Sunday, June 5, 2011

Liberty/Independence MO

We recently had a chance to spend a week with Jeremy, Megan, Hyrum, Hunter, Emma, and Justin Shakespear!  We met in Kansas City and spent a couple of days in that area before driving to their home in Springfield and spent the rest of the week there.  We had a wonderful time and here are some of the highlights the first day.

We had adjoining rooms at the hotel in KC - Hunter and Hyrum slept in our room.  Here's a typical scene!
We spent our first morning together at the Liberty Jail - luckily for us our hotel was less than 3 miles away.  The church has built a beautiful visitor's center around the re-built jail.  Here's the replica.
Gave us a real feel for how thick the prison walls were, and how cold and dark!
The Original Key to the Liberty Jail
Hyrum and Hunter sitting in front of the jail
We loved these paintings side by side - the Savior and His prophet in the latter-days
Hyrum and Darlin enjoying the beautiful sunshine - and the night before there was a tornado watch in the area!
All of us in front of the Liberty Jail visitor's center
We then drove about a half hour south to Independence - before visiting the Visitor's Center there, we stopped by the Community of Christ headquarters - we found a beautiful wood carving of the Last Supper
As we walked to the LDS Visitor's Center, this picture of Megan holding two little hands coming from the stroller caught our attention!
There was a cabin downstairs at the Visitor's Center - the kids had a blast playing here
On the way back to the hotel we stopped and looked at the new Kansas City temple - you can see that the outside is nearly complete
After a nice dinner in Liberty we enjoyed a cold swim before retiring for the evening
We loved this day in Liberty and Independence.  There is so much of church history in this area and we felt a special spirit here, especially at Liberty Jail, of which the prophet often referred to as his prison/temple.  Of the jail Elder Neal Maxwell stated:  "It wasn't until the prophet was physically confined that his mind was fully liberated...The double walls, four feet thick, kept Joseph and his companions in, but they could not keep the spirit and revelation out."
We certainly felt that.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Craigslist success - Piano!!

We've really wanted to get a piano. On our way to the temple yesterday in Portland we stopped in Chehalis to look at a piano we found on Craigslist.  The man selling it works on piano's and is a piano tuner.  Even though it's older, it is in great shape and we love it.  He brought it up this morning and will be back next Friday, after the piano has acclimatized to our house:), and tune it up.  Here are a few pictures celebrating the new addition.  When in Portland yesterday, we also stopped at Deseret Book and bought this beautiful picture of the Nauvoo Temple - it looks great above the piano, and our wonderful children and their wonderful spouses are back in their place on top of the piano!!

Friday, May 6, 2011

Brigg's 28th birthday party

We had a very fun birthday party for Brigg while Zac, Joy and crew were here.  We met at Burton's and had a grand time - Havalah planned a great party!
Brigg has always had a soft spot in his heart for the scene with the creature Sarlacc at the Pit of Carkoon in the Star Wars movie Return of the Jedi.  Marcie made him a cake of it when he was 3; she and Havalah duplicated it for this birthday as well!  Marcie says this year's version is much improved:)

Havalah brings the cake into the room for Brigg to see for the first time
Brigg replaying the scene from the movie
Grandma Burton drew a great picture of the death star so we could play "pin the x-wing fighter on the death star"!
Birthday boy didn't have much luck at the game.....
However, his son Luke, in whom the force is strong, won the game!
Luke anticipating his turn; Luke with the x-wing on his forehead ready to play; Luke placing the x-wing in the heart of the death star!
What a fun party - Happy Birthday Brigg!!

Easter Sunday and Blessing Day

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday and Brigg also gave Luke a name and a blessing during church.  Afterward, the Burton's came over for dinner, good conversation, and pictures.


Zac, Joy and family visit WA

We are so grateful that Zac, Joy, Anne, Andrew, and Jackson were able to spend a week here in Washington while Brigg, Havalah, and Luke were here.
We had a great time at the newly improved Nisqually Wildlife Refuge Walk

We had a very fun morning at Lattin's looking at the animals and eating apple fritters!
Marcie, Joy, Anne, and Andrew had a great time at the Painted Plate
And the finished products a week later!
Andrew finally got his AT-AT to do a hand-stand....
and then Grandma Darlin got him into a hand-stand!!
Jackson and Luke were wide eyed during their visit to Red Robin