Gulf Shore Beach

We decided that we wanted to go to the Ole Miss BYU game and because we were already so close to a beach we decided to turn it into a week-long vacation. Kelie and her friend had gone to the beach down in Gulf Shores and loved it, so we decided to go back to the same area. We rented a three bedroom condo and Marcie and Craig met us down there.

We headed to Memphis first and stayed the night then we went to the temple in the morning. The next day we drove to the game and Matt, Kelie, Jenna, and Brent went to the game. I decided I didn't want to pay for Owen and myself and then just end up walking around below the stadium because I knew Owen wouldn't sit still. I took Brooke and Owen to the hotel in Jackson, Mississippi. It was quite the adventure. Our hotel was a joke-will never stay in a La Quinta again. They gave us a non-smoking room that was clearly smoked in and then the other room they gave me had someone sleeping on the bed. Owen was not good in any sense of the word and so by the end of the night I was telling Brent he owed me big time!

The next morning we went to church in a little branch in Jackson. It was awesome. It was fast and testimony meeting and although there weren't very many people there, there was never a lull. Pretty much all of them were converts and kind of told how they came to join the church. I loved how personal it felt and how everyone was engaged in what the speakers were saying. I also loved that there were a few, uh huh's um hmm’s and a lot of head nodding. Glad we got to experience sacrament meeting in the South!

We drove the last four and a half hours to Orange Beach that afternoon. The weather was pretty bad since it there was a big tropical storm going on, but after that Monday, it cleared up and was beautiful the rest of the week. We had so much fun playing on the beach and hanging out with family. We will definitely have to go back.

Owen took a liking to Jenna reading him stories

Playing with his sand cars
Marcie and Kelie playing a game on the beach

Brent build a little "swimming pool" for the kids

SwimmingMatt built some pretty cool sand animals

More book reading

We went to the air museum in Pensacola

Stopped by this lighthouse that was right by the museum

Walking to the lighthouse

Owen didn't want to pose, he was more concerned about getting in the sprinkler

Brent dug out this ditch for the kids

Playing with our ginormous beach ball

Whale that Marcie and Matt built

Brent on the body board

Kelie on the body board

More playing

Jumping the waves

Burying their feet

Austin Revisited

Right after the Clark reunion we headed home to do some laundry and then headed out the next morning to go to Austin. Brent was going to San Antonio for his Management conference and so I tagged along to hang out with Marcie in Austin. We played in their HOA pool and park for a good portion of the trip. We went to a few local restaurants and Marcie and I went to a movie while Craig baby-sat Owen. We also ended up going back to the Children's musuem which was a little bit crazy for a while, but ended up being really fun. It was really fun to hang out and to get a free(Mizzou payed for the mileage to Austin)trip to visit Marcie. Thanks for letting us come visit, Craig and Marcie! Here are the few pictures I took.

Owen liked to sit and watch the pictures on the tv. He folded the pillow in half and made a little seat.

We played at this ball thing for a LONG time.
Construction Zone

Putting tiles on the house. Owen was funny because he insisted on pick up each one and putting them back in the bin.

Another favorite-the trains!

This was also pretty fun

Waiting for our yummy pancakes at Kerby Lane. They have the best pancakes!

Nauvoo Reunion

Brent was in charge of his family’s reunion this year, so we decided to have them all come to us! We decided to do it in Nauvoo. Everyone was able to come except for Jenni whose kids were starting school that week. We did it at a place called Camp Nauvoo. The cabins weren't great, but the lodge they had was really big and perfect for our needs. They had a huge commercial kitchen and plenty of room to hang out and play games. The weather was wonderful especially considering it was close to 100 degrees the previous week.

We saw some of the Nauvoo sights, but Owen was pretty impossible when it came to doing much. He pretty much cried when we tried to take him into any of the buildings. Some other things we did while not visiting the sights were play at the playground they had in the middle of the facility, play games, make rice balls(kind of like a hacky sack), learn about some of the Clark ancestors who lived in Nauvoo, play with water balloons, walk the Trail of Hope and visit Carthage Jail. It was great to only have to travel three hours and still get to see family! We ate yummy food and had a great time. Here are some pictures.

Trail of Hope. One of my favorite things in Nauvoo, because I always get emotional thinking about how they must have felt as they left their city and temple and yet they were still willing to do it.

Also on the trail of Hope. I think this might be the only picture I have of the entire trip with Owen smiling.

Owen would have spent the entire three days throwing rocks in the river.

Beautiful Sunset

I was able to go to a few places while Owen was taking a nap. Yay!

Learning to make rope

This is what Owen did while I was doing the water games with the kids. He looks like he is unhappy, but he loved it!

The grandchildren
Brent and I watched the kids while all the adults went to the temple. I made rice balls with them and then Brent did some games where they used their balls.

Owen touching the temple

Owen throwing a fit because the sprinklers came on at the temple grounds and I was making him touch the temple. I am such a mean mom!

In front of the temple

I love this picture. So cute.

Beautiful

All I am going to say about this picture is that Brent took it. Enough said.
Playing on the sheep.

My little pioneer boy
div>Playing house
Riding the horse

We took Matt's van to get all the stuff there that we needed. Owen loved being able to have extra room and that he could see out the windows.

Trying to move the old wheelbarrow

Carthage Jail. As you can tell Owen was not happy. Brent had to take him outside so everyone else could hear.

Petting the Oxen. He loved this ride!