Vacation...GIRLS ONLY!!!

This is part one of my Girls Only vacation blog:


Maggie went with the youth from church on a trip to Nauvoo, Illinois to see tons of church history sights. Mom and I had wanted to see the annual Nauvoo pageant, so we decided to go too. We didn't actually go with the youth, we just were there at the same time, so that we could be there to grab Maggie when the group left for home. It was so nice to spend a few days with my mom alone. I haven't done that in 20 years! We visited some of the church sights, shopped in the quaint little shops in town, and just enjoyed one anothers company!
We met and talked to lots of interesting people, including the man who made the windows for the Nauvoo temple. He struck me as a very humble man. Mom makes stained glass windows, so he went into his shop and brought her out a piece of the glass that was used in the temple windows for her to take home with her. Very nice of him! It is clear glass, and it looks almost warped because of the shaping tools that they run across it when making the glass. Very cool!
Then when the youth trip was at their last stop, we grabbed Maggie to have her stay with us for a few more days.

We still have another three days left, and we are still deciding what to do - maybe Chicago? We will see - I'm sure I'll blog about it soon!

A Sculpture of the First Vision

On the morning of June 24, 1844, Joseph and his brother Hyrum Smith left their homes, families and fellow saints for the last time. Traveling on horseback, they paused on this bluff. Joseph looked admiringly at the unfinished temple and the city of Nauvoo and declared:
This is the loveliest place and the best people under the heavens;
little do they know the trials that await them.
Joseph and Hyrum then continued onto Carthage, Illinois, where they faced legal charges and eventual death at the hands of a mob.
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The Nauvoo Temple today

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On friday, July 3rd, we drove down to St.Louis, Missouri to visit the Gateway Arch. Maggie and I went up inside of it - they take you up in a tiny capsule (yes, scary) and let you out to look out of the windows at the top. Everything looks miniature from up there! It is 625 feet up.

Check out the little baby helicopter over the water! In the pavillion in the middle, the Counting Crows were performing. We didn't realize until we arrived that a big state fair was going on - evidentally a big deal! We had great timing, i guess!

She works out...

Me and Mag at the top!

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Speaking of helicopters, we took a tour on one!
It was a bit rainy, but so cool to look down on the city!
Nana on the tour


Maggie videotaping part of our flight


cool pic of the arch and the capitol building from the air



SUPER HOT PILOT!!
Did I mention...SUPER HOT?!!!
Look at my mom's face - she was giddy because of his hottness!

Maggie's new BFF - also Super Cute! He and another cute worker guy argued over who was going to get to help Maggie get strapped in to the helicopter - really great for her ego!

Stay tuned for more vacation pics!