Parker's first high adventure camp

After a 16-day road trip across America, we arrived home late. And the very next day we dropped Parker off at a neighbor's house to go on a several day High Adventure scout trip. He was the first to arrive so he set up his camping chair and waited for others to arrive.

He had the BEST time! 

These pictures were taken by one of the boys.

E3-day 15&16 - Coming home

We are on our last to days of our trip sad. We woke up and ate breakfast. Then got in the car to drive forever. It was so boring some and Bryce were just counting down the minutes till it was lunchtime. It was finally lunch time and we ate whatever we wanted and dad pushed me off the bench so then I tried to push him off the bench but I couldn't then we got back in the car to see more green grass and random trees. Then we got our hotel and we played in the swimming pool. There was this little kid younger than Bryce and he would talk to me and Rachel saying that he like the hot tub better than the swimming pool and then he would do these weird moves and says can you do that? Then we went to sleep for the last day of our trip.

We wake up and are so anxious to go home we go through all of our activity and we started to count down our last 20 miles till we get out of Utah and our home. We are home and tired.

E3-day 14 - Adam Ondi Ahman, Independence, LibertY

We wake up to eat breakfast and Golden pancake which was pretty good then we went on our way to Adam Ondi Ohman. Which was really pretty and a neat experience. I loved it there but there was one tree that was curvy and all around it was straight trees I thought that was really cool.

Then we ate lunch where there was going to be a temple but they didn't build one. it was just cheese and crackers. We then, of course, went through the visitors center watched a bunch of videos and learned more about Joseph and then went to the community temple.

It had beautiful artwork and they had a treasure hunt for us. Mom loved the organ and she could hear the organ playing.

After that, we went to Liberty jail where Joesph was held and we heard a few audios which I love to hear. and I thought it was just a neat cool experience. Then we ate a Christmas cookie and left for dinner.

For dinner, we ate PB& J sandwiches and Bryce was going crazy it was to the point where we almost peed our pants. Then we saw the swimming pool and jumped in it was fun. But Sydney like these two boxing boys but these other girls liked them. So Rachel jumped in and got the two girls wet. after the showers, we went to sleep it was a good night.

E3-day 13 - Carthage, Clydesdale, St. Louis Arch

So we woke up in our last hotel ate a blueberry bagel and went to Carthage jail where Joseph and Hyram got killed. And we went to a tour but it took a while because there was a group ahead of us that needed to go first so we waited and talked to a family that was doing the same trip as us. We then went inside the jailhouse and stood in the jail and then the room where he was killed and while we were in that room we listened to an audio of Joseph getting killed it was really sad. The tour ended and then we took a picture underneath the window where Joseph fell. Then we hopped in our car to go to St. Luis. 

We went to see the Clydesdale Horses and they were so pretty but if they didn't have the white socks, tan body, and black mane then they couldn't walk in the parade which was really sad but it was okay. 

Then we went to the museum of the arch. Which was cool we got our tickets and then we were standing in the big open area and this ranger comes up to us and says say your name. So Sydney says her name and then he says say your name in this circle. And it was cool because it was a projection only in that circle.

Then we went to a gift shop and Camille got a charm for her charm bracelet. And then we waited and watched a video about guns and then we were in line to go in a guy told us the rules. Then we got in the little cars that took us up to the top and Rachel got scared she couldn't handle it so mom played it's going to be okay. Then we got up there and I could see the Mississippi River. and it was so beautiful. then we had to go back down the opposite way which was fine but people came in with us so we couldn't play music.

After that, we went to our hotel and ate some taquitos that we got from the grocery store. then this lady comes up and takes me to get blankets and I have no idea where my family is now and so she takes me and is talking about her family and then she was talking to her son about drinking and then this guy asked her out and I just felt very awkward through all of this. So then she hands me some blankets and towels and then she sent me to my room and I ran to my room. Then we ate dinner watched Princess Bride and the half of Karate Kid. Then went to sleep.

E3-day 12- Nauvoo 3

So today is our last day in Nauvoo and we are trying to get through everything before we leave. So we go through Joseph and Hyrams memorial. We wanted to go through the house but it wasn't part of the church property. So we couldn't go through it.

Then we go to all of the houses went to Heber C. Kimball house. And we went to even how to make a ring out of metal and all of these houses and it was fun but pretty tiring.

Then we went to a little store where Camille got her charm bracelet, Rachel got her necklace, and Parker got the Nauvoo temple statue. And Bryce got a candy, And mom got a necklace too, dad was going to get something but he decided not too.

Then we went to a cute little play with all of the missionaries in it they were practically just singing that was really fun to watch. Then we went on a carriage ride to go back to past times. Then we forgot to go to Lyon and drug store so we go over there. Had fun then we went on our way to the British pageant.

We got there and ate hotdogs for dinner which was really good. Then we played games while waiting for the pageant. We had a race with the wagons to see who could pull the fastest. That was really fun. 

We then got on stilts which were harder than the ones at past times. then we did the bear race, we made rag dolls, made a fun toy, and played tug of war. My favorite was cutting of a log piece and then they would burn a Nauvoo picture in it. I thought that was really cool.

We were seated in our seats and the pageant started it was about how they built the Nauvoo temple. We were scared at first because they said it was going to rain but it just sprinkled a little in the middle of the play. And it never rained. Count your many blessings. Then after the pageant we went straight to our hotel took a shower then fell asleep.

E3-day 10 - 11 Nauvoo

We drove and drove all the way to Nauvoo but mom needed to go to the bathroom so we hurried and passed the temple to go the bathroom. Then there were these big Belgium horses so Camille and Rachel went to go see the big horses and they were too scared to pet them so we waited till sterling came and he said that we could go on the wagon ride. So this old missionary told us about the people that helped Joseph Smith.

After the wagon ride, we went to see a play called " The Promise." It was one of my favorites because it was about a girl who went to Nauvoo and met two boys and married one. But the boys in the play are hilarious. Then after the wonderful play there was a group and sang and it was really pretty. After that, we went through the women's garden which was beautiful. I loved all of the statues.

Then we traveled to the temple which was walking to the temple. It was so hot and humid. Then when we were about to take a picture Parker forgot his hat in the Theater for "The Promise" so Camille Parker and Syd went all the way back and then got the hat then Syd needed to go to the bathroom so that took forever. Then we needed to go all the way back up the hill to the temple and took a picture.

After the temple, we went to Annies which gives custard which is so good. And under the glass people would give little notes so we made a little note and left to go to Mcdonalds we ordered 15 burgers and 4 large fries and ate all of it. Then we went in our hot car and went to go swimming and then took showers and watched American Ninja Warrior.

We got ready to spend our whole day at Nauvoo which was so fun. And we arrived where there was a family something. Which taught us how to make wool and bread, how to make candles and string. And also how to make a rug or a prise and pottery and a barrel. That was so fun because you were involved and it was fun to watch them make things that we never make anymore just at home. My favorite was the Candle making.

Then we went to a place called past times where there were a lot of games to play and Rachel dressed up as a pioneer.

There were stilts and there was a game where there was a teddy bear and you had to pull strings to get it up the string the fastest. That was one of the more fun ones.

Then there was the string pull and then you had to pull someone over with the board. That place was really fun.

After the past times, we saw Anna Amanda and Sunset by the Mississippi. We saw the band play and it was time to eat dinner and so we had trouble because we couldn't find the place we wanted to eat and we were starving and hot. But we finally saw it in a gas station. We got slices of pizza and chocolate milk and then went on our way to the Nauvoo Pageant. But on our way, dad saw someone in our stake so they talked and then we booked it to the Nauvoo Pageant.

The Pageant was a great one it was about how the pioneers had to just keep pushing forward and keep moving on after the play we went to our hotel and took showers which made us all hipper again and it took us awhile to fall asleep but when we got in our beds we fell asleep instantly.