Nauvoo, Carthage, Lincoln Library, Tom Sawyer Caves and Yellowstone

                                                       Emma, Joseph, and Hyrum Smiths' graves.

 This picture makes me go Ahhhhh---so being generous I included it for you in case seeing babies sleeping comfy on a man's shoulder makes you go ahhhhhh too---your welcome.

When we got to the house (at 3 am) Sierra was super excited to see the spiral stairs, apparently spiral stairs have always been a dream of hers.  I love it when dreams come true for my kiddos, no matter how little the dream.

                The sunset from our balcony at the rental house---wish we could have seen all of them!

Getting ready for the BYU ballroom dancers.

                 Jackson is telling them how the ballroom dancers are recruiting him....the don't believe.

Kristi is super excited to see some quality dancing.

The boys in their "guesthouse" (converted shed but it was comfy!).

The girls all piled on the big girls bed---because the big girls had a t.v. with the Disney channel!

The  "Nauvoo House".  The window on the left is the room where Emma Smith died.

                 In front of a statue of Joseph and Hyrum Smith at Carthage jail-where they were killed.

In the visitors center at Carthage Jail.

Getting ready to go in the jail.

 Carter looking out the window that Joseph Smith fell out of, after being shot several times.  I was impressed with how reverent all our kids were during that tour.

                                      Sierra looking out the same window--it really touched Sierra.

When the Church bought Carthage jail they cleaned up this door and discovered that someone had puttied up the bullet holes and painted the door-so they just restored it and this is these are the first bullet holes that entered the room through that very door.      

 Onto to Springfield, Illinois to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential library and museum.  Excepting Hadley, the girls were freaked out by the Lincoln family wax figures.  They all have clipboards because the Museum has a seek and find game for kids to do in there.

                                 Look the White House!  I told you we drove a LLOONNGG way!

 The girls were especially impressed by the dresses of Mary Todd Lincoln---they weren't bought in a store-can you imagine!!

Museum sleuths.

                                                                   Jenks Family

                                     Noftle Family--(I have a talent for riveting captions to my photos)

In front of Lincoln's tomb--which closed for the night minutes before we got there---it was like Chevy Chase in the first Vacation movie when they got to Wally World and it was closed---except Michael didn't take anyone hostage (if he did it didn't work out because we didn't get in the tomb).

I love this door.

The marker showing where Lincoln was originally buried before the tomb was built (and rebuilt).

Next up, Hannibal, Missouri and the Tom Sawyer caves.

The tour guide, was funny, and the stories they tell are cute and full of humor---except for one.  The girls can't seem to recover from that one "scaryish" story.  They were so sure something was going to "get them" in the caves.

Carter and I were just fine and dandy.

                         Zoe made sure Michael had her in protective custody the entire time!

                                         I love, love, love the looks on Sierra and Hadley's faces.

                                            Seila is so brave, so amazing.....

Hadley explaining how she was so freaked out!

        The tour stopped at Buffalo Bill Cody's Ranch ..... I liked it, Michael liked it, Heather liked it, everyone else was getting toured out by this point in the trip--day 7 I think.

First photo op at Yellowstone.  I admit to being Paparazzi "ish" on this vacation.

All 10 of them were still with us---we kept trying to lose one or two of them but they kept following us, state after state after state.

Hanging over a huge drop off--good parenting right there.

  We even let Sierra pet a Buffalo, you never do that with the first child, but by kid number 3---they can run with scissors.

 Don't let these two faces fool you--by Yellowstone they had turned into complete teenagers--if it didn't text them they were oblivious to it (scenery, animals, parents).

                            The Jenks family with the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone in the background.

                                       I call this next series "Baby goes crazy in car seat"

             She looks happy--it's just that she found she can exit through the sunroof and no one can stop her.

Kids in front of ..... something.

                                                       Another one of those Ahhhhh photos.

Oh looky, another one!

These two cars are the real heroes.

                                        Old faithful in the background--Jenks in the foreground.

                                                    Same old faithful, different family.

                                                                   Tired kiddos.

                                                             The Old Faithful Lodge.

Zoe took this photo--don't tell her but the mouse never moved one millimeter from that position in the hotel window all night, it's not looking good for the little guy.

 Last meal of the trip---next stop, HOME!!