Rendevouz in old Nauvoo

Finally after three summers here in Iowa we made it to the Nauvoo pageant and we were not disappointed. We stayed for 2 nights at Camp Nauvoo and we will for sure be returning because it was wonderful. We went with our wonderful friends the Stuarts which is pretty much a fool proof way to have a good times. Even though they are our next door neighbors we still stayed up talking till the wee hours both nights. And we of course were extatic when the tour guide on the carriage ride announced that we were passing the first duplex built in Nauvoo. Being that it's our plan to live in a duplex into our old age with the Stuarts we of course needed a family photo. 

                                                          Travis and his Volcano II

                                                          Nothing like a pioneer headband.

                                                  A friendly neighborly game of the stick pull

                       And then a challenge from this guy. He was pretty shocked when Travis worked him.

                       
                                On our way home we stopped at the American Gothic House in Eldon Iowa.

                                              Lilly and Dillan had a little bit harder time being serious.

 And then 5 days after we were home I realized that I had carried home some chiggers as souvenirs and I had no idea that 100 chigger bites would be so miserable but take my word for it it was awful! But they were totallu worth it!

A New Mimi

“ Linus from peanuts once said that “sucking your thumb without a blanket is like eating a cone without ice cream” and while Linus, his thumb, and blanket maybe the the most famous blanket to child bond it in no way is the strongest bond.  That would be Grace and Mimi. Mimi is the blanket I made for Grace when she was born but I would never use the word blanket to describe Mimi now, it’s more of a fabric shedding piece of string. I I had known she was going to love it so much I would have treated it better when I sewed it and washed it. I find pieces of it all over the house and have been worried for some time now what I would do when the last piece of fabric was shed because over the past few years this blanket has seriously become part of the family. 

  Well on Tuesday that problem was resolved when a package arrived for Grace from her Grandma. It was a brand new mimi with the exact same fabric and dimensions of the original. Grace was ecstatic. And while she's not ready to give up sleeping with the old she'still ok carrying the new one around.

 It was kind of crazy as she opened the box. I can't quite explain the emotions I felt. My eyes watered up and I seriously couldn't talk for about 30 minutes for fear I would lose it. 

Something about seeing that blanket exactly like it was the day she was born really got me. It was as if I traveled back 7 years and I could feel exactly the same way I felt when I finished her blanket. The excitement of becoming a mom knowing my life was about to change forever. It made me think about all the goals I had set for the kind of mom I wanted to be. It then became a moment of self evaluation as I asked myself am I being that mom that I wanted to be to Grace? Do I still have the same excitement for motherhood that I had the day she was born? Have I made Grace and my other kids the focus of my life with so many opportunities for distraction for mothers in this world? Am I doing all I can to make my home a place of refuge from the world for her?

The answer of course was I can do better but at the same time I realized with Grace that I have learned to love in a way I never knew was possible. That little girl has brought me pure joy for the past 7 years. Her testimony and genuine desire to do what's right always have changed me forever. I will never understand how I was trusted to raise such an incredible spirit. I hope that I can do a better job of remembering the job with which I've been entrusted. I love her so much and hope for her birthday to give her  the best thing I can give, my time and complete focus as a mother to become that mother for her I wanted to be 7 years ago. 

                                                           Happy 7th Birthday Grace!

Into the Wild

1)So after being on the road for a month I thought I brought the wrong kids home with me. I have never seen anything like it. It was whining and tantrums like I've never seen them before and as most people know... I don't do whining. I start to twitch and my teeth begin to clench and my nastiest side comes out. However, now that we've had almost two weeks to recover I think maybe I brought the right kids home after all. We went out tonight and it was sheer insanity and as crazy as it sounds it was wonderful. Nelson threw a Costco container of raspberries up like confetti and Travis and I sat and laughed as we picked all of them up off the ground, happy to have our insane kids because I will pick wildness over whining any day.

2)Our friends Blasi, Jared and their kids are in town from Wyoming and we've been having a blast with old friends.

3) We rode our bike about 6 miles round trip to piano lessons and Anna did awesome.

4) My garden is growing one bean.

5) I heard the words "I'm worried" come out of Travis' mouth for the first time ever as he studied for boards and I finally realized how serious this all is.

6) Travis studied

7) Travis studied

8)Travis studied

9) Travis studied

10) The missionaries stopped by to check in on how my efforts in sharing what I prize most is coming along. I realized after they left that it has been exactly 10 years ago from today that I left for my mission. It was a good time for some self reflection of these past ten years and what has become of my testimony. Coming home from my mission was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. As people leave their missions they usually use the words bitter sweet. Getting ready to leave for me was nothing but bitter. I loved EVERY second of my mission. I had no desire to leave the wonderful people of Spain. However, actually coming home was the sweetest experience of my life as I realized the spirit can be felt just as strongly in "normal" life as it can for a missionary. I told myself it was up to me when I lost it. As I reflected on that today I realized there is a lot more I can be doing to feel that spirit in my daily life and even more to share the joy I have with others. It's always wonderful to have those  days where the you can almost feel the Lords invitation to try a little harder and end the day feeling a renewed commitment and love for him as his perfect gospel.

These are my people

I am so sad to be writing this post. Even though I have been home from Utah for a week and a half the vacation has continued on. Thanks to a little souvenier called Brielle that I brought home with me. However, she will be leaving us in the morning and in so many ways having her here with us has been the perfect close to the most wonderful month and a half. With the exception of 1 sister on a mission and two brothers in law who had to work I have been able to see every member of our 67 member family and it was wonderful.

There’s a country song that says “these are my people this is where I came from. We’re giving this life every thing we’ve got and then some.” As cheesy as it may sound that tune was in my head almost the entire time I was in Utah and Oregon. It’s the most amazing feeling in the world to have that many people who just get me. I can tell the dumbest jokes and people laugh, I can bear my testimony without having to lean over after and ask Travis “did any of that make sense”, I can confidently say whatever I’m thinking without worrying that someone will have an opinion to share of me later and best of all I can be as vocally crazy as I want about Travis without worrying I’ll be making everyone else puke. It’s just the most amazing feeling in families to be able to just be you and feel so loved for it.

On June 15 we had the Tidwell family reunion, afterwards I asked my sister in law Sara how in the world did we get to be a part of this? I’ve tried for eight years now to explain how incredible they are to people and I’m learning there’s just not words for them.  The bond between this family is incredible. You will never see a group that experiences unconditional love the way the Tidwell’s do. If you are part of their family that is all it takes for them to see every good attribute you possess and let go of all flaws. If everyone could be so forgiving of the weaknesses of others and have so much doing it.

 Above: Potentially the funnest night of my life. I laughed till I cried with Shannon and Tori
Below: Travis and Nelson's matching fathers day ties, the results of the funnest girls night ever.

                              Ethan and Chase have to be the funnest 10 year old boys ever.

4 generation photos of all of the kids, Travis, Grandma Rolinda and her parents Great Grandpa Verne and Shirley.

 The bitter sweet ending of our time with the Tidwell's was Ammon's farewell, although his talk sounded more like someone returning home it was all the more reminder that this kid is something special.

After the incredible time spent with the in-laws Travis flew onto Iowa and I drove with the kids to Oregon and met up with 3 of my sisters. And then I was then asking myself how was I born into this? There's a quote that says "a sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost". And I have to say our week in Oregon presented plenty of opportunities of laughing like we were kids. And it's kind of funny because I talk about sisters and the good time we had and the friendship we share but it's was so fun to have the ring leader of us all, my mom. She kept us all laughing and of course as always lifted us up by letting us know every few seconds how great she thinks we are. I don't think there is a mother in the world who has enjoyed motherhood the way she has. And how grateful have I been in these years of young motherhood for her example of someone who has taken her most important role in life and turned it into the funnest experience possible. Thanks mom!

'

 Above: The fish hatchery at the Bonneville Dam
Below: A day at the Oregon coast

 I'm not sure why she wore clothes and not her swimsuit. She knows she can't say no to her grandkids.

 Emilyne found out her new favorite food is sand and she was shoving it in by the handful.

           It was hard to say goodbye to my amazing sisters and mom but my cheeks still hurt from laughing.

 After we got back from our long trip we took our souvenir (Brielle) to the farmers market, Raccoon River park, Pences pond, drive in movie, Science Center, zoo, swimming at the Y and of course library hoping to collect on prizes from all the summer reading programs. It was a blast!

 We ended the exctiting visit from Brielle with a 4th of July celebration. Nelson of course did not like the booms of the fireworks and therefore kept his hands on his ears the entire night.

                                                         Even after he fell asleep.

It's sad to see these last few weeks end. They have been so much fun as we were reminded of the wonderful people the Lord has blessed us to have as a part of us for eternity. I love them all so much and am so thankful for their examples to me. I hope I can spend each day trying a little harder to be more like the wonderful members of our family. I love you all and thank you for one of the greatest summers of our lives.