Thursday, September 24, 2009

Nauvoo!

Last weekend me and Mike went up to Nauvoo!

It was my first time and Mikes second time. It is such a beautiful place! We camped out while we were there. Which was actually really nice, not only did we save on money but the weather was great and there were very few bugs!
We started the day out by doing a session in the temple, our trip wouldnt have been the same if we hadnt made time for a session. I was blown away at how big the temple was. It was absolutely gorgeous! Then we walked down to Old Nauvoo and took a carriage ride which took us up to Inspiration Point.

The whole way up to Inspiration Point one of the Senior Missionaries told stories, ones I had never heard before and a few even made me tear up a little. Then we hopped on a wagon ride which took us around Old Nauvoo.

It was a neat way to see the whole town and scope out things that we wanted to come back to and visit. After we walked around Old Nauvoo and hit all the "must sees" we drove down to Carthage.


That is the actually bullet hole that killed Hyrum Smith. It was unbelievable to be in the same room that both Hyrum and Joseph Smith were martyr in. When you go into the bedroom where it took place you can instantly feel the Spirit. I couldnt help getting all weepy when I entered the room.
I am so glad that me and Mike were able to go and visit Nauvoo, and see how the Saints had lived and to learn/better understand the things that they went through. It really does have a special Spirit there, one of sacrifice and true faith.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Lake Lazy

Me and Mike headed back to North Dakota to spend sometime with his family this summer, and what summer would be complete without a little lake time. Mike's parents own a lake in Minnesota (called Strawberry lake...how cute is that?!) Anyways... while we were there we up to Itasca and did a little...

We worked up quite the appetite so on the way back to their lake place we stopped at this little bar and grill that has kinda become a tradition to eat at every time the family comes up, and it was just as good as I remembered! The boys decided to play a little...

while the girls chatted.
The next day it was freezing! It was defiantly pants and sweatshirt weather, but the boys decided to jump on in and wash up anyways!! What "tough" men!

Even though it was kinda a drizzly cold day the sunset was absolutely beautiful!

The next day we kept noticing all these wasps so we started looking around for the hive and we were shocked when we found it! You may not be able to tell by the picture but it was about the size of a soccer ball no joke!!

On our last day there I decided that I need to join the club (seein how everyone else had) and bathe in the lake... so I braved the freezing water and did it! And to my surprise I really enjoyed it!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Art and the Wondeful Andy Warhol!

Mike and me spent last Saturday in Forest Park and we went the Art Museum there. I have been a big fan of Andy Warhol since pretty much the beginning of time, so to my pleasant surprise they not only had one of his original paintings(screen printing)

but they had a gift shop full of Andy Warhol stuff! I was in heaven! I just wish I had the money to buy it, but oh well that will come. I am oddly obsessed with him (I get all exciting inside just thinking about him and the impact he has had on art)
Here are some fun Andy facts:
* He worked as an illustrator for Vogue (along with other magazines)
* His last name is really Warhola
* Valerie Solanis, founder and sole member of SCUM (Society for Cutting Up Men) walked into Warhol's studio, known as the Factory, and shot the artist. The attack was nearly fatal.
* Warhol also published The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (from A to B and Back Again)
* He also created two cable television shows, "Andy Warhol's TV" in 1982 and "Andy Warhol's Fifteen Minutes" for MTV in 1986
* Following routine gall bladder surgery, Andy Warhol died February 22, 1987
* He is the King of Pop Art!!
Needless to say Andy Warhol is awesome and I love him!

Here are a couple of other neat things we saw...
if you look close this paining is made up of house hold items
and this was a replica of a big pink balloon bunny