Garrett and I spent 6 days in New York on a fabulous and somewhat spontaneous vacation. While Garrett had to work I got to play and relax in a little farmhouse near Ithaca, New York. It was cold outside but toasty warm inside from the wood-burning stove. The house we stayed in was built by a Quaker family in 1817 so it was living history to be there. But my favorite part of our trip was the day we spent touring the historical sites of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in and around Palmyra, New York. It was cold but since it was off-season we got long and personalized tours. Enjoy the photos!

This is the 1817 farmhouse we stayed in near Ithaca, NY 

The view from my window in the farmhouse 

 The Peter Whitmer log home where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized on April 6th, 1830

 This is what the inside of the Peter Whitmer home may have looked like. It is decorated with furniture from the time.

 A view of the Hill Cumorah from our car.

The Hill Cumorah Visitor's Center is great!

Reconstructed fence on the Joseph Smith Sr. farm in Palmyra

Upstairs room of the reconstructed log home of Joseph Smith Sr. and family where the Angel Moroni visited Joseph Smith Jr

These are the original bricks of one of the fireplaces in the frame home of the Joseph Smith Sr. family. Joseph Smith made a small hole under these bricks to conceal a box containing the gold plates. 

Lucy Mack Smith's kitchen in the frame home. Much of the construction of the frame home is original. 

 This is what the Sacred Grove looks like in the winter. Very peaceful but very cold and this is as close as I got before my little toes froze and we had to head back to the Visitor's Center.

 View of the frame home of the Joseph Smith Sr. family.

 The Grandin Print Shop where the first 5000 copies of the Book of Mormon were printed

 Much of the original print shop has been preserved.

 I think this a reconstruction of Isaac Hale's home kitchen (Emma Smith's father) where Emma served as Joseph's first scribe during the translation of the Book of Mormon from the gold plates.

Copy of the manuscript of the Book of Mormon translation 

A copy of some of the characters from the gold plates 

Here we are in a room that has been preserved from the original print shop. There are ink stains and splatters all over the wall behind us. 

 We spent the last day and a half of our trip in New York City. Here we are at the site of the World Trade Centers. 

 One of the new buildings they have constructed on the World Trade Center site.

A view of the skyline of New York City at sunset that I took from our plane on a runway at the LaGuardia Airport

Another Happy New Year!

We had a wonderful December--here are some highlights:

Packing up and getting ready to move (see the boxes behind Garrett?)

At least someone is enjoying the move!

This is Pecia, one of the dogs we looked after

At the ward Christmas party. My brother Daniel is helping to fix the train track while Alora watches with great interest.

We finally got to meet Jenni, my brother Jared's girlfriend

The theme for the Christmas party was "The Polar Express". You can see the conductor giving instructions .

Snuggling with Uncle Daniel

Starting to get tired

Saying hi to Santa

Alora loved this little seat at her Grandma's and the pretend food. She sat in it quite a bit.

Trying out our Christmas pajamas from Mrs. Claus

I liked Garrett's pajamas a lot so we switched for a while.

Christmas morning. Maggie is right in the middle of things.

Getting some help from Grandma

Grandma and Granddad sure spoiled all of us!

Opening presents with Uncle Daniel

Singing Happy Birthday to Opa

Going to the Mesa temple grounds to see the lights

Alora loved naming the animals in this display

Alora loved the lights

Dad and Alora putting one of her Christmas presents together

What pretty rings!

A special hat that she just had to try on when she saw it

Hoping everyone had a Merry Christmas (and Happy Holidays).

 



Jared is Home and the Canda Visit

Alora and I spent about 4 weeks in Canada. My brother Jared came home from his mission and we met him at the airport. We also had a few other fun outings.

Alora met my Grandma for the first time

Alora met her Uncle Jared for the first time

We were all so happy to see him!

Alora loves her Uncle Jared!

Playing b-ball with the California cousins

Happy Canada Day!

At the Stampede with Opa. We saw a lot of miniature horses.

This was Alora's favorite horse at the Stampede.

Opa rode a horse with Alora too.

French Fries are so good!

Making perogies with the Real Oma

Jared and Daniel got a little too much sun on their Scout Sea Kayaking trip but they're still handsome as ever!

Four Generations! My grandma, my mom, me, and Alora

At the football game--the evening of the day Jared got back. A true sports fan!

I made this sign when I was little and trying to sell snow cones on my street

So glad Uncle John, Aunt Jan, and some of our cousins could come for Jared's homecoming. This picture was taken outside the Calgary temple

Eating Uncle Daniel's chicken fingers

Such a nice uncle to share his cereal!