Winter in Nauvoo

January Birthday celebration at The Bistro in Keokuk (no tablecloths in this state)

The frozen Mississippi

Plethora of eagles nest near the shore

Movie night at the Arrival Center

Catalina Quilt is Found!!!

Found in SLC dead letter/package prison--my Catalina tile wall hanging that I spent hours piecing and had machine quilted by one of my fellow missionary's daughter--prayers are answered~ Isn't it beautiful! It will hang in the Catalina house when we return

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Actually it's been lower than this--like 9 deg.

The scenery is pretty bleak but I like the contrast

Visit to Brigham Young's home on a cold winter day

Wearing the new topcoat and trying to stay warm

Pete starts school

Our youngest grandchild began preschool this month! This is Peter Daines and I bet his mother, Laura, is ecstatic.

Daily Morning Walk

We have befriended 4 horses by giving them "treats" every morning. Meet Moon, Breeze, Harley and the black one (no name)

This is Jan Johnson--my walking buddy and fellow horse spoiler. Yes, we are bundled up for a reason!

New Years Party

Decorating at the Arrival Center across from the temple--filling 30 balloons

Party Committee--Jill, Judi, Sue and Carol

Original hats with one piece of tissue and some frills--just call John "Pope"

Here we all are looking very festive (and silly) but having a great time welcoming in the New Year

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