Avenue of Lights--Quincy, IL

A day in the "real" world--saw the movie "War Horse"--dinner at the Pier and look at these light displays!

Tunnel of lights

This is an Iowa scene for sure

Riverboat on the Mississippi all lit up for Christmas

Christmas Dinner

Tella would have liked the birdhouse centerpieces

Plethora o white cake/cream cheese/raspberry desserts ready to serve--the only part of the ham dinner I had to make

Here's our Temple Missionary Choir singing "Candlelight Carol" led by yours truly--we're up to 20 now!

Christmas Eve in Nauvoo

Gathering at the temple to sing Christmas carols

Both Temple and Site missionaries bundled up and weathered the cold to sing for 1/2 hour on the temple steps

Enjoying a soup supper at the Arrival Center following the singing

Christmas Eve at the "Barn"

This unique, historic, Pennsylvania Dutch barn was built in 1857--one of a kind in Iowa

Transportation to the barn via horse drawn carriage

Once inside you sit on bales of hay and sip your hot chocolate--candles are provided--we all sing carols

Non denominational program featured reading the Christmas story and singing carols

Christmas Party at Pres. Rutowskis

President and Sister Rutowski (from Wisconsin) --1st Counselor in the Temple Presidency--host and hostess to 22 missionary couples

President and Sister Jenson (Logan, UT) 2nd Counselor in the Temple Presidency recently called as of Nov. 2011

This was our white elephant gift--3 live goldfish, food and a bowl! My comment: "Prepare to die!" Fortunately someone else wanted them and took them away from me

John displaying what we ended up with--much easier to take care of than goldfish. A very fun party with lots of laughs and good treats

More Birthday Fun

Presents from Laura--hat, balloons,sign, chocolate turtles, spiced nuts and believe it or not, chocolate covered potato chips. Thanks Laura--we had fun posing this. We loved Charlie's idea of sending a bouncy house--we'll take a rain check on that.

This is our Christmas tree this year--small but cozy--remember the name tags I bought at Costco for this very purpose?

Happy Birthday John

Surprise! After a Chinese dinner at Chaung Gardens in Ft. Madison it's time to sing and eat cake!

Happy Birthday to you!

Some of our friends--The Roses, Andersons and Douglases

A few of the Brethren--Bros. Johnson, Nilson, Rockwood and Reese

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

The giant Christmas tree in the Visitors Center

Life size manger scene in the Visitors Center

Live Nativity in the Cultural Hall

Door hanging I made from fabric purchased in Pella last month.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Our first snowfall--Dec. 6, 2011--Christmas decorations are complete with a dusting of fresh snow

Scene of Summer Pageant is now a snowfield leading up to the temple

The temps are in the 20s today--times for coats, scarves, gloves and earmuffs

The sites are all decked out in Christmas garlands and wreaths--Judi is loving it--John is COLD. Must be my Michigan upbringing!

Tour of Nauvoo B & Bs

Here's our van as we tour 5 beautiful Bed and Breakfast Inns in Nauvoo

The Langfords and Carpenters enjoyed this expedition with us--now we can tell you all where to stay when you visit!

Charming tree decorated with artificial snow in the Rufus Abbott Inn

The Willard Richards Inn--probably Nauvoo's finest where my friend Karen Haering is the Innkeeper

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)