Nauvoo!!

I realize that my blog has been like a ghost town lately, So I decided to update with some pictures from our Trip to Nauvoo to visit Sister Gibson (MOM).  Chad, and I were lucky enough to go with Chad's mom!  It was an amazing trip!  

We arrived in Nauvoo just after the sunset, and were able to get some awesome photos of the temple.  We were able to do a session in the Temple the next day. It was such a sweet experience to be in the Temple again with both of our mom's for the first time since our wedding!  The last time I was in the Nauvoo Temple was just 10 days before Dad died, so it was a good experience to visit again in happier times and feel close to him.

Mom was able to get a day off and spent it with us. She even gave us a personal tour of carthage jail. 

We went on an awesome carriage ride through the hills and fields of Nauvoo, it was so green and beautiful! 

Mom was able to make an appearance in the production that she runs and directs! Talk about renaissance woman! It was a really well done and fun show. We were so proud of how wonderful mom is doing running the show!

Mom at her stomping grounds, the rebuilt cultural/masonic hall, where the shows are preformed.

One of the original Sun-stones from original Temple. 

Being pregnant visiting Nauvoo, was a bit tiring and the weather was HOT one day and Freezing the next. But as I saw all the small baby and childs items it made me so grateful that I am going to be having my baby in a hospital with pain medication, instead of on a wooden bed or on the plains. As hard as it seems to raise a baby back then some of the pioneer inventions for babies seem quite genius!

Chad and Ellen making rope!

Ellen enjoying the last of the lilacs!

Mom working behind the scenes of the show! 

The great folks we stayed with were also talented actors and singers!  We were so grateful to be able to stay right in the heart of Nauvoo near Mom and all the sights!

Mom cheering on her 'favorite' cast!

Chad LOVED the print shop! right up his graphic design alley!

Hand carved rocking horse that Wilford Woodroof made for his son, and traveled back 3 days across the plains to bring it to his son when he was sad that it was left behind! I know that Chad would do the same things for our baby!

We have been married now for 3 awesome years!! We love going back to the temple as often as we can, and are happy to be welcoming our little GIRL in 20 weeks (half way there)!

The 'Buddy Bean' is officially out of the bag

So the news is officially out! Chad and I are expecting a baby!  I am due the day before thanksgiving so this year we will have a lot more to be thankful for!  This has been such an amazing journey so far, and I wanted to thank all my family and friends for your continued prayers and support.  We feel so lucky to be so loved and to have this new person growing inside me.  We don't yet know the sex but hopefully will be finding out on MONDAY! So for all 5 of you who read my blog, stay tuned. Hopefully the 'Buddy Bean' as we like to call our gender unknown fetus, will soon have a new nickname.  In the mean time we have coined our little one in honor of the cute and somewhat sexually ambiguous 'Buddy Lee' doll, I guess it seems more boyish because it is always dressed in coveralls and uniforms. We love you guys! and couldn't more thrilled for how great life is right now!

Calling all foodies!

I need your help!!  I know a lot of you out there are foodies, so I am calling all of you to help.  The YW in my ward are putting together a recipe book to earn money for girls camp. We are starting to collect yummy recipes for all over. So, I wanted to ask my blog readers to post a comment with their favorite recipe to share.  Soon your recipe will be immortalized in print, and you can even buy a copy. Stay tuned for details!

Thanks!  Emily

blog? what blog?

So... remember that time when I used to blog?  Well, I am decided that I am going to try and make more of an effort to blog.  Life is crazy. busy, and amazing!  Right now between working full time, YW stuff, and trying to have a life with Chad, I feel like blogging is the last on my list of stuff to do!  Stay tuned for deets on my life.