yeah!) and did house jobs. The other kids played or slept. Peter and his friend, Jonah, worked with Mike. Then we geared up for dinner and mutual.
One of the Beehives had a birthday so Sabrina & Kristina made cookies from scratch! First time-- and they did great! No more cookie dough for them--they can do it on their own!
While the first 6 kids and Mike and I go to mutual every Wednesday night Sabrina is the big, tough babysitter--well, at least for another 5 months. Then she'll be 12 and coming with us. What will we do then?
My fun-loving Beehives. We had about 5 or 6 who didn't show but it's summer so we're not too picky about the numbers. We had a fun time and the cookies were great!
I had to put this picture in here just 'cause it's now become apparent that Elena has found the phone. She tries to find any excuse to call her friends.
The boys had fun watching a movie on the tramp 'til late. They think they're sleeping out there, but I think we'll bring them in once they've fallen asleep 'cause Sterling's not up for an all nighter. It's hard for me looking at Jenny's blog tonight. I love her and am worried. I hope the hardship of this passes soon. I love you, Jen!

Fun Day, Hard Day

Today was really fun because of all the activities we did, but it was also hard because of the difficulties we knew little Kanon was going thru. This morning my Amish friend, Frita Stutzman called and asked if we wanted to come over and ride. Of course, we said Yes! I took Elena, Jade and Kristina--Sabrina had play practice. While we were gone Mike and Anton got the two quads in working order for all of us to ride when family comes in to town this weekend.

Kristina felt a little hesitant at first but after one go-around was loping the horse. Elena was very nervous and scared, but was still brave and even walked the horse around by herself. I had a blast trotting and loping and didn't want to get off.
Jade is the most in love with horses out of us all. Someday we'll hopefully have one of our own.
After we rode, Frita gave us a fun ride down to her sister-in-law's house in their new "cadillac" of a carriage. It was the first time being in a real Amish carriage. We loved it!

After our ride we had to stop in Jamesport on the way home for a yummy ice cream treat at the old fashioned ice cream bar at Pastimes & Carlyles.

When I got home the quads were fixed so Mike & I went for a ride over to the other property to check on our soybean crop. It's looking good and we're hoping for the best! While we were there we went down to the stream and found a big, old mulberry tree. I ate mulberrys 'til my stomach hurt.Later that evening I took the 4 older girls to a birthday party for Josie & Alex Durfee. They spent the night and had a lot of fun.

I know I've talked a lot about my friend Joann Durfee. This is her with two of her kids, Sharlee and Jonah. We love the Durfees!

Finally, to top the night off I went to a canning class down in Kidder. We learned how to can Elderberry jelly and Kiwi/Pineapple Jam. Yum! I had a lot of fun and am excited to start storing my own homemade stuff. How I'll find the time, I do not know. Today was an eventful day for Brian, Jenny and Kanon. We prayed for them all day and wondered what would happen. He's stable now, but you might want to go to Jenny's blog for more details. We love all of you and miss you and can't wait to see you! Remember Kanon in your prayers!