Memorial Day, Reimagined

We had grand plans for camping over Memorial Day that were squashed by unrelenting and continually threatening thunderstorms.  After several debates about what we could realistically expect from our first camping trip with the pup in soggy flash-flood conditions, we decided that our entire family- and our sanity- would be happiest if we turned our three day temple and camping trip to southeast Iowa into a day trip to Nauvoo for the whole family with the promise to make up camping in a future date.

So the whole family piled into Daddy's car (the big muddy Rhino!) and we were off!

Complete with appropriate pioneer headgear.

We really weren't sure what to expect from Laney, but we didn't have another option lined up for leaving her home.  Welcome to dog-life, I suppose.  So into the car she went for her first trip across the Mississippi River!

Apparently we are the kind of people who have to document such exciting milestones for our dog.

So much green and blue!  It was a beautiful day!

Jason and Leah went into the temple first to do baptisms,

while these cute kids and I played and picnicked at a nearby park.  

Noah said, "Mom!  Take my picture!  Put it on the blog and say, 'balancing with just one leg on the playground!'"

And then it was time to switch- but not before documenting Laney's first time at the temple, of course.  She was doing really well- so, so, so much better than our outing to Pella.  It definitely helped that there were about 7 other people around, and that she didn't have to stay on a leash in the park.  At least that was my experience with her.  

Once we switched off Jason and the kids headed down to Pioneer Pastimes, where Laney made a friend (eventually).  

 And had a rest.

 And the kids explored all things pioneer.

 Meanwhile I was in the temple with my sweet friend Keri.  She calls me her cool big sister (ha!) and it was a privilege to get to share her first temple experience with her.

We love Keri and we love the temple!

After that it was time to head back home, which some of us were more excited about

than others.

Time for another nap!

And another potty break.

And another nap- front view- 

back view.  Such a tiny pup!

Back at home we spent the weekend catching up on more sleep, 

and learning about popcorn, 

and going to the pool! 

The water was too cold for me, but the kids hopped right in.  Almost summer!

But the best part was the at-home camping trip that we promised the kids in replacement of actually camping outside in the soggy thunderstorm campground.  They were so excited to snuggle right up on the ultra-fluffy carpet in the basement like four little peas in a pod.

  The story-telling was the very best part.

 Nothing too scary of course, but we told the story of Hungry Jack and the Missing Thumb and the Wide Mouth Frog and they all loved it.  

 The giggling and chatting that ensued lasted much less time than I anticipated (Daddy and I were camping nearby in the guest bedroom) and everyone slept happily til morning.

Then we were up and back at it again, exploring a nearby park and enjoying the blue skies (the thunderstorms were always threatening, and we definitely would have been soaked had we camped outside overnight) and all in all, it was one of the best Memorial Day weekends we've ever had, even if it didn't go anything like we had originally planned. 

The lesson we learned was that it's okay to cancel plans when they clearly aren't going to work out in your favor.  And the result just might be something even better!