4th of July

We had a relaxing 4th of July. 

We went to the Oceanside Independence Parade where Linda marched 

with the OHS Color Guard.

That night we watched fireworks and lit sparklers in a friend's back yard. 

Bruce escaped from getting his photo taken once more.

Nauvoo

We spent two days in Nauvoo. 

Robert and I both had relatives in Nauvoo. We were able to find their land! My anscestor's land was still open, Robert's was being used to farm alfalfa. Robert was able to talk to the people that currently owned that property. 

James Goff used to own this property.

Benjamin Brown property

The Saints had one last look at the temple in the distance as they left the city they loved.

The Trail of Tears (above and below) The route the pioneers took out of Nauvoo and over the frozen Mississippi River. The names in this monument are those that died on the journey. There are hundreds of names missing. The Busenbark's were some of my ancestors.

The temple was gorgeous. Robert, Bruce, and Linda were able to go in and do some temple work.

We watched a show put on by the senior missionaries and performing missionaries. Claire even got to march in a little parade and go up on stage!

Overall, we LOVED Nauvoo. It is so beautiful. We are so grateful that we were able to walk where so many before us walked. We're forever grateful for their sacrifices.

Claire's 10th Birthday!

Claire turned 10yrs. old on the 9th! Our baby is double-digits. The Saturday before her birthday she had a little birthday party with family and friends. She had so much fun. She wanted to have a Hobbit/Lord of the Rings party but settled for an animal party because I couldn't find anything for the other party. Haha!  

 On her real birthday day she had her annual convertible ride with Grandpa and the twins for lunch. The three of them are the same age for one day every year. 
Later we had some pecan pie, her favorite, for her birthday dessert. 

We love Claire so so much. She is very affectionate, funny, likes to try out new vocabulary, will only walk next to me with her arm around my waste, adores her dad, and is a complete original. 

Happy happy birthday sweet Claire!

Family Vacation Summer 2018 - Day 1

We had an epic vacation. Robert did a lot of planning to get us from Kansas City, MI to Chicago, IL over the course of a week. We saw a lot and drove a lot. We had a great time.

The kids flew for the first time...that they can remember. The last time they flew was when they were really young and we were moving from VA back to CA. They loved it, especially Claire.

Day 1: Kansas City, Missouri

We did our research and drove across the border to Kansas and found a great bbq. 

It didn't disappoint. 

Here's what we did the rest of the day...

The College Basketball Experience

The Church Visitors Center, the future temple site, and a picture of the RLDS headquarters. We also saw a lot of deer, including two baby deer.

We then headed to Liberty Jail in Liberty, Missouri. Liberty was a beautiful town. We could feel the spirit and it was interesting hearing about Joseph's experience in Liberty Jail and the revelations her received there. 

4th Grade in the Books

Claire enjoyed her first and last year at Scholarship Prep Academy. Her teacher really understood Claire and was a lot of fun. She made new friends and was able to be in the same class as her cousin for a year. Her last day is later this week. Today she got an award for academics and an award from her dance elective teacher for having the best attitude all year. 

Some pictures from her Gold Rush Day.

Jane's Life

Jane continues to play the piano and we were finally able to get a real piano for her. 

She loves that she doesn't have to use the keyboard anymore.

 A couple weeks ago Jane passed out in our hallway. She hit her hip and her head really hard. Her Dr. told us to go in to the hospital to get some testing done. All tests came back normal so we're crossing our fingers that it never happens again.

 She got the 4.0 award, Science award, Math award, and Millionaire Reader award at the end of her first year of middle school. Yay!