Jennifer and Family



On June 5th Jen, Victor, Ali, Lizzie, Ryan and Peter arrived for their visit to Nauvoo.  The pictures below show a sampling of their activities while they were here.  They all had a great time and we enjoyed their visit.

Family picture in front of the temple

Grandma and Grandpa are still doing well

Lizzie, Ryan & Ali in the preshow parade
Every evening except Sunday there is a variety show called, Sunset on the Mississippi.  Before it begins the children are invited to come up and make a hat and choose instruments to play as they march up one aisle and down the other around the audience accompanied by the Nauvoo Brass Band. It is a lively show with a lot of humor as well as great music.  The performers include the young performing missionaries, the Nauvoo Brass Band (the members are also performing missionaries) and the senior site missionaries, as well as some of the regular missionaries.  It is a must-see when you visit Nauvoo! We all had a great time!!
Grandma and Grandpa with Ali, Lizzie, Ryan and Peter at Sunset by the Mississippi

Family group shot after seeing the show Sunset on the Mississippi  


After the show there was time for us to drive down Parley Street to watch the sun set.  We never tire of watching the sunsets here and sharing them with our family.  We enjoyed skipping rocks and looking for turtles while we waited for the sun to finally settle into the horizon across the river in Missouri.

Lizzie, Ali and Ryan with Grandma and Grandpa on Parley Street

Ryan, Lizzie, Ali and Peter at the foot of Parley Street getting ready for sunset

Peter, Ali, Lizzie and Ryan admiring the sun set on the Mississippi River

A picture of a firefly on a post.  Nauvoo has lots of them.  The trees by the river have so many fireflies in them they sparkle, looking like they were decorated for Christmas at night


After the sunset we drove up Water Street to the Smith Family Cemetery next to the Red Brick Store. In the twilight the fireflies were starting to glow and it was magical with their sparkling lights. Being near the graves gave us a moment to reflect and feel our gratitude to Joseph and Hyrum for their courage to restore the true church of Jesus Christ as they gave up their lives to seal their testimonies. No matter what, they never denounced the truth of the work they had accomplished. 

Ryan, Victor and Ali at the grave site of Hyrum, Joseph and Emma.  It was an emotional time for each of them

The next day we returned to the Flats to see more things and take an oxcart ride.  This one is a replica of the original wagons the pioneers used as they crossed the plains. We were all surprised to see how small they are. This ride only takes ten minutes but it was fun to experience a little of what it would have been like, though the pioneers walked and the cart was saved for their supplies unless someone was too sick to walk.   

Every ones seated for ride in the oxcart

This is what it looks like when taking the oxen ride.  Most of the pioneers walked while the wagon carried their supplies

The children with their chance to pet the oxen

Next we went to the Family Living Center where we learned about the things the pioneers had to do to survive the rigors of daily living in the wilderness.


Everyone watching a man make a rug at the Family Living Center.  We have a rug made there.

Making rope in the Family Living Center

Attending the bread making demonstration in the same type of oven as used by the pioneers

These four just finished a baptism session at the temple


Ali, Ryan and Lizzie with four of the Young Performing Missionaries.  They are part of the cast for The Promise.  The one between Ali and Ryan was their favorite.

The children by a model wagon at the blacksmith shop.  All wagons were the same size, 3 ft. by 11 ft.



Petting the horses who pulled our wagon for the wagon ride

Family group shot after the wagon ride

A visit to Carthage



A bit of refreshment at the frozen custard shop called Annie's.


The Ermolaev Family in front of the Joseph and Hyrum statues at the temple





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