Bennett Spring State Park

This a small falls at Bennett Spring

This may be a pump station, but I thought it was very picturesque.

I love these little deer.

I love this little dear too.

We had missionary transfers today.  We ended up driving the elders to Lebanon where Elder Davis moved on to Springfield and we got Elder Lybbert.  He's from Alberta, Canada.  Our elders got the car that the Lebanon elders had, so they drove on home and got to work.  Dad and I on the other hand spent the rest of the day at Bennett Spring State Park.  It was very beautiful there; the beautiful weather we had today didn't hurt either. Sunny, 81 degrees and not humid.  Wow, you can't beat that! 

We took a lot more pictures, but these give you an idea of what it looks like.  The one of the deer was taken through a window, but the deer were actually outside in the wild.  They just had some feeders set up, so those young deer felt free to come up and eat whenever they felt like it.  They were so cute.  When they saw movement they would look up at us, but since we didn't come toward them they didn't feel threatened.  At first we thought they were does, but then we noticed the antler buds and decided they were very young bucks.

Little Garden Friend

I found this little guy standing on our pepper plant.  He walked around hiding behind leaves and peeking out at me.  Then he came out and I shot a few pictures of him  The hardest thing seemed to be keeping him from blending into the background.

A visit from Mike, Karen & Andrew

Andrew and Karen enjoy an Olivia video.

Michael, Karen & Andrew came for a visit this week.  Liz Jacobs Little were here so the Jacobs clan converged in Salem to see her and her husband.

Mike takes Andrew out to experience the rain.  He loved it.

Sorry, I just missed the smile.

Youth Temple Trip

Here is our group outside the temple

We started early. 

This was just snapped out the car window.

Saturday was our youth temple trip to St. Louis.  We only had six youth that were available to make the trip this time.  It was good though.  We also had a new adult member who was able to go do baptisms.  He loved it and can't wait until he able to go again.  Don't you just love the new member enthusiasm.  We need to all keep it.

Crab Volleyball

Amy may get a kick out of this.  About two weeks ago I borrowed her large blue ball for our church youth to use for a combined activity.  We had planned something else and it fell through at the last minute.  Thanks to Amy for the idea and the loan; the crab volleyball game was a huge success.  This picture was taken by me, snapped right before the ball hit me in the face.  Luckily it is a pretty soft ball.  They were kicking this thing pretty hard though.  I had to take my glasses in to be adjusted the next day; they were really cockeyed.  The kids did actually start out on the floor in crab position, kicking it with their feet.  After about half an hour they asked me if they could stand up and still kick it with their feet.  They had switched to that in the picture.

Visit from Michael, Laura & the Kids

Michael posing with the kids

Dominic playing with Sierra

Danny enjoys a good read

Dan & Sierra completed a library project

After we returned from Nauvoo, Michael and family were able to come down for a visit.  They arrived Friday morning and stayed until early Monday morning.  After that they planned to go up to Six Flags for the day.  I haven't heard from them to see how that day went, but thinking back to when we took all of our clan to Six Flags, it was always a good experience for us all.

Karen & Michael's Move Plus Our Trip to Nauvoo

Carthage, IL -- The statue of Joseph & Hyrum from a distance.

The window through which Joseph fell,

taken through the hole in the door

that the bullet made when it killed Hyrum.

The Nauvoo Temple taken in Montrose, IA across the Mississippi River

It really does show up from a lot of places, huh?

Every time "Grandpa" got out the computer,

Andrew climbed up and made himself at home.

About a week and a half ago Alan and I went to Columbia, MO to be of some help when Michael & Karen moved across town to a new apartment.  I told Aaron that I would take some pictures of the move.  When I checked my photos after we got home, all I had was pictures of Andrew.  Oh, well.  I thought this one was cute of him taking over the computer.  There was no keeping him away.

After we left Columbia we drove up to Nauvoo, IL for a couple of days.  I didn't actually take very many pictures this time.  I take so many when we go that I have a large collection of picture of the buildings.  I love that place though and could take pictures all day.  I'm just sharing a couple that I took in Carthage.  It was such a pretty day (extremely HOT, but pretty); take a look at the trees.