Road Trip Gone Amazingly Well!

 Very last minute we decided to take a road trip to upstate New York. Going to the Hill Cumorah Pageant was at the top of the Bucket list for us and our time was coming to an end. For some reason it wasn't until just a week or so ago that I realized that it was either now or never. I chalked it up to being too late in the game to plan a trip like this and didn't think much of it... Until Thursday night. The opening night of the pageant was Friday night. Ethan and I were talking and decided that we would try and leave that next day and make it to Palmyra. So I started preparing that morning still not knowing if it would all work out (Ethan had to go into work but thought that maybe he could get off pretty early that day and leave), which to be honest I didn't think it would. The chance of him getting off that early were slim.

I got a call at about 10am. Ethan said it was a go and that he could be home by about noon to leave. I was elated! I had wanted to do this so bad and it was finally working out. 

So i ran around the house like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get everything thing ready for this overnight trip.

We left at a decent time and actually made it for the Friday night show, just barley. He thought we might have to catch the Saturday show since we did have a 5 plus hour drive ahead of us.

The kids were great in the car and all ran very smoothly. I call it the Miracle trip!

I never could have imagined things going that well!

It really was perfect.

Off to a good start = plenty of good snacks!

I'm always trying to capture the beauty of this part of the country.

Just waiting.

It was an amazing production! The set is huge and the cast is amazing, the spirit testified to me yet again that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is a book that not only has stories of old, but has the answers to how God wants us to live our lives. I felt so blessed to be there that night and partake of the amazing spirit!

The Girls each got five bucks (I think thats what it was) to spend when we got there IF they were good in the car. Each time they would fight or complain they got a dollar taken away and you know what? They didn't get a single dollar taken away, I was amazed because we did not go light on them!
So they decided to go with ice-cream sandwiches.

After the pageant we found a hotel (after alot of looking since everyone and there dog had already booked months and months ago) and got some rest. Then took advantage of the pool the next morning.

Trey stayed on the step the entire time.

We ended up that afternoon going to the Corning Glass Museum, which was very interesting to see how glass is made, along with alot of other really cool glass things!

They each got a big marble.

The Glass museum also ended up being a great hit!

We chose a random new York Pizza place to eat on the way out of town and it was delicious! We all loved it. It really was terrific pizza!
I felt so grateful that all everything fell into place for the trip. I hope to never forget what a good time our family had and how much fun it was just being with each other.

This was also an amazingly beautiful drive, from what I could see when it was light. Like I have said a million times I love the beauty that is here!

I Am a Child Of God

I have never put a video on the blog before. Hope this works. Trey is Really Really into music and singing these days, "child of God" and "temple" are his favorites!

PA Blueberry Picking

If I could move  Pennsylvania to Texas I would!!  This picture does not do it justice but this pretty much was what we got to enjoy the 45 minutes it took us to get to the blubbery farm. In fact the drive it's self is all worth it even if we did nothing else. I have decided that I'm with Heather "I am addicted to Pennsylvania". She said this to me over a year ago and I laughed and laughed, then said to myself, ya that place is addicting!
So yes I am in LOVE with PA, if only I could take it to Texas...

I LOVE picking fresh fruit! I seriously can't get enough of it. For the first time ever I live in a place where there is TONS and TONS of picking options. We went blueberry picking with our friends and had such a good time. The

This little girl picked a TON of blueberries, I love having her around, she is such an awesome help!

Where are her glasses?

We may have eaten as much as we picked, can't get enough of these fresh blueberries. If you don't like blueberries, I'm willing to bet money (if I did that of course) that you would think twice about a FRESH blueberry!

Liz was great company as usual!

These girls could play together 24-7. They love each other and for the most part they get along really well!

Addy is Five

I like to make a big deal out of birthdays. That is not to say that I am fancy. I always have these dreams of doing fancy, cute, creative, all-the-thousands-of-things-you-see-online-kind-of-things, but I never can seem to make it to that level. So now that I have been a mother for over 6 years now I am becoming okay with the idea of NOT being fancy, but just having good-ole simple fun. So that is what we did today. It was just the 4 of us (till Dad got home) and we had a great time together. Most importantly Addyson June had fun and that's what I was going for!

We started off the day with a breakfast run to Chick-fil-A. We have never done this, and it was perfect. We were the only ones playing in the play area, and the chicken biscuits were delicious!

Addy really liked her breakfast!

I let Addy pic out a new game as part of her birthday gift. She picked out perfection, which is the fun game that you have to beat the timer before all the shapes come popping out. Both her and Brynlee got some good laughs out of this game!

We made donuts. Her first pic would have been to make a Dutch Market run , but it was closed. The 2nd best thing was to make some. It was pretty easy (besides having to get the oil at JUST the right temperature) and they tasted wonderful. I will defiantly try them again.

We were apparently not going quick enough getting to the gift opening.

I really can't believe there are FIVE candles on that cake.

She got sunglasses from Mema and Pepa and ended up having them on most of the rest of the night.

I laugh every time I see this picture. She is holding the 2 quarters that our sweet neighbor, Bunny, gave her along with a few other things. But man oh man she was pleased as punch to have fifty cents and wanted to make sure it made it into the pictures. I wish I could put into words how funny this girls personality is. I love her to pieces!

Since Brynlee insisted on having her doll to go along with the new doll that Addy just got for her birthday then Trey insisted to also have his own doll as well! This picture reminds me SO SO much for pictures of Erica, me and Jeremy. Similar age distance and everything! I sure wish I could remember more of those good-ole-days.

I still need to get some good five year old photos of Addy. And her pool party is coming soon.
Five things about our Addyson June. Most of the time she is easy going.
1. She is cool as a cucumber most of the time. And very agreeable.
2. She still has the cutest most contagious giggle ever!!
3. Growing out the "I have to touch EVERTHING stage" has still not happened. But this is Addy, she puts everything in her mouth and touches everything, she literally and I mean literally can't help herself!
4. Gives me kisses several times a day.
5. She Loves to sing and has such a pretty voice.
Addy always keeps us on our toes and we LOVE having her around.

A Capitol Fourth

We spent 4th of July in DC this year. Our first and last time to do this!
It was defiantly worth doing once...
(To go back we started the morning with a flag ceremony/pancakes breakfast at the church, that was nice our ward does this each year). So this how it all went.

After driving an hour to the train station, it started with a train (METRO) ride. We went along with our good friends the Christensens.  Our daughters adore their daughter Ellie. They were on cloud nine that ride!

As with EVERYTHING Trey was scared at first to get on the train (he LOVES trains BTW) but soon found that it was fin and exciting!

Bryt, Liz and the cute Kate! It was so enjoyable to be with this good family.

I only had my iPhone so pictures are not great, but I do love the buildings in DC all have such beautiful structure.

No rain (we could only wish for that), just shade to keep us alive. It was major hot and HUMID (as this area always is). That made for a harder day, but we still had lots of fun!

Trey seems to be put in the stroller for 80% of his life, but yes this is a total must! He did a great job, I must say- no nap and didn't get to sleep (and that was in the car) till about midnight!

Kate and Trey. Good buddies those two (that is when Trey is not beating up on the poor girl).

Our brand new shade umbrella had to be sacrificed to enter the festivities (concert). It really was sad. Too many dumb rules these days, but oh well.

We had a long time to wait, but had shade which made the world of a difference.

Liz and I took the big girls to the Museum of Natural History while we waited. On the way there was a fire truck with a mist fan contraption. It was a great way to cool off, the girls loved it.

I like being with these two girls, like ALOT!!!

I was fascinated by the art in the museum, I think I would like to learn a bit more about art, I never thought it was my thing till recently. On the long  list of things to one day do!

The best part was that I was with him all day. We really did enjoy each other!

I was glad I thought make a dollar tree run for glow sticks before we headed out of town. 

The capital is such an amazing building, I wish I could have gotten an even better picture.

The girls found some really nice ladies that danced the night away with them! I was so so fun to watch them.

We had an interesting view of the fireworks. They were amazing. It was like the grand-finally the whole time, that was awesome! I do wish we had of been a little closer, but still beautiful.