Doing Our Economic Duty... Shopping

Last night, Lesley and I went to the mall for the first time in weeks.
She needed to get her pants hemmed at Banana Republic and we were determined to only go to BR just for the pants and to NOT shop. So we walk into the store to find a huge sign saying "30% OFF EVERYTHING IN THE STORE"
How were we supposed to compete with that?!

*Cut to us walking out of the store 2 hours later both with sale bags on our arms.... CRAP
But look at my new jacket :)

Congress can thank me later.

Dejeuner Sur L'Herb?!

So after work on Wednesday, I went over to my sister Haley's house and found this...

They were having a picnic in the family room eating cookies and yougurt (and by eating I mean laying out on the blanket since neither of them actually eat).  As I joined them on the floor, I had a huge revelation: Aaron is dressed and Ashley is in her panties.  Right as I thought that, they totally posed like the foreground grouping in Manet's (in)famous painting Luncheon on the Grass.  

I was laughing SO hard!!!!! It was a such a great unconscious interpretation of that work especially in the expression on the woman's face since it was almost the same as Ashley's- the unabashed nakedness which is manefested in a way that takes out the scandal... like saying "So What?!" 

Ashley loves to be naked and when I came in the house that afternoon I said, "Ashley, you're naked!" and she enthusiastically responded, "Yeah!"  She loves it and I LOVE being her aunt!

I thought it as a very hilarious situation and I know the photo is not the best as I took it on my phone (I didn't want the kids to know I was taking their photo).  I may be the only one who thinks this is funny, but its my blog and this is why I have it.   

Nauvoo Trip 2008

Day 1: Thursday, August 28, 2008

-Independence, Missouri- LDS Visitor Center, Temple Lot, and Community of Christ 

Lesley infront of the Community of Christ Temple.  
This is the reason why it looks like an icecream cone on the outside.  They wanted the ceiling of sanctuary to resemble a conk shell.  They use their temple as a symbol of peace where they have a daily prayer for peace.  It's sad how far you can fall when you lose the priesthood keys.  
"Peace" became the word of the trip.  LOL

-Liberty, Missouri.
-Adam-Ondi-Ahman
Before we went to the place were Adam dwelt, we drove through Jamesport, an Amish community.  It was pouring down rain so we didn't get out of the bus.  Luckily it stopped raining when we got to Adam-Ondi-Ahman.  It was so green and shining from the rain.  Absolutely gorgeous!

That night we had dinner at a little Mom and Pop Restaurant.  It was... um... interesting.  Sadly it was the best food of the trip.

Day 2: Friday, August 29, 2008

-Far West.  The only thing left are the cornerstones of the dedicated ground of the temple.  This is the place where the Twelve left on thier missions to England.  They had to sneek back into Missouri after the extermination order had been given.  

This is me and one of my roomies Melody.  She was so fun to hang out with and I'm glad we had personalities that meshed well.  I was so afraid of having difficult roommates but we really lucked out with Charlotte and Melody.  

-Nauvoo, Illinois
Brickyard- we got a free brick :)
Heber C. Kimball's Home.  It took him 4 years to build and he only lived in it for 4 months.  

-Carthage, Illinois
Lesley outside Carthage Jail and below Lesley and I are posing like the statue of Joseph and Hyrum.  We did this a lot while on study abroad in London.  It helps you really remember great statuary.  
Day 3: Saturday, August 30, 2008

-Nauvoo Temple

We did a morning session in the Nauvoo Temple which was the highlight of the entire trip.  It was amazing and so special.

Lesley was so adorable on the steps of the temple.  It was so peaceful and beautiful that none of us wanted to leave.  It was tragic to get back on the bus.  

For lunch we ate at a little bakery and then walked down Mullholland Street which is like a little main street.  We stopped at the Fudge Factory!! A little indulgence goes a long way :)
We went on a tour of the Community of Christ sites in Nauvoo.  We had to watch a little film in thier visitor's center and Lesley snook a sip of Dalton's rootbeer.  It was so great that it must have a prayer for peace inside :)  

This is the view from Joseph Smith' s Homstead.  It is right next to the Mississippi.
Here is the Mansion House
This is the sign over Joseph's office door in the Red Brick Store
This is for Kendra :)

He even sold beautiful dishes in his store- Lesley was in heaven to see such servingware!
This is the re-built Red Brick Store.
A beautiful statue of Joseph and Emma at the LDS visitor's center.
We took a wagon ride of Old Nauvoo.  It was a great way to finish our tour of Nauvoo
That night we went to a play put on by the Senior Missionaries called "Rendezvous to Old Nauvoo"  It was another highlight for me.  It was so cute and fun.  I kept thinking about Grandma and Grandpa's lip-synch they did with their Good Sam group.

Day 4: Sunday, August 31, 2008

-Sacrament in Nauvoo Groves and group photos at the Temple.

-Mt. Pisgah
This was a pit-stop on the way across Iowa to Winter Quarters.  There really isn't anything there but it was really cool nonetheless.

Day 5: Monday, September 1, 2008

-Winter Quarters
Monument at Winter Quarter's cemetary.  I was moved to tears.  So many people died and most of them were children and infants.  
Winter Quarters Temple- It was really pretty and peaceful.  There is a great visitor's center there and such a great spirit.  It was kind of sad that I was almost too exhausted to enjoy it.

That was our Nauvoo Trip.  It was packed-in and incredible.  

I thought I'd be more emotional but I wasn't.  I was so wrapped up in the history and facts that I didn't really think about "feeling" what happened there.  

It was such a great trip and the temple was a definite highlight, then Winter Quarters, and the wagon ride.  Mt. Pisgah was cool, but it kind of got ruined when a huge spider was climbing up my shirt and I freaked out big-time.  Don't worry- just a little embarassing.   

Quickies- Vegas and Graduation

I graduated (well walked since I have not defended yet) in August.  Thanks to all my family and friends who have supported and inspired me durring my graduate work.  Here are some photos I took on my phone during the festivities.  
This is Me and Megan backstage at Convocation.  We were laughing so hard!!  Look at our cute hoods :)
This is Me and Jessica when we sat down at Commencement.  It was so fun to be on the floor of the Marriot Center will all the Master Degree Canidates.  We were on the third row center, we could almost reach out and touch Elder Scott who was the keynote speaker.  He had a great message about having a successful life.  The best part of it all was sitting with all my friends, Josh, Kyle, Megan and Jess.  I'll miss them tons!

If any of my fam or friends have cute pictures they took, could you pretty please send them to me?  Thanks

Vegas was a total blast!!!!

Andrea made this amazing photobook for our parents with such cute and amazing pictures with captions.  My Mom was dying over it and showing it to everyone at Valie's Princess Royal Ball :)  

I did not have the camera with me, so all my photos came from my phone.

This is Vickie holding her winnings at the slots.  She put in a dollar and came out with four!  
She gave one dollar to Cam who quickly lost it all!  That's the way Vegas rolls, Baby :)
This is Steve at a Buffet.  They ran out of small cups for melted butter for crab, so ingenuative Steve just grabbed a bowl!  I think it was a stroke of brilliance :)

When we got back from the buffet, we found Aaron fast asleep with his Popi.  It was the sweetest moment.  
These are the FHOAs (Future Hearbreakers of America) and while Aaron and Popi were sleeping, Evan and Jack were running around with GiGi.  They are the cutest boys who have those smiles that get them out of sticky situations :)  Aren't they adorable?!

We all had a great time in Vegas, lying by the pool next to Dion Sanders, spending time in the cabana or taking a nap and ordering pool food, eating at buffets, shopping at H&M 

Let's Go Back -- ASAP!