Trip to upstate NY with visiting Family!!

So, I was so lucky to have My mom and 2 nieces (Lindsay and Kaitlyn) fly back to Ohio with me from our summer visit to Utah! We packed as much into a week that we could think of.

Of course we had to take Grandma to COSI -- our childrens science museum -- one day (the boys loved showing her and their cousins around).

And we went to the Zoo -- that now has rides (very cool - except they had to stop the ride for Jake since he was crying...Why does he keep asking to go on them? It's beyond me.)

We swam a lot and played at our neighborhood park! the weather was great!

But, our big adventure was driving to Niagra Falls and Palmyra for the Hill Cumorah Pagent. Here are some fun pictures to see from the BIG WATER.... Oh, and how could I forget that we were able to meet up with my cousins that were staying in PA for the summer. My mom's sister (Aunt Penny and Uncle Gorden) flew out to visit them, and we all met in NY for a few days of fun. It was great for all of us to be there together.

LEFT: My family with Aunt Penny and Uncle Gordon RIGHT: My two cute boys who are a little unsure if they want the boat to get much closer!

On the "Maid of the Mist" we get to go right up next to the falls -- here you can see a very pretty rainbow in the water. We looked a little drenched, because we were!! It was very cool though.

So our family decided to take the tour to ALL the sites... so we got to see that the falls have erroded the land for 7 miles since the first waterpower plant, we went on the boat ride up to the falls, we watched an IMAX movie and we got to walk up to this fall pictured below. You can see the path led upto right underneath the falls. The pictures are all from a distance, because once we got closer -- it was way tooo wet!! My mom bought a waterproof camera, I need to get some of those up close and personal pictures.

Then we went to Denny's with the big group (from southern Utah, northern Utah, PA and OH) for dinner, swam in the motel pool and got some rest! The next day was an hour drive to Palmyra.. What a neat place. I've been there before, but it just seems to be more impressive each time.

Me and My mom -- We sure love her! thanks for coming and visiting as much as you do. I LOVE IT!! (this photo is from Jake -- he was begging every 5 minutes to take a picture. Not bad eh?)

We got to see everything from the Joseph Smith Home to the printing press to the David Whitmer farm. It was all fantastic. Here we are learning about Joseph Smith's childhood, and Jake is taking a little snooze. I have to give my kids props -- they really are the greatest travelers in the world!

Surprisingly, the kids were all great!

The big group of us in Palmyra

Back row L2R: Mom, Penny, Vanessa, Me and Luke

Front row L2R: Tammy and Vincent, Kaitlyn, Lindsay, Archie, Gorden Bre, Bo, Jake (not pictured is Ness's little girl Bella)

(My cousin Addie is serving a mission in Palmyra and we got to see her at the Printing Press. That was great. She is doing such a great job and actually was asked to train all the new volunteers for the pagent week tours since she is so good in front of people! What a spirit about her and the whole place.)

Pictures in the Sacred Grove.

We had a great day touring and a perfect night at the pagent. Here is a fun picture of 4 friends that all were able to get together for the pagent! When Vanessa B. and I worked at the ranch together, Vanessa Casebolt (now Hansen pictured next to me) was also there -- she worked out there 3 summers in total and is from Kanab Utah. Through Blogging, Vanessa B. and I refreshed our friendship with Jamie Wilson (now Mitchell). Vanessa Hansen and Jamie are really good friends in NY and it was so fun to have all four of us together. What a small world!! Jamie takes pictures and is AMAZINGLY talented! check out her blog if you haven't already. Vanessa was so kind to let us camp at her house that night! It was so fun to see her cute kids and get caught up!