Bringing in the New Year

Although we were all reeling from the flu, (There is nothing like having to pull over on the side of the road on New Year's Eve to take turns throwing up! We're not drunk folks!) we did manage to enjoy a few fun activities to bring in the New Year.  On New Year's Eve, we stopped briefly in the City of Joseph--Nauvoo, Illinois.  We have been to Nauvoo many times,  but we wanted to stop there as we were passing through since heaven only knows when we will be able to come back again.  I'm sure we'll be back, but we'll probably wait until all of the kids are old enough to remember before we return.  Here a few of us are in front of the temple.

 

After Nauvoo, we pulled into the first hotel we could find and hit the sack well before midnight and still in our clothes. Exciting, I know, but it was a miracle we even got as far as Nauvoo that day.  Nick took the first turn driving and I was passed out in ten minutes.  Two hours later I woke up and we were parked on the side of the road all asleep. When we woke up and started driving again, I had to laugh when I realized Nick had only made it ten miles out of town before he had pulled over and crashed. I guess after 48 hours of no sleep, 10 miles was as good as it gets!  I wouldn't have made it two!) 

 

The next day, New Year's Day, we got up and visited some of our favortie places in good old St. Louis.  Our first stop was the St. Louis Mills Mall.  We did some shopping and then humored the kids by finally letting them ride one of these mall trains.  At $3.00 a person, it will probably be the only time in their live that we do it, but hey, it was a holiday!

After shopping we drove by the temple, our old house, and then drove over to Illinois to one of our favorite med school destininations--Our Lady of the Snow.  Although visiting Our Lady of the Snow was a Christmas tradition while we were in med school, we decided that just this once we could go there on New Year's Day.  And I'm so glad we did. It brought back so many memories!  And how many palces can you get a $2.00 camel ride after all?  The kids are all very proud of there camel riding expertise!

 

 

The kids also love the animals in the "Bethlehem Stable".

 

Mason especially got a kick out of it!

 

It wasn't the most eventful holiday, but at least we all managed to go 24 hours without throwing up and we got to relive some of the old traditions before driving the rest of the way to sunny Jacksonville.