Thanksgiving Day 2011

Enjoying our Thanksgiving feast with 175 missionaries--notice the jello salad? It's missing the lettuce.

It's looking pretty bleak down by the river--all the lilies are dead--and many of the geese, considering all the gun shots I hear while taking my morning walk.

Douglases (Richfield, UT) host our first dinner of the winter season--with the Langfords (Walnut Creek, CA) and Johnsons (Boise, ID)

P-Day Trip to Pella, Iowa

Pella, Iowa--settled by Danish immigrants--home of Pella windows

Like my shoes?

A stop at Milton Cremery where they make the BEST cheese

Our friends Sue and Lynn Cottrell (Bountiful, UT) join us on this fun outing

Funnies from Nauvoo

Love the name of this street--I guess these folks have decided to settle down

These signs sure beat the LA Freeway

You don't want to be a minute late to get a cone or a "sundae"

"If you can move it, it's yours"--and guess what--someone did because it's gone.

We're back!

Temple re-opened today and we are already socializing tonight at the Douglases. There are fewer of us now--about 30.

Sharing ice cream sundaes with the Langfords from Walnut Creek, CA

We're Back!

Socializing already at the Douglases--Judi, Sis. Rutowski, Sue Douglas, Jill Franklin and Kathy Jensen

Ice cream sundaes to add to our girth--with Wayne and Joan Langford

Time with special California friends

Lunch with Tella and Diane at a "real" Mexican restaurant--wish we could beam it up to Nauvoo!

Beverly and Sherri Tiaga at the graveside service for their mother/grandmother, dear Ruth Bruggerman, who waited until I returned home to leave this life so I could celebrate her life with her family at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica

And what would a visit home be without a few games of golf--Tella finally beat me!

More of Charlies 4th Birthday Party

The Jumping House was a bit hit--(Laura, Ryder, Dyana, Ginger Daines and Tella

Enjoying the party with Tella--and we thought Nauvoo was cold! We had rain too--after the party!

Eric, Pete, new Arcadia Ward Bishop Larry and Ginger Daines

The train cake made by Laura for Charlie--the kids got to decorate their own cars with frosting and candy

Arriving in California

SURPRISE! Dyana and 2 of the boys couldn't wait to see us so they came to Ontario to greet us

Don Gillette and Tina came to pick us up so we all made a stop at In n Out--HEAVEN!

Finally--a decent haircut! Thank you Marci!

Next stop--Charlie's 4th "Train" birthday party at Lauras--that's Charlie, Pete and Ryder decorating their cake train cars.

Visit Home During Nov. Temple Shut Down

First we board a small plane in Quincy, IL on Tues. Nov. 1

In the co-pilot seat remembering the good old days when he was flying himself

The Mighty Mississippi

If you look really close you can see the St. Louis arch

Saying Goodbye--Happy Halloween

Bonfire at the end of Parley St.--memories, pioneer stories and songs

We hosted Sunday dinner for those leaving Parley St.--Tostadas and fall decor

Happy Halloween--look forward to seeing many of you this week!

Farewell Dinner "Remember"

Sister Killian and her daughter JoAnn who catered tonight's dinner--pork roast, garlic potatoes, baby carrots, rolls, yum!

The money taker--$30/couple buys a dinner and a DVD of fabulous memories

Judi was in charge of the dessert table--not very difficult with so many willing cooks

Just a few of the plethora o pumpkins carved for the Nauvoo Pumpkin Festival--hundreds of folks--some very creative designs!

More Fall in Nauvoo

Main Street

Another beautiful sunset over the Mississippi

How about this for a rainbow! Caught on an early morning walk at the end of Parley St.