Life Is Bliss

Of course it's not always Bliss, but really, I think life is pretty darn great and not because I have a perfect life, because I don't. But I sure have some pretty darn great things in my life. And they are simple things. This morning Aaron and I went for a hike to a beautiful lake. It's been far too long since I have done such a hike, and although it was really hard for me going up 2 miles, the beauty was so breathtaking that it made for some spectacular resting spots. To which I was very thankful.

On top of the beauty, we doubled with our friends the Nielson's. It's always a good time when we are with them. Just the four of us, no kids, enjoying the beauty. And we noticed that people in the mountains are so friendly. They really are so so friendly. Everyone we passed by was happy and kind. I have to admit that I was super impressed with the many small children I saw on the trail. For me, this was no easy hike and those children just kept walking. It was all worth it when we got to the top. Just like it always is, finishing something that is hard.

Silver Lake

And one of my mountain man. Very very tempted to jump in for a swim.

There was so much beauty all around.

Good Times. Good Life. Good Day.

Winding Down

We have had a very full and fun summer. One of the fun things we've done is have a picnic in a different park every Wednesday. Wowzers! we have a lot of great parks near by! The kids have loved this and so have I. We've done everything from just your basic park with a play ground, to ones with a splash park, and even one that had a creek running through it. It's been so fun! Today's park had a great hill so we threw out a slip and slide. Boy oh boy those kids were in heaven! Nathan got hurt twice so his fun ended far too soon today, but Hannah and Grace (her cousin) could have done this all day.

I thought it was so cute that they would hold hands running back up the hill.

Nathan found safer fun on the playground with his buddies. Abigail was perfectly content to watch the kids this time.

Other things as of late have been: Hannah was stung 3 times by wasps, one right after the other. I too got stung twice by them. Aaron went on a killer bee rampage! It was a horrible experience.
Abigail got a new bed and she is happy to have a big girl bed now. (she is doing perfect in it. Yea!)
Nathan is adorable to me lately. I can't get enough of him......especially when he's in a good mood.
(Aaron made this cute bench for the kids and I LOVE it!)

We have a few things left to do before school starts up again. It has been a great summer!

Pioneer Day

First part: Thanksgiving Point pony rides

2nd Part: Family BBQ and games

I think the pioneers would be happy with how we celebrated this day in their honor. Horses, food, family, and games.

A Week to Remember

Back in February Aaron and I booked a week long trip back east. I had never been back there. I had high expectations and I was not disappointed. It was an incredible trip. One I never want to forget. I was so anxious though. Anxious in a nervous kinda way. One, I hate to fly. Two, a whole week without the kids at first sounded heavenly I won't lie. As the time got closer though I was all nerves. "Maybe Aaron and I should fly on separate planes just in case", "how will the grandma's react to tantrums, poopy underwear, or kids who may really struggle being without mom and dad for this long?" Those were just a few of the things I stewed over for weeks. Happy to report, everything went wonderful! Da! the grandma's are mothers. They know how to deal with those things I was so worried about. A huge, HUGE thank you to my mom, mother-in-law, and her friend Tammy. My kids were in perfect hands.

On with the week long events. First stop Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Carlee, my younger sister, and her family live in this beautiful place. With only one more year of dental school left, we were so glad to visit them before they head back this way. I loved the green, the old homes, the trees, the bridges, and old historical buildings. I took my first 'ducky' tour, figuring it was the only way to see enough of the city in such a short amount of time. It is such a beautiful city! We had one and a half days here and in the short amount of time, we went for walks, made smores in their backyard, saw Brett's campus at Pittsburgh University (gorgeous by the way), went for a nature walk, saw my first fire flies, loved on new baby Beckham, played with darling little Hayden, and drove through amazing neighborhoods with some of the most charming homes I've ever seen. I'm so glad I got to see where the Richins have been calling home for the last three years.

Our next part of the trip included all of us traveling up to Niagara Falls together. We drove through beautiful country, saw gorgeous Amish country, stopped at some fun trinket little stores, chatted with an Amish man.....even considered converting to the Amish lifestyle. It is so kind, so peaceful, so simple. What a respect I have for them even though it is quite disrespectful to take pictures of them. I just hope they didn't notice. It was taken in my car driving by.

Niagara Falls was beautiful. We did the Maid of Mists boat tour and the funnest wet jet boat ride I've ever been on! They took us in class 5 rapids (the most wild rapids legally allowed to go in). Seriously worth every penny! So much fun!

The Maid of Mists tour took us right up to the falls. It is a spectacular falls, with beautiful rainbows.

Wet Jet Ride

 Palmyra, New York was my favorite place we visited. All of my life I've wanted to see this place. To visit the place where the church all began. I envisioned everything I've ever learned. Everything that I know to be true that took place in this small town many many years ago. We walked around the Hill Cumorah before the show that evening. This is where Joseph Smith received the golden plates that he translated into the Book of Mormon. It was incredible. 

We had some time before the show that evening so we drove to the Joseph Smith farm and Sacred Grove. What a place.

The scripture that started it all. James 1:5

Below is the room where the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph while his brothers slept. The angel Moroni told Joseph where the plates were buried on the Hill Cumorah. I was so touched by the spirit just thinking of this sacred event.

 We walked over to where Joseph's family moved into later. The home that Joseph was raised in was very very small. This new home was much bigger. I didn't realize that this home was Alvin's, Joseph's oldest brother. He died before he finished it.

The Sacred Grove was just that. Sacred. I hardly expected to go on a vacation to be strengthened spiritually, but I was. I so so was. The feelings. The thoughts I had as I walked in this grove.....it's all so true. I thought of the trees, some of which were there when Joseph had his vision. It was peaceful and calm and an incredible experience to share with Aaron.

After we had our fill of this amazing place, we headed back to our seats for the Hill Cumorah Pageant. This pageant is a cast of 800 volunteers. They come from all over, arrive on July 1st not knowing what part they will play. There is no audition. This is and of itself is astonishing, since it was as professional as anything I've seen and paid top dollar for. The show is all free. The costumes were incredible. The program is stories of the Book of Mormon and ends with Joseph Smith. The cast walked around talking with the audience beforehand. Pretty darn neat.

Me and Susan with Nephi and a nephite warrior.

 Carlee and her family

Lehi and his family crossing the seas to the promised land.

 Alma and the believers at the Waters of Mormon.

 The Savior visiting the Nephites

We fully intend to bring our children back to this someday and maybe even participate in it.

I was so excited for this next part of our trip. We drove from Palmyra to New Jersey where we stayed with my friend Jennie. She was my mission companion. There is a bond that is hard to describe when  you have served and taught about Jesus Christ to a foreign people. This is one friend I am certain I knew before this life. We are kindred spirits. She and her family are special people. Jennie was our guide for the rest of our trip. First stop, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I have been doing some study on our founding fathers so I was so excited to see Philly.

The Liberty Bell

 Congress Hall. There was an incredible reverence in this room.

 John Adams sat at the head of this room. It was so neat to think of him being in this room at one time.

Independence Hall

 The room that the declaration of Independence was signed. I was so overwhelmed in here that I couldn't help the tears from falling. I just knew that the work that went on in this room was divinely inspired.

 The original chair that George Washington sat in as President of the United Sates.

Christ Church where many of the founding fathers worshiped.  This church has not missed a service in more than 300 years.

 George Washington and family's pew.

Other sites included Betsy Ross's home, Benjamin Franklin's grave, narrowest street to show how it was back in the day, and the narrowest row home measuring about 9 feet wide, we think.

 This door reminded Jen and me of one of the places we lived in Belgium.

I will never forget Philly.

New York City was our final stop.

How can one possibly appreciate New York City in a single day? Well, I'm sure you can't, but that's all we had. We saw the 911 memorial, which was touching but they are still working on a complete memorial which I hope will do those who died better justice. It was incredible to see the gaping hole where the twin towers once stood. Still is so unbelievable that that terrible day occurred.

We drove around the first part of the day and saw the financial district, statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Wall Street, the building where George Washington was sworn in as President, the LDS temple, radio city, a glimpse of central park, China Town, Rockefeller plaza, and Time Square. I can't believe I didn't take more pictures here. In all honesty, I didn't love New York City. Maybe it was because we saw everything so fast, or maybe it's because it was our last day and I was really tired. It was loud, dirty, stinky, and kinda depressing.I can imagine that if one lives there and gets to know it, one could really love it, but by the end of the day I was so grateful to live in my sheltered Lehi, Utah. The absolute highlight of the city was seeing Wicked on Broadway. We almost missed it. Susan got the tickets for us and we thought we had a couple hours to rest in our hotel before the show. Twenty minutes before it started she realized she was wrong and that we could very well be late. The show was about a mile from where we were and it was rush hour traffic. We ran. With about 5 minutes to spare, we made it. It was amazing! I have been singing it's songs ever since I saw it. I absolutely loved it.

Just like in the Wizard of Oz and Wicked, there really is "no place like home". We were so ready. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful trip. When we pulled into the drive way Abigail came running to us yelling, "mommy, mommy I missed you too". All the kids gave us death grip hugs. And the sweetest sight of all was to see this:

We really missed our munchkins!