7/24/17 Nauvoo to Omaha Nebraska

This morning, as we got packed up, we got a closer look at the bugs that have been making so much noise these past few days. We think that they are some type of locust but we really aren't sure.

Joseph picked up the shell of one that shed in the night to grow bigger.

TJ and I put our hands by one to give a sense of how big they are.

Last night one of the sister missionaries gave the kids fabric scrap dolls. The girls living here in the 1840s would have played with toys like these. As you can see Joseph also had fun with them.

This is the building that the Nauvoo 1st, 2nd and 3rd wards meet in. It had the only internet we could find so I sat outside to get some work done.

We just missed the last carriage ride when we got into town on Saturday so we promised the girls that we would take the first one on Monday morning.

They drove us slowly around some nearby farms and told us stories of the faithful saints who lived here so long ago.

Next it was off to Nebraska.

We arrived in Winter Quarters in about 4 hours driving time. It took the Saints 4 and a half months. They decided to stay the Winter here. Many never left.

We visited the cemetery where we have an ancestor buried. Rebecca's 5th (I believe) Great Grandmother Rebecca Mangum finished her mortal journey here.

Here we are at the Winter Quarters Temple.

The Visitor's Center has many interesting displays. Peter, Joseph and TJ loved this interactive one with blocks labelled with the things that the Pioneers needed on the trek. We learned that Hardtack is a kind of cracker that lasts a long time. It was carried as a sustaining food for the lengthy journey.

At last we arrived at the Omaha KOA. It has a fun playground. The kids all took several turns on the zip line.

They had a place where you could pan for "gold" like a prospector.

TJ and Joseph got especially excited about the colorful rocks they found.

They also had a "jumping pillow" it seems to have a lot in common with a trampoline.