Amish Ice Cream and Nauvoo

My sister Leslee came to visit! It was such a needed break from the routine of my life. Plus it gets lonely without your own kin. Plus this was the first week I felt 'pretty' good! We had something planned everyday and 3 out of 5 days we were home for Madi to take a nap.We did a lot of shopping, visited an Amish community, and went to Nauvoo.

In the area that I live there are a few Amish colonies. Near their colonies they have a little town called Kalona where they come into town to get the newspaper and sell their goods. We bought some delicious cheddar cheese curd. We knew it was as fresh because the cheddar cheese was still its original color, white. Who knew that cows didn't give orange milk specifically for cheese. After walking around for a bit, exploring quilt shops and such we stopped and bought a homemade ice cream bar.

The next day we traveled about 2 hours to Nauvoo. Nauvoo is my temple district, but sadly I haven't been since we moved to Iowa. For one, it is freezing and for two I have felt terrible. Plus my husband has been very busy. If I wanted to go I would have needed to work out the details and plan the trips and to be honest, I haven't even planned dinner these last 3 months.

Nauvoo was so much fun. It was the perfect Spring day, but not crowded at all since it was the first warm day of the year. We learned how to make rope, bread (pioneer) style, bricks, horseshoes, and took tours of old houses. We picnicked in front of the temple and finished the day of in Carthage.

Riding in the carriage

Madi was so excited to bark and neigh at the horses, but was a little leery to actually touch them. She could only spare a finger.

Our one and only claim to fame. (ancestor from Nauvoo)

Leslee and I went to Nauvoo a few times when we were little, but have not seen it since they built the temple.

And of course... the church's flowers are blooming before the rest of the world's even pop out of the ground.

Getting Madison to pose is almost impossible. However, here is her at Carthage beneath the statues of Joseph and Hyrum.

Nauvoo turned into a longer day then expected, but it was so much fun. I can't wait to take Jordan back to see the horseshoes and explore the gun smith shop. Plus the pageant in July!!

Oh... and we all matched on Sunday. Was it embarrassing? ... a little... but worth it.

Aunt Leslee and Madison (16 months)