Haun's Mill

After Liberty we decided to take a side trip to Haun’s Mill Site. It was a great adventure. There was only a stone marker memorializing the spot of the massacre, a vandalized sigh and a lot of mud. We explored for a little while and decided to move on, but came to this cool old bridge. We took lots of pictures and played a game of Pooh Sticks. Then we consulted with the GPS and decided to go out a different way than we came in. Dumb idea… The road was hardly a road. It was steep and gravely, deeply pitted and many large rocks jutting out. Kenneth did a great job of not getting the van stuck. I did a good job of not passing out as I held my breath in fear. Speaking of driving the kids agree that the best part of the day was the rollercoaster hills in the road, and the Mom who could not contain herself from driving a bit too fast over the hills. It was just too fun to hear the kids all laughing.

Liberty Jail

We drove to Liberty Missouri, and visited Liberty Jail. The church purchased the jail site and rebuilt a cross-section reconstruction of the original jail and a visitor center over/around it. We learned a bit more about some of the history of the early saints and their trials. One interesting factoid we heard was that The Extermination Order was still in effect in Missouri until the 1970’s.

The jail itself was used to house some of the most terrible criminals and so to jail the prophet there was a big message to the people. We learned that many people came to see the Prophet and the 5 other men that were with him, they were quite disappointed to see that he looked just like other men, a gentleman in his Sunday best.

There were two small windows in the jail and members of the church and friends would smuggle things like food and pens and paper to the prisoners. I had forgotten that Liberty Jail was the location where several revelations were received by Joseph Smith.

Nate leaned over to me during the presentation and told me that he could feel the Holy Ghost letting him know that Joseph Smith was really a prophet. I have to say that I too was strongly impressed also as to the great blessings of the restoration and the importance of the refining fire in our lives to help us on our paths to become more like Christ.

A replica of what the golden plates looked like.

The barred window that friends could sneak items to the prisoners. The walls are 4 feet thick and the kids were curious about how far they could reach. Truman tried to wedge his whole body into the opening.

Day Three

After a nice breakfast we packed up and said Goodbye to Scott Jami and the boys, and headed out to drive across Kansas. Kenneth took us to the Air Force Academy for a little look-see. It is an amazingly large campus, and like the rest of Colorado Springs... Beautiful.


Then we really set out. Here is some fine views of the Kansas landscape.




Here we are in Kansas City. Notice the dog head on the antenna. It looks like Dejay and the girls found it so that we could have Dejay with us (in spirit) on our trip.

We stopped for the night in Oak Grove Missouri at a KOA. We were setting up the tent when we noticed the fireflys. I really never thought that I would ever get to see one, let alone hundreds. The kids had a great time catching them.





The humidity was everything that everyone said it would be. It was nice that we had been acurately warned. We had tacos for dinner and local time was 9:30pm so the pool was already closed, but the kids weren't tired. So Kenneth organized a moonlight kickball game.


Hazel washed the dishes for me so that she could wear the headlamp. Then she asked to go to bed. We walked up to the bathroom together, at which point she decided she did not want to wear the headlamp because it was bringing all the bugs right up into her face. When we came out of the bathroom there was a nice breeze picking up. I tucked her into her sleeping bag and went to secure the tent against the wind, which was beginning to whip the tent. Kenneth and I were pretty sure that it wouldn't rain but that the rain fly would add stability to the tent. Just as we finished getting it on the rain started to came down in great torrents. Inside the tent stayed mostly dry and the kids went to bed. Kenneth and I agreed that it was a pretty fun adventure, and I went to bed to enjoy the storm.

Day Two - Fun with friends

After our hike, the kids played outside and we hung out and relaxed. It was a perfect day.

Day Two - Hiking

Today we spent a gorgeous day in Colorado Springs with the Leahys. We took a hike at the Palmer Lake Reservoir. It was a beautiful trail through the woods and meadows next to the water.

Day One

4:30 AM we were on the road. Hazel was so relieved to be dragged from her bed at last. She has been so excited to go on a trip that every time last week that we would get in the car she would ask if this is our trip.
Seeing that it is Sunday, we tried to keep the spirit of the Sabbath as much as possible. Kenneth taught us a Sunday school lesson. Nate read a scripture. Hazel memorized and recited the first Article of Faith. I was in charge of singing time.
Our Destination tonight is The Leahy Family Residence. We are really excited to see old friends in a gentler climate.
The main incidents of mention: 1. I almost ran over a squirrel. 2. I hit a bird and plan to ceck my grill at the next gas station. 3. Thirty minutes from the Leahy’s I realized that the time on the GPS and the time on the clock were an hour different and we still had 1 ½ hours left. While driving in the bottom of a canyon we saw a herd of big horn sheep.

Here are some photos from our 14 hours of driving:

Dance Recital

Last night we attended the kids dance recital. Our kids did pretty good. They did spend a lot of the dance looking off stage at the teacher for help. I was surprised at the number of groups that had the same problem. Rebekah and Nate had a tap number and a ballet number. Sydney and Abby were in one ballet dance.

Ok backing up… I had a goal to have the van loaded and the house clean before the recital. (We had the house clean, but not the van packed.) The kitchen was beautiful so we went out to dinner. We got to the auditorium in good time and then realized that we forgot the tickets. I stayed to put makeup on the girls, while Kenneth went home to get the tickets. After he had gone I discovered that Nate only had one ballet shoe and had forgotten his bow tie. So I got the girls ready and called home again and again, because I knew Kenneth wouldn’t check the answering machine. I finally got him and he found the tie but not the other shoe. (Nate danced ballet in his socks.) He made it back just in time! Neither of are big fans of modern dance and so when our kids were done we snuck out. I felt a bit guilty.for not staying, but I still had a lot of packing to do.

Father's Day

Father’s Day
Due to our Travel Plans, we got to have Father’s Day on Saturday. Christian and Truman were working at 7AM so the kids came up to our room at 6AM with presents for the opening. Kenneth got two puff pancake pans, a t shirt that Sydney painted the front of, Abby gave him an apple wrapped up as a joke but then she couldn’t remember where she hid the real gift. We found it later in the afternoon. Rebekah gave him a pair of slacks. Nate decorated a shirt with fabric crayons, and Hazel gave him a Thermarest mattress for camping. (Mostly because we want him to be comfortable as the new assistant scout master.) I think that is why Kenneth consented to have all these kids… for all the presents.