Our Last Day, A FIRST, Missing & Your Accomplishments!

We were in four states (Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana and Illinois) in six days.  We have been all over the place this week.  It’s going to feel strange to not be traveling around tomorrow.  We are headed home today sadly and I’ll be missing our people so much.  Andrew has to be back for class.  When this reunion was first organized, Skye was about a week old and my anxiety over flying with three kids alone was insane (I cried over the thought of it… a few times ha) so we planned to come home early with Andrew from the reunion.  Now I think I could probably fly with them on my own but that’s okay, we packed in so much fun while we were on our trip.  We decided to go to Kentucky early before the family reunion started to get in some more time too so that is kind of why we were went there first.  We ended in Nauvoo, Illinois!  A lot of our church’s history is here and that is what brought us to this area.

PS I’m already looking forward to the next reunion.

My coach gave me 5 days of running to get done this week so I decided that Thursday would be my rest day and go on a walk with my sis and sis-in-law instead of running.  We walked all around the place for over an hour.  I think I was sweating more during our walk than I do on my runs at home (it is so dry where I live).

SO MUCH GREEN!

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Nauvoo has just over 1,000 people that live there.  I thought their main street was so cute!

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We walked by a gas station and picked up a ton of donuts for all of our kids on the way home.  Good thing that kids don’t really notice when donuts are a day old.

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Maybe someday Knox will eat a donut normally ha.

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We put on our family reunion shirts and then we met at the Nauvoo temple to take pictures.  We waited until two seconds before the pictures to put on Skye’s family reunion shirt to avoid drooling/spit up but she showed us and spit up right when we put it on anyway.

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Our little fam.

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It was kind of hard to get all of the kids together for the pictures but the photographer did a great job and I think we got some good shots.

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From there we did a bunch of tours in Nauvoo!

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When we were on our way back to our hotel my mom mentioned stopping for ice cream and I couldn’t possibly tell her no.

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Skye had her first swim in a pool!

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My brother then took us all out to eat at a buffet and we followed that by a walk down by the Mississippi river!

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Time to go home!

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I love hearing about the amazing things that you are doing… send in your accomplishments to [email protected]

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Avery!!!  “Yesterday I ran the Covered Bridges Half Marathon in Woodstock, VT for the second time!  The first time I ran it was 2 years ago and it was my debut race.  I definitely didn’t train well or know what to expect, so I was slightly disappointed with my 2:29 time.  This year I made sure to prioritize my training, fuel properly, and I ended up with a 2:13!  I shaved 16 minutes off, PR’d for the first time, and feel so good about myself.  For my 3rd half, I would like to conquer a sub 2:)”

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Emma!!!  “I’ve run 7 half-marathons in the past and finally took the plunge and ran the San Diego Rock n Roll marathon yesterday with a finishing time of 3:50!  It was a huge accomplishment for me and I can’t wait for more to come!  So proud of my mom who also completed the full marathon at 67 years old!”

SD Rock n Roll emma and mom

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If you have changed your last name what was your maiden name?

-Anderson… any other Andersons?

What are you looking forward to this weekend?

Any photographers reading?  What type of photos are your favorite to take?

 

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49 comments

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Looks like a blast!
This weekend (tonight) starts a 9 day music festival next to where I live and where I work, so hopefully I will be avoiding ridiculous crowds this weekend!
And my sister is a photographer, she took school and sports photos for work before she moved to Idaho, and now she is trying to do engagement/wedding/family stuff. Shutterup photography in Rexburg, pass it along!

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That picture of Skye sleeping in her swim suit is the cutest!

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WOW! I left a message earlier this week and thought it was cool you were visiting Louisville after growing up in Indianapolis…..

I live in Iowa now, just on the other side of the Mississippi River from Nauvoo! The grandfather of one of the girls in my bible study group started that church/temple. I wondered what you were up to in IL after being in St. Louis! You were so close to me!!

Safe travels home! I hope it goes smoother than your flights last time :)

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NO WAY! This is awesome Kaelin. Next time we are here we will have to all get together for a run. Your area is amazing… we loved it. Thank you, on our way to the airport now and crossing all of my fingers haha. Have an amazing weekend!

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Oh my gosh! KNOX’s DOUGHNUT! I eat some foods weirdly—like eating all of the cheese/sauce off my pizza, and then eating the crust plain, but I’ve never contemplated eating a doughnut that way! ha ha ha

That is awesome that you had such a nice visit with your family, AND you’ve survived the travel!!!!!! Yay!

My maiden name was “Carter”; now it’s “Wagner”–took me to the other end of the alphabet! My daughters wish their last name was Carter because they hate being at the end with the “W” lol

I”m an amateur photographer. My favorite photos are either nature photos or just cool perspective pics. I love to take my phone with me on runs and while traveling and just keeping my eye out for cool things that other people might not notice :) I’m not a big portrait/people photographer.

This weekend is my youngest daughter’s dance recital–lots and lots of hairbuns to create. NOT my best talent, but I’ll do my best. ha ha ha

Have the best weekend!!!! Oh! I have a Friday Favorite for you—Mini Chewy SweeTarts. They might be my new favorite sugar source :) :) :)

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Random – but my youngest daughter’s dance recital is also this weekend and she’s doing ballet this year, which means her hair will also be in a bun. …Not my strong suit either lol. Get yourself one of these: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Remington-the-Perfect-Bun-for-Girls-Blonde-Bun-Tool/36240676

Total game-changer! :) They come in brown and blonde.

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This is random, but my youngest daughter’s dance recital is this weekend too- she’s doing ballet this year and needs her hair in a bun. Not my strong suit lol.

Get yourself one of these: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Remington-the-Perfect-Bun-for-Girls-Blonde-Bun-Tool/36240676

Total game-changer! They come in brown and blonde. Good luck with the recital :)

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HA ha We use the hair doughnut, & I’m still SO bad at hair buns! I use about 500 bobby pins!

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Nauvoo! That’s one of the places I remember most from taking the church history tour when I was a kid.

I’m a Francis. My family is huge and I love it.

I’m also a photographer and for a while I worked at kiddie kandids and then I did it on my own for a little while. After a few years of that I decided that I needed photography to be a hobby again and not a job so I stoped. My favorite things to take pictures of is nature and still life (like advertising for companies, though I don’t do that) it always seems fun.

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How neat you guys were visiting Navoo! My in laws live about two hours from there and we took a side trip to visit there. Navoo is so pretty! If you are ever in the Midwest again fresh donuts from Casey’s are actually really good! Fresh Casey’s donuts are one thing I look forward to when we visit my in laws. Your trip has inspired me to want to explore the Midwest more than we have!
I didn’t change my last name I hyphenated my last name and wish I would have just changed it. his weekend I am looking forward to running and a picnic reunion with my church small group! Have a great weekend!

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That is so cool that you have been there Christa. Okay, now you are making me need a Casey donut… I’ll ask Andrew to turn the car around ha. That sounds like a perfect weekend.! Enjoy!

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I can’t believe you were in my state! I hope you had fun. I live in Central Illinois – Bloomington to be exact. I am sad that Andrew didn’t get a chance to see my baseball team play while you were in St. Louis. He would have loved the St. Louis Cardinals’ stadium!! Have a safe trip back.

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WE WILL BE BACK!! We were going to make a game but with the schedule it just didn’t work… Come meet us for a game when we are back and we will be back at the City Museum too:) You live in an amazing area!

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Dog hikes! I don’t get envious often… but I am envious of your big family :) Great pictures and thank you for sharing.

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Come join us:) Thanks Amanda and I hope you have an amazing weekend!

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I am off to Camp Erin as a volunteer, a kids bereavement camp but really a fun camp. Not too serious, just trying to give a bunch of kids that have some thing not so great in common a place to feel safe and have a lot of fun. It is part of the Jamie Moyer foundation. I am so excited! Also excited because I made it to my longest mileage in years ( 8.5 miles) on Monday as part of my half Marathon training and my knee is still ok!! Not perfect but giving me hoping I can still build mileage.

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Carrie, that is really awesome that you are doing this. Please let me know how it all goes. AHHH way to go on your 8.5 miles, that is awesome and I’m hoping your knee stays happy during your half-marathon training!

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I live in Iowa (just across the river from Nauvoo) and I actually went to college with a kid from there. Next time you are at a Casey’s make sure you try their breakfast pizza. To. Die. For. It is literally a midwest staple!

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I couldn’t agree more! The only breakfast pizza I like more is homemade! I’m in Iowa as well! :)

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NO WAY KELSEY!! You live in an incredible area… it was SO gorgeous. I am so sad I didn’t try a breakfast pizza from Casey’s… I NEED ONE. We will be back out again. Have a beautiful day!

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How could you possibly say no to ice cream?!. Especially when it looks like you got the delicious mint chocolate chip flavor.

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I hope you get some great ice cream soon!

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My maiden name was Lydigsen….a real mouth full. So happy to have a simpler last name of Wilson. Looking forward to sending our daughter to grandma’s for a night this weekend so we can have a much needed date night.

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Oh that must be nice to not have to spell out your last name for everyone now too! ENJOY your date night this weekend… that sounds perfect!

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Ahhhhh! That looks like such a fun trip!! And I’m pretty sure Skye gets cuter by the second! (Also, your swimsuit is adorable.)

I’m looking forward to my “Friday Night Lights” walk with my dear friend at the beach after work today, flag football game tonight, and then a relaxing weekend of sunshine and beach time! It’s been a really rough week at work, and I can’t wait for a little break! Safe travels home, sweet friend!!

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Oh thank you Natalie! That sounds perfect tonight… ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!

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I’m from Illinois and have been to Nauvoo. Very neat place! But what really excited me was the stack of day old donuts!! I’m a teacher and a box like that with the day old sticker is ALWAYS on the lounge table! We love donuts and we love a good bargain! Their bear claws are my fave!

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Oh that is awesome Rosie! Thank you for being a teacher… your students are so lucky to have you! Wish I could bring you guys some donuts. And now I need a bear claw. I hope you have an amazing weekend!

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OMG….my maiden name was Anderson!!!
I love that you all had matching reunion shirts, so fun! And again, I know I keep saying this, but you look like you all had such a great time! Thanks for sharing ?
This weekend will include more backyard reno/clean-up, a couple of runs, but Sunday is our nephew’s high school graduation party! That will be fun and full of family.
Safe travels home!!

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We are cousins Wendy:) How cool would that be! Thank you Wendy, it is so hard to leave. Could luck this weekend and have a blast at the party… nothing better than time with family. Thank you!

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Anderson!!! Best maiden name ever =) Looks like a fun trip- I think I have tried every fudge/ice cream shop in Nauvoo. I mean why not?

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Maybe we are cousins:) How cool would that be?

Now I am living in regret… WE DIDN’T TRY THE FUDGE!

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Hey you were in my neck of the woods! You were about an hour/hour and a half away from where I live (although I’m across the river in Iowa). Isn’t the humidity here crazy right now?! Unbelievable.
My friends and I are having a yard sale this weekend and I am looking forward to maybe making a little money but also getting rid of unnecessary things! It’s nice to purge sometimes.

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NO WAY…. I wish we could have gone on a run together. I literally do not know how you run in that weather… it is SO hard. I almost died this morning. I hope the yard sale goes really well. Have a wonderful weekend Rhiannon!

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My teenager is going on a church history trip to Nauvoo; they are leaving Monday. They are taking all youth 14 and up from our entire big Frisco, Tx Stake. They have several tour buses to carry them all! No one in my family has ever been to Nauvoo, he’s the first! Should be interesting;) The thing he said he will miss is working out daily while gone;) My maiden name was Pierce….I named my oldest son that to carry on the name:)

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Amanda, that is so awesome. He is going to have an incredible time. You guys should come at some point… the feeling there is something else. Let me know what he thinks about it. We saw huge busses of youth everywhere there. So cool. Have a beautiful day!

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Oh my gosh!!! I have followed you for years and you were literally so close to my home!! I am an Illinois girl but live in Mt Pleasant, IA now, just 45 miles from Nauvoo!! I sure hope you enjoyed your visit to the Midwest!!!! ❤️

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NOOOOOO WAY!!!! Oh that is so cool Jennifer! You live in an amazing area… it is gorgeous! We will be back for a Cardinals game so we will all have to meet up somewhere out here and go for a run. Have an amazing weekend Jennifer!

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Looks like a blast!

My maiden name is Eriksson, being Swedish and all, but I now have my Scottish husband’s surname – Thoms! My sister married an Andersson though :)

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I love to hear about other people’s religions and I am so ignorant about your church and religion, I wish you could give us more details about it.

I got married 14 years ago and to this day think of my name as my maiden name. I never thought it would bother me to give up that name, but here I am 14 years later and still miss my “real” name!

Did you seriously buy all those donuts for the 5 of you or was that for your mom and dad and sister’s family too? I’m so impressed!

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Hey! I definitely need to write more about it! Until then… you can find a lot more at lds.org ! We had 35 people at our reunion (with a few teenage boys in the mix ha) so those donuts were gone fast! Congrats on 14 years of marriage and I’m sorry you miss your name… is it possible to add it back again?

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Your family knows how to reunion!! I’m so impressed with all the planning that went into it, how special! My family did a trip last year for my dad’s 75th birthday and all 26 of us were on the same flight. We had matching t-shirts and it was hilarious to have strangers cheering for us as we were sprinting through the airport to catch our connection.

And Skye is looking so grown up lately, I’m sure she’s anxious to catch up to all her cool cousins! Sending happy thoughts for your trip home.

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My maiden name was Houston :) Looking forward to a busy weekend > two weddings to go to and my sister’s concert, tomorrow evening! It will be packed, but fun! Also, you were in IL!?! My home state!!

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I’m so happy you’ve had a good trip (despite the traveling fiasco last weekend to get to KY). Safe travels heading home!
I didn’t change my last name after Tom and I got married. I love my last name entirely too much! Even if I had not gotten my PhD under my maiden name and even if I had not already been publishing poems as Stephanie Kartalopoulos, I honestly just love my name too much. Many of the people around me (in the south…where tradition seems to be king…) don’t quite understand why I didn’t change my name–so much of “tradition” says that you should, and it seems almost sacrelig to them that I never wanted to do that. Many of my friends–mostly writers, artists, and academics who have moved all over the country for PhDs, master’s degrees, jobs, teaching fellowships, artists’ residencies, love, etc.–are totally down with my choice and have not once made any assumptions that I would or should change my name!
Oh, I heard the most interesting thing today. I’m not really “crafty”–I can’t really paint or sculpt or take photographs–but a friend of mine, Michelle, is very crafty and very artistic, and she crochets and knits. Anyhow, she told me today that she’s part of a mystery knitting club that has projects associated with different TV shows. Apparently, every single week, another “clue” is revealed–the next part of the project that needs to be made–and her job, every week, is to knit those rows in this project while she’s watching a particular TV show. And apparently, by the end of the season, the whole project is done and she winds up with a blanket, or scarf/hat/etc. set, or shawl, or whatever that is SOMEHOW thematized with the television show she’s been watching! I had never heard of that before and thought it was really interesting!!

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We are getting ready for a family reunion in hot humid Florida! We are from Alaska so this is going to be interesting. We shall see what my one year old ALaskan boy thinks of real heat!

I was an Ericksen which I loved because my family had a strong connection to our heritage. But I wanted to have the same name as my family even though my husband didn’t mind if I stuck with my maiden name. Thankfully the jump from Ericksen to Hinrichsen (pronounced Henricksen) was pretty easy!

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I have family in Nauvoo! My aunt and her husband live there. They are very involved with their local church, Community of Christ.

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I love that you are holding boxes of Casey’s donuts! I am from Iowa and Casey’s is a staple for sure. You should have gotten their breakfast pizza. It is amazing!
My maiden name was Squiers. Honestly, I kinda miss it sometimes lol.

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My maiden name was Doss. I’m going to relax and hopefully get a run in. Trying to de-stress from a new job that’s not working out.

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Oh goodness, you can’t just call Casey’s “a gas station” ;-) I live in St. Louis and while we sadly don’t have any here, there are a lot of them west of us in Missouri, and we ALWAYS stop at them to get their pizza – it’s amazing!

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