Gearhart Fest

Our trip to Dekalb Illinois...
Started out with a early morning flight(we had to leave our house at 5 a.m. yikes)to St. Louis. I was so excited I hardly slept a wink. I felt like an eight year old waiting for Christmas morning.

When we got to the Hertz car rental it had been quite the journey already but we were all holding up pretty good. So good that I think we may have pushed it to the max. Just as Jason was loading up the car so we could go the last leg of the trip to Nauvoo...I felt a light sprinkle on my toes. I turned to see Gavin pants down relieving his tiny bladder which I am sure was about to burst. Luckily there was only one young man sitting on the curb near by and he may not have even noticed except for my loud shrill...Gavin. Oh well all I can say is I am glad he didn't pee his pants. I realized that I had mad a big mistake, by letting him go in the backyard. what kind of mother am I.

So after that we headed out to the temple. On the way there I realized we had left our recommends at home. Again what kind of a person am I that in all of my preparation I somehow didn't manage to get that packed. I was so nervous that I was not going to get to see my sister get married. But we called a bunch of friends to get our Bishop's number and we were able to make it. Nauvoo is such a beautiful little town. So lush and green the Temple is so beautiful. We stayed the night in the Hyrum Smith Farm House. It was amazing to actually be in Navuoo and feel of the history there. We want to go back there, to stay longer.
The next morning Tenille was married and she looked beautiful. Tenille and Lawrence look just the way every young couple should when the get married they were beaming from ear to ear. I can't say the same for Owen he was pretty sleep deprived and the rain pouring down was not helping the situation.

My parents had the reception in their sweet barn, which kept us all dry. So we were able to celebrate and enjoy the live band. Gavin asked the singer if he could sing twinkle twinkle little star. I wish I had my camera at that moment. The singer lowered the mic. and Gavin sang it without skipping a beat. I don't think he even knew he was performing until everyone cheered and clapped. Then his face lit up and I think he was secretly thinking, "who me, you like-y, I am pretty amazing..., thanks." Or something along those lines. It was so cute.

On Monday Jason went to a cubs game with the "guys" in my family (Amanda, a major sports fan and Jakelle went to). While most of the ladies and children stayed in Dekalb and played and swam all day. Gavin had the time of his life playing with his cousins. I feel like I barely say him the entire trip. I had fun hanging out with my sistas and all my nieces and nephews. I wish I could see them all more often.

The next two days were filled with water park bliss. My Dad treated us to a two day stay at Kalihari Resorts in the Wisconsin Dells. It was an amazing town filled with themed water parks resorts. The one we stayed at had an African theme. Just before midnight I had a craving to go go kart racing so...Jason, Brody and Payton came with me. One the way down to the track I was so excited I was pretend racing Brody and bumped him into the wall pretty hard. My evil side came out a little in Wisconsin. I also splashed really cold water on Tamzen after as she was getting out of the hot tub. And I also tipped over my parents inner tube when they were enjoying a nice relaxing float around the lazy river. Not to mention they had Gavin. I usually just think of doing these things in my mind and then I come back to my senses. What can I say I was on vacation...I got a little crazy. (I do feel really bad about tipping my parents over, sorry mom, dad and Gavin, again.)

The next day was our last and I don't know how it went by so fast. We headed back to my parents house. The cousins all slept upstairs; some even in box shanties. Jason and I had to go to my favorite place to eat in the Midwest. Portillo's, thinking about the Chicago dogs and cake shakes is making me drool right now.

So the next day we drove to St. Louis to catch our flight home. Almost missed which wouldn't have been so bad if we weren't three plus hours away from my parents home. But we made it. Sadly our trip cam to an end...until next year!