We're here

I wanted to wait 'till I uploaded our pictures to post, but we're missing a cable and so pictures might take a while.  So I thought I'd better post and let everyone know we arrived safely and so far, having a great time, despite the heat and oppressive humidity.  The first couple days we were welcomed with overcast weather and rain showers.  But now the heat is starting to set in.  We're staying in the missionary RV park, which is only about a mile away from the pageant.  I've been riding the bike, with the girls in the bike trailer, every day to the pageant.  I thought I would have lost weight by now but wouldn't you know it, I've gained three pounds instead.  

This is our third year doing the Nauvoo Pageant (and fourth time here), and already this year is very different from the last two pageants.  I'm not pregnant, I'm healthy (aside from being overweight), and we're not staying in some far-off condos conjured up from the macabre imaginations of the Phantom of the Opera.  This year, I can actually see myself falling in love with Nauvoo.  It means a lot having a place all of your own to stay in, and getting to have some freedom; we're meeting people left and right and Alex and Rory have a million little friends to choose from (though most of the time, we're off having a great time biking around Old Nauvoo... sometimes we stop in at the Scovil Bakery and the sweet Sister missionaries there tell Alex and Rory a little bit about Lucious the baker, and then give them one of their delicious soft gingerbread cookies).  

In comparison to the condos, our RV is very small, but we're having an absolutely fantastic time living in it.  We have our Patty'o'room all set up, complete with three-ring pool, reclining chairs, table, ice-maker, and outdoor a/c mister.  I give the girls their baths inside our little shower stall, inside a round flexible plastic toy bucket.  It's really funny, and they have to take separate baths now because it's so small, but they have fun in it.

Can you believe it but we brought Sebastian with us as well?  The first day of driving out here, he was pretty worried, to say the least.  And we didn't have his kitty litter inside with us because we didn't want it to stink up the RV.  So instead, every time we stopped, I brought him outside on his leash and took out the little kitty litter we stored in one of the outside storage bins, and had him use it outside that way.  He's a very smart cat and though he found the outside public environment intimidating, he caught on quickly.  He didn't have one accident inside the RV.  Can you believe what a cool cat he is?  Now that we're settled, he couldn't be happier.  He gets some outdoor time on his leash, sometimes we take him for a ride with us in the bike trailer with the girls, and he gets his pick of sleeping with Alex up on her bunk bed, or at the foot of my bed. 

As soon as I can get a cable, I'll post some pictures.