Nauvoo, Where's That?

It's interesting to try to explain to people where you're going on vacation when they aren't familiar with the LDS church. Our vacation to Nauvoo is one we've been anticipating for quite some time and we were so excited to go with Jared's parents when they came to visit. We left Wamego the day after Grant's birthday and drove to Nauvoo, Illinois. It took about 8 hours or so with all the stops we made along the way. Not too bad. We ate dinner in Ft. Madison, across the Mississippi River from Nauvoo. This engine is outside of the historical Ft. Madison museum on the banks of the river. Our first stop that evening after dinner was the old quarry where the early members of the church hauled limestone from to build the original temple. It's filled with water now. Grant looks excited about this stop, doesn't he.
Here's a replica of one of the sunstones found on the temple that's been placed here next to the quarry overlook. Jared was doing the 'going downstairs' trick with Grant behind the stone. Funny!These are the oxen that the tour guides use to pull the covered wagons during their demonstrations of pioneer travel in Nauvoo. They were pretty friendly and came right up to the fence. Sunset on the Mississippi River. This is taken at the end of Parley Street where many of the pioneers crossed the Mississippi River when it froze over in February of 1846. It was a beautiful sunset that night and there were other kids there throwing rocks into the water. Grant was a little upset when we wouldn't let him go wading. We took this picture the next morning at the temple. Grant was NOT a happy camper and needed a nap desperately. He wasn't happy about having his picture taken. After a visit at the LDS Visitor Center, we went for a wagon ride around the city with some tour guides that afternoon after Grant's nap. Grant loved it!! He never sits still for that long of a period of time, unless he's asleep! He was feeling much happier!