"Let Nauvoo In Her Beauty Rise..."

Gosh, do we ever stop? Nope!

We got back on Monday from Florida, and then on Wednesday we woke up at two-thirty a.m. to head to Nauvoo with the youth from the Jackson, MS stake!

It was such an amazing opportunity for the youth. Most of them had never been to Nauvoo (or even out of the state for that matter), and I think they all had an amazing experience.

They got two charter buses to take 80 youth and 20 adults to make the 12 hour trip up...

The best part was that ALL week, we were confused for being youth participants... not chaperones.

I'm sure the stake leaders were all worried why we were holding hands all the time.

Finally made it!

Hangin' at the Visitors Center...

We woke up early Thursday morning and went on a grueling pioneer trek! This was no "walk through the prairie" pioneer trek. This thing was a muddy disaster!

Pullin' the handcart

More mud...

Up and down the muddy hills

All our kids were covered head to toe in mud!

Rinsing off in the creek!

We were sooo muddy and stinky, that the buses wouldn't take us back to our hotel.

We had to walk! hahaha

A shower has never felt so good.

Then we were off to see some good ol' entertainment...

High Hopes and Riverboats!

Visitors Center

County Fair... 

Yeah, Jon is Scottish dancing!

Getting ready for the pageant!

Nauvoo Pageant!

We ran into folk dance friends!

McCall and her husband JD

Next day- site seeing around Nauvoo

And into town to go shopping...

Don't forget to stop at the Fudge Shop!

To the temple...

And last stop, Carthage...

Sure do love these kids! I'm gonna miss em... 

We only have two days left in Vicksburg :(

Fourth+Florida=Phenomenal Fun!

Soo... Florida is amazing.

I wasn't ready to leave and I'm all ready to go back!

One of my dear friends from the mission, Siostra Rohm, lives down in Panama City Beach, Florida. 

A mere 6.5 hour drive from Vicksburg.

When I proposed the idea to Jon, he wasn't SUPER keen on the idea of another road trip- but my persuasive skills are unmatched.

Thus, we went down for the holiday weekend- and had the time of our lives!!

We're ready for the beach!

Seriously? This place is beautiful! The water was ridiculously clear and the sand was so WHITE and fine! Really- like sugar in between your toes!

We saw little fishies, manta rays and MORE fish in the water... and Jon swears that he saw Bobby Bowden walk past him on the beach ;)

I totally wasted Jon in the boogie boarding category! That is... until he figured out the Physics of it all... Day 2 was pretty rough on my ego ;)

Siostra Rohm manages vacation rentals, and one of her houses on the beach was vacant the entire weekend! She let us party there- literally ON the beach.

Sunset...

Siostra Rohm!

We went shopping Saturday night... and HAD to stick in our faces for a prime tourist pic.

 How couldn't you?

Sunday was kind of blustery... 

See the wall of rain coming in? Ah!

But, it cleared up- and we still managed to have a good ol' Fourth of July BBQ!

Just look at them delicious kebobs...

More beach beautifulness...

Happy Fourth of July! Someone left this shark head under our porch! 

And of course- FIREWORKS!

Her grandkids came over and we had a blast being pyros!

Geeked out on Fourth of July T-shirts

The resort next to us played music all night... including the Cuban Shuffle.

We had to get in on the dancing :)

And one last day on the beach... all good things must come to an end :(

But it's ok- kuz this cloud came in just as we were heading out!

Sad to leave...

but excited to come back! Kuz we DEFINITELY will be going back!

Cheers to the best Fourth of July ever!