Como Zoo with the Solbergs

It was the very last week of summer...but we fit in our traditional visit to the Como Zoo with the Solberg Family. We went on the afternoon of Jamie's birthday, so Angel and Anna (Jamie's best friend since 1st grade and her sister) came along with us. We love this tradition and can't wait for next summer!

Jamie's 9th Birthday - Round 2

To continue tradition and celebrate Jamie's birthday with family, we had a cake and a few presents with Papa Jim while we were all together in Kansas! Jamie loves having her birthday close to her namesake and loves her Papa!

Jamie's 9th Birthday

Jamie had an amazing 9th Birthday party with 10 of her Best Friends and 11 American Girl Dolls! We had an 'All American Girl' Fiesta with:

• a cul-de-sac kickball game
• a quick doll hair salon
• a pizza dinner complete with dishes for the dolls
• lots of great presents
• making bracelets for all the girls and the dolls
  
• triple chocolate cupcakes for the girls and mini-cupcakes for the dolls

Congratulations JAMIE!

After 2 weeks of waiting...Jamie found out today that she made one of the competition dance groups. She will be a member of the Broadway Babes and is super excited to try out this new experience! Thanks to Aunt Mony for all the hours of private dance lessons in preparation for tryouts!

Hiking around Jensen Lake with Activity Days

For our last Activity Days of the summer, we took a hike around Jensen Lake. Jamie, Audrey, Michelle, Lauren and Sidney ran most of the way, created lots of little games to entertain themselves along the way and took every 'shortcut' they could find! We had a great time and were glad that Rachel and Melanie could join us for ice cream after their soccer practice.

A Day out with Emily

Before Emily leaves on her mission to Australia, we spent one last day with her at the zoo. She has spent so much time with us over the last 8 years and we are going to miss her dearly. :(
But we are super excited for her and cannot wait to her about all her incredible experiences as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. :) She will be an amazing missionary!!

We love you Emily and wish you the best of luck!

The girls even had Emily all prepared with her dollar bill so she could be the assistant during the bird show...this Australian Parrot took the dollar bill from her hand, then returned it to her palm about a minute later!

Gymnastics Meet

We have been glued to the Olympics the past 2 weeks and in the midst of our excitement, it was very fun for Jamie and Sidney to participate in their own gymnastics meet. Here is some short videos of the girls' 3 events and their individual results!

Sidney

Balance Beam
Score 8.6
1st Place

Floor Exercise
Score 8.6
1st Place


Uneven Bars
Score 8.5
2nd Place

All Around: 1st Place
Jamie

Uneven Bars
Score 8.75
3rd Place


Balance Beam
Score 8.4
3rd Place


Floor Exercise
Score 8.5
1st Place

All Around: 2nd Place

Carthage

A trip to Nauvoo is not complete without a stop at the Carthage Jail. This amazing place has been restored to tell the story of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. The Holy Spirit definitely testified to us that Joseph Smith was indeed a Prophet of God and restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth. He sealed his testimony of our Savior with his life .
The Deans and Burgoynes indulged us with a a quick lunch stop at Sonic in Keokuk, Iowa as we started our 6 hour drive home.

Nauvoo - the Temple

Nauvoo - the Pageant

Thanks to our wonderful family friend, Megan Heaps, we were able to experience the Nauvoo Pageant from the 2nd row. It is an amazing story of the saints during the early history of the Church and their experiences while building the temple in Nauvoo. As they 'build' the temple in the pageant, it is amazing to see it come down and then watch the existing temple takes its place. We really enjoyed the pageant and know that it strengthened each of our testimonies.

Nauvoo - Historic Sites and Great Friends

We had an amazing vacation to Nauvoo, Illinois this month and especially because we traveled with some of our dear Eagan Ward friends, the Deans and the Burgoynes. We fit in as many shows, historic sites and activities that we possible could and even managed to keep every one fed and mostly happy!! :)

Sites we visited:

• Brickyard
• Browning Home and Gunsmith Shop
• Cultural Hall
• Family Living Center
• Historic Nauvoo Visitor's Center
• Joseph & Hyrum Smith Memorial
• Monument to Women
• Print Shop
• Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store
  
• Scovil Bakery
• Stoddard Tin Shop
• Webb Brother's Blacksmith Shop

Activities we participated in:

• Pioneer Pastimes
• Pageant Pre-Show Activities
• Carriage Ride to Inspiration Point

Shows we saw:

• High Hopes and Riverboats
• Just Plain Anna-Amanda
• Historical Vignette - Women of Nauvoo
  
• Sunset by the Mississippi
• Nauvoo Pageant