Zip-lining with Grandma!

My amazing Mom has found a new love- zip lining!  She had it on her bucket list, and my sister took her last year- she loved it!  Since 80 and over go free, she's been trying all year to get a group of 10 seniors to go with her, but only convinced her best friend Kay to go.  So it was scheduled for July 10th, right after we finished our cross-country trip together.  My brother Alan was there from Texas too, so we had a great family time!  Here we go…. at Max Zip line http://www.maxzipline.com/

Mom- almost 88 here, and Kay- almost 90!  Awesome, adventurous ladies! (And we loved Kay's alway's fancy outfit!)

Notice how they put all the 60 and overs in a full body harness- haha!  I didn't argue though…I liked being able to sit and lean back!

There are 5 lines as you zig-zag down the mountain- each a little steeper, faster, or longer.  So much fun!  

The cute girls helping us were wonderful- and they fell in love with Mom and Kay!

Beginning our fun, bumpy ride up the mountain…

 Here's Mom with Kay and 3 of her 7 kids…

Like mother, like son!

Cute Bryan and Matthew have no fear…

 and their fearlessness gave courage to Kay- who was scared to death- although looking pretty happy here…

I think Mom was saying, "Let's go again next week!"

Final group shot!

Walking back to the cars at the end of a great day!  Thanks for the invite, Mom!

Here are a few action shots…

 Here's one where Mom braked too early, so needed to be pulled in.  :)

 Alan...

 Chris...

and finally, one where Bree filmed herself on the way down...

Post by Brianna Toone.

A New Bishop Toone!

After our wonderful visit to Nauvoo over the 4th of July, we drove back to the St. Louis area on Saturday night, so Nathan could get to his morning meetings.  He had just been sustained the week before as bishop of his ward.  He'd been a counselor to two previous bishops for a couple of years, but it was still a bit of a shock to this 28 year old and his cute little family.

Here he is after church playing (and leading a parade) with the girls…and Brianna!

Curt was released as bishop of the West York, PA Ward just a few weeks later, so it was fun for them to serve together for a month.  We love this sweet family- fun, busy times ahead for them!

Nathan has a brilliant mind, is super organized, loves the Lord and the gospel, is a wonderful husband and father (and son!) and loves to serve.  He will be a great bishop, and will grow a lot!  =)  He's also super humble and will hate that I posted this- but this is my attempt at documenting our family history!

We love you, Bishop (baby boy) Toone!!

Nauvoo for the 4th of July Weekend!

Mom, Brianna and I left on our road trip early Wednesday morning (July 2nd) for Nauvoo, Illinois.  We got there in the evening, just in time to meet Allison and girls at the condo, unload our things, and go take a few pictures.  We were staying just up the road from the beautiful Nauvoo Temple.  The weather was gorgeous- and no humidity.  What a delightful surprise!

     Monument to Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and the view looking west across the Mississippi River

Curt flew into St. Louis that evening….Nathan picked him up after work and they drove the 3 hours north to Nauvoo, arriving after midnight.  We hadn't seen Nathan's family since Thanksgiving, and it was wonderful to spend a few days together.

We were able to do an early morning temple session…

Then we tried to see all the sights we could in the next couple of days.

Katelyn loved the little pioneer village, where we all dressed up for a family photo:

And the adults got into the fun…

Sure love these kids…

                                                 

    We saw a couple of musicals in the Visitor's Center.

We drove the half hour to Carthage, where Joseph and Hyrum were martyred.

Love Brianna's photo-bomb here…

Back in Nauvoo, we took advantage of the wagon rides around town…

 and all the cute senior missionaries coming out to wave...

  Mom and I loved the pageant about the British Saints….our heritage!

A highlight for me was walking the Trail of Hope down to the river at dusk, where a quote from my great-great-great grandmother, Jane Black, is engraved on the last plaque before the river.

 Three generations of Jane Black descendants…well, actually it should be my Dad, but that's okay.  :)

 There is definitely a special spirit in Nauvoo, and I'm so glad we were able to spend time there as a family!  We love our pioneer ancestors!