Monday, September 28, 2009

New Jersey

We have friends who are in the air force and are currently stationed at Ft. Dix in New Jersey. It was so fun to be able to include them in our trip. Aside from them being kind enough to let us invade their home, they also gave us a relaxing beach day which is exactly what was needed. The kids had a blast playing in the water, but nobody had more fun than these two!










In between Boston and New Jersey, Will turned 5




We decided that although, his birthday fell on one of our driving days that we needed to do something to acknowledge it, so we stopped off in New Haven, Connecticut (scariest stop by far) and ate this little, yucky birthday cake at a park. When we got back home Will wanted to have a family bowling party, and party we did! Happy 5th, little Will.


Gillette Stadium

I know there are many Patriots haters out there, but we are not one of them, and we couldn't possibly drive through Massachusetts without stopping by Gillette Stadium to see where the action takes place.






Come on, Already!

Boston Temple--stunning!



For me being able to visit some new temples was the best part of this road trip. Hopefully, we'll make enough money one day to go to some of the really exotic ones! This temple is stunning, and really very big. We met in the chapel before the session began, and the temple worker greeting us in the chapel was asking us all kinds of questions to which I just sat with a dumb smile of my face through all of them, because I couldn't understand anything he was saying. His was the most extreme Boston accent I heard while there.
Thanks to Pam and Norm for helping out with our kids so we could enjoy this together, and for convincing me that we absolutely could do residency in Boston--I think it would be awesome!


Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Boston!

Of all of our stops, our trip to Boston was hands down, the winner! One of the coolest cities I have ever been too. For those of you who know me well, realize that means almost nothing, because I am not well traveled, so take this with a grain of salt, but it was by far my favorite place on the whole trip.
Unfortunately, I am too lazy to post these pictures in any real order, so jumbled will have to work.


This was possibly the most exciting thing that the boys did the whole vacation. This is us riding the 'T' (Boston Subway). We didn't really need to ride it, but Josh was sure that this would be worth it for the boys and it was! They loved it. I would have loved it had the train not got fuller with each stop, forcing me to stand, holding our TWO strollers, which trust me, no seasoned subway rider appreciates you having on a train, while extra ripe armpits were waved in my face by my fellow, sweaty riders. That's just the kind of mom I am though, I'll take a sweaty pit in the kisser if it means my boys are full of joy.



One of the benches along the "freedom trail". If you have never been to Boston or if you have, but have never walked this trail, be sure to do it. Even with kids, and not having a ton of time to read about each place, it was well worth it. It takes you through some of the coolest places in Boston.

Josh on the one of the Navy ships.

Street performers at Faneuil Hall.


Quincy Market



Bunker Hill Monument. You can climb to the top of that tower, and we did, when I say we, I mean I did while carrying what felt like all 200lbs of Giggies on my back because he was "too sweaty", and then poor Josh did it twice. There are 294 narrow, windy steps that coil to the top. I had headed up with Giggies, and yelled to Josh to join us as we headed in. At about step 250 I heard Josh behind me offering to take Giggies. I replied, "oh no, that's ok, you have Will" Josh's quick response, "no I don't" WHAT?! Neither of us had Will, so down Josh went to find Will. Anyone who knows us and knows Will is not surprised by this story. He was safe and sound at the bottom with a friendly park ranger keeping him company. Some kid's parents!



Me teaching Will the story of Paul Revere. He loved it, and now affectionately refers to him as a hero.

Us in the Boston Common, with part of the city skyline behind us.
We have a ton more pictures that we took while in the city, but too many to blog about. Before visiting there when Josh would bring up the possibility of a move there someday, I was sure the answer was a firm NO. If we had the funds, I would go in a heartbeat. I heart Boston.


Palmyra

It has actually taken a lot longer for me to blog about this trip than it did to do it, but I have had zero motivation to blog, so...without further adieu, I present Palmyra.
Like our previous church history stop (Kirtland) our boys proved to be quite predictable at being total turds on the tours, so any tours we did, were done separately, but I'm still glad we got to see it, nonetheless.
The monument at Hill Cumorah.
Both Josh and I thought it would have been cooler to see the actual hill, instead of this big statue. I suppose it is just easier to picture Joseph digging up the plates that way, but apparently, the church didn't find it necessary to consult us on this matter.
The Grandin Print Shop, where the Book of Mormon was first published. Josh thought this tour was fantastic, until I brought the boys in and ruined it all.

The incredible Palmyra Temple. This temple is stunning, and was by far the highlight of my experience in Palmyra. It was so nice to be able to do a session while we were there.


Doors to the temple. You can't see it well, but all of the doors and windows in this temple are stained glass, resembling the Sacred Grove.



Josh and Turd 1, and Turd 2





Main Street in Palmyra. I fell in love with this little town.

Me at the temple. Sometimes when I type captions like that I feel like I am just being insulting, to you, the reader, as if you couldn't interpret that yourself.


This beauty is what we called home while in Palmyra. I use beauty loosely, although you would never know it by the boy's reaction to all of the trash holes that we stayed in. Josh and I would walk in with noses upturned at whatever funky smell each room emitted, while the boys excitedly ran around screaming, "This room is the best! I love this place! It has a bed, and...OH! a drawer, and...look over there! two hangers!" Foolish children.
Overall, Palmyra was beautiful. The drive through upstate New York has got to be one of the prettiest stretches of land in the whole country. This place comes highly recommended.