rock chalk parrots!

Once the reunion ended most of us headed west to Kansas to hang out at Nathan and Erin's for a few days. When we went to campus Juliette saw some Jayhawks and said, "It's a parrot!" I concur. Anyways it was fun to spend some time in lovely Lawrence.
Little Lukey.
Bubbles and Lizzy took turns pushing each other in the stroller.
Who knew there were so many kinds of roaches?! The only kind I like is the dead kind.
Me and my namesake.
The smiling T-Rex!
In the cool black light room. "The duel must end!"
Me and a polar bear! I don't think I was supposed to touch him, thinking back on it. Oops...
Don't mess with us!
The classy-lookin' Museum of Natural History.
Erin taught me how to play the harp. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be (not that it was easy, but it wasn't like trying to play the bagpipes or something), I guess since I play the pianer. Anyways I really enjoyed playing and wish someone around here in BR had one that I could practice on.
I guess you could call me a harpy now.
On second thought, please don't.Anyways here is my debut - playing a piece called 'Sebastian' from the movie 'Brideshead Revisited'- accentuated by Becky's commentary on Nathan's book. :D

Who could resist a chocolatey Mimi face?!Partners in crime - Lydia and Matthews.
Cutie-pie Lizzy before her birthday party.
At the pool partay.
Lizzy and her cute cake!
After Lizzy opened her presents at home, we busted out her new 3D sidewalk chalk to give it a try. I tried to get some pictures of her with our artwork, and this is what I got:
Explorer Lizzy.
Space cadet Lizzy.
Grumpy face Lizzy.
Squishy-face Lizzy.
Goofball Lizzy.
Ethan and his crossbow thingy.
Lydia let me braid her hair!
So Mimi and I became best buds on this trip. Our conversations consisted of her either saying, "Hey Sarah" over and over and sticking her tongue out...

...or an insult fest in which we would say, "You're da baby!" to each other back and forth. I guess we were both right.

So that's all I've got on the reunion - I hope you're satisfied. :D

back in nauvoo

After our little jaunt to Missouri we headed back to Nauvoo for a couple more fun-filled days. I think we all enjoyed the shade of the wagon ride.
Goose face!Jakey aka Spider-man!
Whose bright idea was it to put that water tower there?? I know the temple probably wasn't there at the time but still.
Me and Buster.
All the pretty horses.
Ignore the factories in the background.
Bubbles and her sweet shades.
The mighty Mississipp! Yes I know there's an 'i' on the end but don't they say that in a song from some Disney movie from the 50's? Davey Crockett maybe? Anyways that's just how I say it.
I love this river.
Sleeping Mimi.
I love cutting grass, but man mowing that hill with a push mower might take a while!
Okay seriously who would buy this? It is just creepy. "And a collection of Russian nesting dolls..." (Nacho voice).
Those pioneer women sure knew how to strike a pose! Audrey Hepburn meets Laura Ingalls?
Now that is one mess of tangly hair.
Mimi and the Goose playing/fighting on the stairs.
Lukey face!!
The infamous Goose stinkeye. Can't beat that ladies and gents.
I love this Goose face, too.
Jakey with his superpowers ring and a little critter.
Teaching Jakey the joy of Relief Society arms. I love Lucy's commentary (her glow-stick necklace had popped apart).

the old missouri homestead

During the reunion we took a trip to where my Grampa Wood grew up in Missouri. I don't know what I had expected, but I didn't expect it to be so beautiful and hilly there! Here's the pond at the Pepperwood Farm (click on pictures to enlarge).A pretty field on the property.
Path to the graveyard.
Kinda reminded me of the Sacred Grove.
Sunshot.
What's that peeking through the weeds?
An awesome old tractor!
I love when the sun's rays blast through the clouds like this.
In the house.

Cute old picket fence.
Hey what's Gilligan doing off the island?!
I had no idea that Missouri was so hilly! I loved it but a few times it made my stomach jump up into my mouth while we were driving.
Where Grampa was born.
My camera just could not capture the depth of this scene. It was breathtaking in real life.

In the car with the Goose.
A cool old bridge.
Great-Uncle Glenn's backyard - I have fond memories of playing here as a kid.
Laying under the apple tree.

Other parts of the yard.

Is this a tiger lily? I think it should be called a leopard/cheetah/ocelot lily instead.
Jofuf taking a picture or two.
Three three-year-olds means triple the trouble! Jakey, Bubbles and Lizzy playing with the windchimes.
Benji chasing after the Goose.
MIMI!!
We became real pals on this trip.
One thing I love about country living - no need to run inside when ya gotta go!