The Kids Wake Boarding!

Quincey and Boston both learned to wake board on this trip! They did great! I also "learned " to wake board. OK, I got up for about 4 seconds! It was a fun 4 seconds. =)

The FUN Begins!

The trip was spent on the water. Tubing, wake boarding, boating around and swimming. The kids had a ball. There is nothing better then spending time together as a family.

Cedar Creek Lake!!!

For our summer vacation, our family rented a lake house at Cedar Creek Lake! It was a delightful time. The house was right on the open water. Texas is full of lakes. Which is great because the lakes are never very busy at all. It was rare to see another boat while we were there. We drove about 90 minutes to get to Gun Barrel City, unloaded our gear in the house and then went to launch the boat. I had a scary moment after launching. After the boat floated off of the trailer, I was turning the boat around and what does Paige do but drive it too close to the shore and get caught in the mud. This freaked me out! What if I could not get the boat free? Well, after going in reverse, I came out of the mud and all was well. Loading and unloading the boat makes me so nervous. Anyway, I am getting better and learning each time what NOT to do! =) Other then that moment, the trip went great. No one was hurt or injured (other then my sore muscles from learning to wake board-it's like going 12 rounds with the heavy weight champion!) I did eventually get up on the board and stay up for about 5 seconds!!! I was proud of that accomplishment.

GREAT TRIP!

We also visited the Amish town of Jamesport, MO. And as Bethany put it, went "Amish hunting". We shopped at some cute shops and bought frozen custard. On Sunday, I got to go to church with my parents in there branch. I got to attend a meeting with the missionaries and hear about their life experiences. We also watched movies, put together a 1000 piece puzzle. It was just a great time!!! Thanks Mom and Pop! I love you, love you , love you!!!!!!

Pioneer House at Adam ondi Ahman

This is the remains of a pioneer house that was there when the saints lived at Adam ondi Ahmen. My Dad took me into the woods to see this. Very cool.

The center of America!

This is crazy. This marker marks the very center of the continental US. If you go to each corner, the very top right, bottom right, etc.. and crisscross to each corner, the center in right on Adam ondi Ahmen. This was surprising and very interesting. So I took a picture of it.

Farmers Annual Picnic!

We were lucky enough to be there for the farmers annual picnic! The missionaries invite the farmers who lease the land on AOA and their families out for a picnic. The food was amazing and the weather devine!

The New Jerusalem!

We are at the visitors center in Independence Missouri. On this display is copies of all of the different languages that the Book of Mormon is printed in. This church is truly a world wide church. It is going to reach every ear. Independence is where the New Jerusalem will be during the millennium. We also visited "Far West" where there is a temple lot dedicated and where the saints had a large community before they were driven out by mobs.

Hauns Mills

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Hauns Mill was a Mormon settlement in the early days of the church that was attacked by a mob of around 200 men and they killed 18 men and 4 boys. The women and children ran for the woods and hid. This was all because they were Mormon. It is clear that Satan did not want this church to come about, but it has grown to many many million members throughout the world. It is truly Jesus Christs church in it's fullness here upon the earth. There is nothing that any one can do to stop it. I feel so blessed to be a part of it!

Wish I could tell you

What is beyond these walls is.............well, a secret. =D

Pioneer Well

This is a well that the Mormon Pioneers dug when they built their town here at Adam ondi Ahmen. Cool huh!

Preachers Rock

We saw preachers rock (Sydney is standing on it) where the Prophet Joseph Smith would preach to the people. The top picture is of the Missouri river. We are at the spot where Lyman White had his little business to take people across the river.

Cute Pop

This is my cute Dad telling us all about Adam ondi Ahmen. It was so neat to get the VIP tour of the area.

The valley of Adam ondi Ahmen

The valley of Adam ondi Ahmen is a very special place. The spirit of the Lord is so strong there. It has been such a blessing for my parents to serve a mission and have the chance to live on this land. I can not express the feelings I felt. The events that have taken place there and that will soon take place there are amazing. What a blessing to know what is going to happen in the near future.

Missouri Trip!

Tag spoiled me with a trip by myself to visit my parents in Missouri. Bethany and her daughter Sydney also flew in from AZ. It was such a great time. We saw every church history site that we could in the area. Mom and Pop picked us up from the airport in Kansas City and we then started seeing the sights. We first went to Liberty Jail where Joseph Smith was held unjustly for six months, but he received some very important revelations while there. (Notice that we had FLAT Marley with us! ) Then we stopped at the Olive Garden for some great dinner!

Piper finally does it!

It took Piper a while to get up her gumption to do it, but she finally decided to learn to ride her bike. She had total fear in her eyes as she learned. She stuck with it and finally got it! Good girl!!!!

MAN HUNT!!!!!!!!!

Quincey hosted a party (with help from yours truly)for all of her church friends. We called it a "man hunt" party. This got the girls very curious as to what might happen at this party! We had them wear black cloths and bring swim suits. We played a game called man hunt. We dropped off the girls at the opposite side of the neighborhood, put them in teams of three. They had to stay with their team. The adults had two cars that would then circle the neighborhood to hunt for the girls. If your team was found you had to get into the car and you are out. Their goal was to make it back to our house with out being spotted. It was a huge success and the girls had a ball. We finished it off with a pool party and food. I hope the girls can always be good friends to each other and stay close.