Trip to Bishop's House

Shortly after we arrived in Iowa, Bishop and his counselors asked to come for a visit. They try to meet with every new family that moves in (which is an over whelming task this time of year I am sure). The visit was brief, but while here Bishop tried to chat with Grace and Anne. The girls stayed close to me and avoided all interaction until Bishop extended an invitation to visit his horses, Cocoa and Cinnamon.

For several weeks the girls prayed to visit the horses. They talked as if they knew Cocoa and Cinnamon intimately. Every day they asked when they could go see the horses.

Visiting the horses was a priority for Grace and Anne and I wasn't about to let Bishop off the hook. He extended the invitation to my children and besides, we have been more than willing to fulfil assignments given since we've been here. I spoke in sacrament meeting, Edwin gave a prayer, I prayed another time, both Edwin and I accepted callings (Edwin is the Family History Consultant and I am a Sunbeam teacher for one of the three Sunbeam Classes) and we have served to help in the nursery and primary activity day. Needless to say, I became the nagging mother who cornered Bishop repeatedly to let us come see the horses.

The day arrived and we were happy to join Bishop and his family for a ride in the pasture. There were several other families who were also invited for a FHE horse ride and ice cream social. It was a great night for everyone, and the girls were thrilled to ride Cinnamon. (Cocoa isn't people friendly so we just looked at her!)

Pregnant

I'm having an identity crisis! In the morning I often see two little girls running full throttle towards me only to be accosted and hear, "I love you, Nuggie Nugs!" There is no longer any love for mom. If I ask for hugs I am denied and told, "No, just snuggle Nuggie." The girls are ecstatic to greet their baby brother each morning and mom is left in the dark. I don't think I'd notice so much, but baby is still in my belly and so I am ignored while my belly is addressed and cuddled. I read the books while the girls snuggle and stroke my belly and talk to their little brother. He is going to be well loved once he arrives, but for now I am neither"the best mommers" nor the "mommy mom." In fact I do not know what I am some days as I listen to the girls talk about me or to me. If baby is kicking while I am near Grace she immediately starts to giggle and pats my tummy and asks, "Is he saying 'I love you, Big Sister Grace?" I think Nuggie is aware of his sisters because he is often more active when the girls are nearby. Often I hear, "Hey Big Belly, you bumped me!" Or one of my personal favorites comes from Anne as she tries to squeeze past me in narrow spaces, "Excuse me, Big Bottom! Excuse me, Big Bottom!" I have been called, "Pregnant Lady" and "Pregnant Belly" for a while now. And I'm glad they are creative, and cute, and wonderful, but I'm ready to be mom. Simply mom. The girls are happy together, but they are anxious for this little bundle to arrive. Three to four weeks seems like forever when you two and three. As for now, I'll be the pregnant mom who has a big belly that is often bumping Grace in the head, the big bottom Anne squeezes by in tight spaces, the wiggly belly that makes the girls giggle and woman who still adores her family while she keeps that house in order. It's been a great pregnancy and I wouldn't trade these moments for anything (big bottom and all).

Day Trip to Nauvoo

Before we arrived in Nauvoo, we stopped at a little orchard and found some goats and a few horses to pet. Anne and Edwin fed the horses and goats.

Grace gets so excited about horses but she’s nervous to pet them. She wants her own....maybe one day.

With our shoes covered in mud we clamoured back into Millie Van and headed down the road to Nauvoo.

The most anticipated activity of the day was the ox drawn wagon ride. Grace watched those oxen walk, and walk, and walk. There were several people in front of us so the poor kid had to eat lunch before she could get a ride. It was an agonizingly painful meal for a three-year-old. However, with a belly half full she ran through the grass and waited.

And waited.

And waited in the empty wagon.

While Grace waited, Anne and I enjoyed meeting Gary, the ox.

We tried to get a family photo, but Grace was.....waiting. There was no moving that kid until she had a ride in the wagon.

No more waiting!!! For a few minutes she was just like Mary and Laura Ingalls (we read the Little House on the Prairie series this spring) and rode in a wagon. Simply delightful!

We only saw a few sites on our first journey to Nauvoo. The ox ride, the blacksmith's shop and the brick making were the family favorites. We also stopped at the visitor's center and viewed some beautiful artwork. The shoe maker and the red brick store were also on our agenda. We played in the grass, watched a barge move down the mighty Mississippi River, and enjoyed the day together. Part two of our Nauvoo travels is scheduled for September before baby arrives. I am hoping to see the general store and bakery, however, I feel like the girls are going to want to go for another wagon ride! Ah, beautiful Nauvoo!

Wizard of Oz Playdough

We love to borrow Wizard of Oz from the library periodically.

When we aren't watching it we are often role playing parts or doing craft projects.

Grace's latest creations (with mom's help) include....

Dorothy complete with pink pockets, the wicked witch sporting a lovely grotesque green nose, and a flying monkey.

Somebody cut off the monkey's tail!!!

Play dough is wonderful!!!

County Fair

The county fair was GREAT!!

The girls were impressed with the glass beehive where we watched the bees make honey.

The animals were entertaining as usual.

Unfortunately the girls wanted to ride the merry-go-round, and we didn't do that.

(No pregnant women allowed. Besides that the ride was quite fast for little people and just looking at it made both Edwin and I nauseous. No vomiting tonight please!)

So we found these fun rides instead! Hold on tight! Anne likes to go fast.

Grace knows what she is doing....she drives a tractor like this with Grandpa B!

(his is blue though) These country girls need a farm!

We love the fair...especially small town fairs.

Momma's Helpers

The hardest thing about attending a church social is taking food you know your children will eat, because although my girls will fill their plates with food that doesn't mean they are going to eat it! So we decided to make some dinner rolls and the girls were anxious to help.

Several times a day I hear Anne say, "I help mom with.....(the dishes, cook dinner, make lunch)." Once Anne is eager to help then Grace is happy to participate in the activities too.

Pirate Eye Grace