We finally made it to Nauvoo! We didn't have spring break at the same time so we had to make it a quick weekend trip. But we all had a great time and didn't want to leave as soon as we had to.

When we first arrived we went straight to the Carthage jail. What a sad place. I was fine until we went into the room where Joseph and Hyrum were killed. It really got to me.

The cell room is so dark, I can't imagine having to be locked in there.

We went from there to Nauvoo because we couldn't wait to see the temple. The sunset over the Mississippi River was breathtaking! The picture does not do it justice.

It was pretty cool when we first got there, especially up on the hill where the temple is.

The next morning we got up early and went into Nauvoo to try and catch some of the rides through town. The wind was blowing and it was really cold, and Zack was afraid of the horses at first. But they had a big cabinet full of quilts so we could bundle up and away we went!

It was cold, but it made it easier to imagine how the pioneers must have felt sitting in their wagons in the middle of winter waiting for their turn to cross the river. I was glad Alex and Josh were able to appreciate how that must have been, at least a little bit.

At the Family Living Center the kids all got to learn about how the pioneers made things like candles, rope, fabric, rugs, barrels, even bread in a bussel oven. They got to make their own rope and take it home.

Emma decided to make a crown out of the rope on the way home. What a girl!

We stopped at a little place on the river on the last morning there but it was too cold to stay outside for long.

Our last stop was the Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds. Most of the stones are so old they are unreadable, but some of them have been replaced with newer ones. Joshua was very proud to tell everyone he met that "we are related to the first bishop of the Church, Edward Partridge". So of course I had to get a picture of his headstone. It's definitely not the original but still had me in awe.

We all wish we could have spent another day at least. There was so much we didn't get to do. But I'm glad we got to go before we move even further away. Maybe this summer we'll try Independence?