Making Gingerbread houses with the Downs

Jeni's house

Steve's house

Adrienne's house

Corey's house from UP

Merry Christmas!

Mark Twain Caves

On our trip to Nauvoo we stopped off at the Mark Twain Caves in Hannibal, Missouri. It was pretty cool and we were the only ones there. Jeni thought our tour guide was going to have a heart attack and we'd be stranded inside the cave. Steven didn't think he was that old and feeble... but he was too busy with his camera.

Carthage Jail

Today we drove a short distance to Carthage Jail to visit the place where Joseph and Hyrum Smith spent their last days before they were martyred.


This last picture is looking out of the window that Joseph Smith jumped through when the mob stormed the jail and killed him and Hyrum.

A Week in Nauvoo

We're spending a whole week in Nauvoo touring the Church History sites with the Senior Missionaries. There aren't a whole lot of others out here and those we do come across are here for only a few hours, but there's a lot to see -- it can't be done in just a day or two.

Outside the Browning Home and Gun Shop

Nauvoo, Illinois Temple

We went on a carriage ride... and it was free!

Smith Family Homestead

Smith Family Cemetery

Sun stone by the Quarry

Welcome to St. Louis

We love the fall foliage out here in Missouri! St. Louis is a pretty city.

It's a Girl!

Here's our first look of our little girl, Hailey Brooke. Yes, that's right, it's a girl! We had our first doctor's appointment today and Jeni is 17 weeks along. We're so excited! It was really cool to see her moving around inside. I'm glad we brought along the video camera!

Kendra's Graduation

Weekend in Dublin

For Jeni's birthday she didn't want presents..she wanted to go away for the weekend. Who knew she would want to go so far far away! We bought a 2 day pass to the Hop on Hop Off Sightseeing bus and had a marvelous time. Jeni wishes her birthday would come more often.

Steve thinks he is stronger than the statue.

That large green field used to be a large black pool of dirty water- that is where the name Dublin comes from.

Dublin Castle

5 minutes ago it was raining, now the sun is shining.

"The tart with the cart"

Molly Malone the local hooker was so famous they made a statue in her honor.

Jailbirds!

Whiskey smells really stinky. Why would anybody drink that stuff?

A beautiful large park, just like the one in 101 Dalmatians.

I just know I am going to get rained on if the wind doesn't blow me away first.

See our daffodils grow