Boston/New York Trip 2012 (Part 1)

Kevin and I decided this year that we needed to take a family vacation. We decided to head back east again because 1- Kevin’s Aunt Roseanne and Uncle Kenny live there, so we had a place to stay, and 2-we still haven’t seen a fraction of what there is to see. Our last trip out there, we didn’t plan very well so, while we did get to see and do some fun stuff, we probably could have done more if we had planned better.

This time we definitely planned better. We even rented a car so we weren’t a “transportation-al” burden on Kevin’s family and we could come and go as we pleased. It was actually our first time renting a car, but I think from now on it’ll pretty much be a staple for all of our long-distance traveling.

Our rental- it was perfect for us!

Palmyra, NY

Roseanne and Kenny live in Wrentham, MA which is located in the southeastern edge of the state. In fact, it’s pretty much as close as you can get to Rhode Island without actually being in Rhode Island. The first thing on our list of things to do was to drive to Palmyra, NY, see the sights there, then drive to Buffalo, stay the night in a hotel, then spend a day at Niagara Falls.

The drive from Wrentham to Palmyra is kind of a long one (6-6 1/2 hours, depending on traffic) and although our little Abi is only three, and she doesn’t like to sit in the car for very long, she did great and either slept or kept herself busy with games and movies. The occasional stop for gas and food helped as well. I was really grateful that we didn’t have an unhappy preschooler the whole drive out.

Our first stop was Hill Cumorah.

The trail up to the top of Hill Cumorah

Hill Cumorah Monument

View from the top

Next, we visited the Palmyra, NY Temple. I can remember going to this temple’s dedication when I was in High School and how significant it was for the Church’s history, so to actually be there and walk around the temple grounds was really cool.

After that, we went to the Joseph Smith family farm and the Sacred Grove.

Smith log house

Anyone home?

Smith frame house

The temple peeking out through the trees.

 I had heard that the Sacred Grove was really quiet and that you could feel the Spirit really strong inside, but I think it’s something that has to be experienced first-hand to truly understand. There are lots of trails to walk and places you can sit and just ponder things in the quiet shade of the trees. Also, I know I saw people walk inside the Grove before us, but the entire time we were inside, I never saw or heard anyone else, making it that much more peaceful and intimate for our family.

Abi got a little tired from all the walking

So beautiful!

Next we drove into the town of Palmyra (cutest little town ever!) and saw where the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon were printed.

E.B. Grandin's bookstore

First edition copy of the Book of Mormon

Printing Room

The floorboards in here are all original. Even the original ink stains are still there!

Another first edition copy of the Book of Mormon

 

 Niagara Falls, NY

Then we headed over to Buffalo (another hour drive), checked into our hotel, and then drove to Niagara Falls, so we could see what the falls look like at night (at the suggestion of Uncle Kenny). It was pretty cool.

At night, they shine changing colored lights on the falls to give it a rainbow-y look

 We spent the majority of the next day walking around Niagara Falls. Of course I’ve heard of Niagara Falls, but I didn’t really know anything about it. It’s really massive. The amount of water that comes off the falls is extraordinary and it’s so beautiful. There are a couple of things you can pay to do to see the falls a little closer, (ride the Maid of the Mist ferry, or walk down through the Cave of the Winds) but since Abi was with us (and being that close to the roaring water might be a little scary), we decided to just see what we could see from the viewing points, which was plenty.

Check out how much water flows over the falls every second.  Incredible!

These trips take a lot of walking.  There were a couple of times I wished I could take a nap in the stroller.

Like I said, I didn’t know anything about Niagara Falls before going, so when we arrived, it wasn’t exactly what I expected, meaning, I think I expected to see what I’m used to seeing at National Parks in Utah(Niagara Falls is a State Park, I know, but I can still make the comparison). I expected the main attraction being the natural wonder-whatever it might be- with some roads and trails to get around; maybe some areas to camp and a visitor’s center/gift shop or two. Not quite the case at Niagara Falls. There is this magnificent natural phenomenon surrounded by casinos and tacky attractions for tourists.  Anyway, although it wasn’t as I imagined, it was still beautiful and we had a great time.

Look Ma', I'm Reading!

I've been reading a lot this summer and I have finally posted a review of one of the books I have read.

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

You can read my book review here.

Westfest 5K

So, I'm a horrible blogger. Let's just leave it at that. I have no excuses.

This spring I started running.  I decided that one of my goals for the summer would be to run a 5K.

So, just a little background info on me: I don't run, or rather, I didn't run. Not for fun, and most begrudgingly when I was required to do it for PE.  I can remember running the timed mile in PE and never broke thirteen minutes.  The instant I started running, I would get a stitch in my side and had to walk.  Running sucked to me and I could never imagine why anyone would want to do it for fun.

That being said, I've learned a thing or two about myself, my body and really fitness in general since my "wonder years" and decided to try something out of the ordinary (for me, at least) and running was that something.

I was perusing through Pinterest when one post caught my eye.

I saw this and knew I could accomplish it since it's broken down in easily-doable increments of running.

I started the following Monday keeping to the calendar, but felt like it was a little too easy.  This was encouraging, telling me that I maybe wasn't a total couch potato.  I decided one day to just run for as long as I could, just to sort of see where I was.  I jogged for 15 full minutes, before I slowed to a walk and even then felt like I could go even further.  The next time, I decided to really push myself to the point where I had to walk.  I think that time I got to about 20 min.  Looking at my schedule, I was feeling pretty good.  A 20 minutes jog wasn't until week 8 and I had just finished week 2.  From there I just kept adding on the minutes, then eventually switched to miles...

... which brings us to the end of June and I decided I wanted to race.  I checked online to see if there were any upcoming races.  I found the Westfest Family Classic 5K was that weekend, so my little sister Sarah and I registered.  

I had a blast.

I had a goal to finish the race in 33 minutes. The weather was hot and my ankle was a little sore, but I ran the whole thing, even sprinted at the end.  Sarah was nice enough to keep a steady pace by my side, even though I'm sure she could have taken off and finished way before me.

When the race was over and we found out what are standings were, I was thrilled.  We finished the race in 33 min 56 seconds.

Sarah placed 13th in her age group and I placed 10th.  Overall we place 167th and 168th (out of 351 racers).  And that ain't bad.

Sarah and I sprinting across the finish line

We're sort of covered up in this picture, but #412 in the orange shirt cracks me up.  He looks like he just saw a ghost!

Look who came to meet me at the finish line!

Lesson I learned from this experience: I can do anything I set my mind to.  I can set goals and reach them.  I can be an athlete if I want to be...

..and I have the pit-stains to prove it!

Abi Goes to the Dentist

Last month, Abi went to her first dental appointment.  Well, I can't actually say her "first" because technically she went once last year, but she fell asleep and wouldn't even sit in the chair, let alone allow the dentist look at her teeth. So, we'll call this visit her first.

I decided to get her excited about it the whole week before so it didn't seem scary.  We talked about what would happen and I tried to make sound as fun as possible.  When the day came to go, she was excited.

I decided to get my teeth cleaned first and have her watch, so she would know that everything would be okay. Then it was her turn.

She was so good and I was so proud!  She liked the hygienist and let her clean her teeth, no problem.  The dentist she was a little leery of and she wouldn't open her mouth very wide so he could count her teeth, but she didn't scream or cry, so that was good. 

Abi is turning into such a big girl and we love her so much!

April 2012

Here's what happened in April.

Easter

Saturday at the Schmidt's house.

Sporting new dresses Grandma Schmidt made.

Easter Egg Hunt

Blowing bubbles

Eating Candy

Coloring Eggs

Sunday at the Armitstead's house.

Coloring more eggs

Blowing more bubbles

Finding more eggs

Abi's 3rd Birthday

We had the whole family over once again for Abi's birthday, probably more for Kevin and I than for Abi.  We had dinner, opened presents, sang Happy Birthday, had cake and ice cream and chatted till it was time to go home.   I had a great time and when Abi wasn't scream fighting with her cousins, I think she had a good time as well.

I really can't believe that she's three already.  Where the heck does the time go?

Long Time, No Blog

Woah, I didn't realize how long it had really been.  Well, let's see if we can play a little "catch-up."

December

We, along with Kevin's parents and siblings and their families, planned a trip to Temple Square to see the lights.  Of course we had lots of fun.

 

Then, we had Christmas complete with good food, family and presents.  We even got to talk to uncle Justin who is serving a mission in Washington.

January

New Years was sort of uneventful this year.  Kevin had to work and Abi went to bed early.  That left just me and whatever happened to be on TV to ring in the new year.  I didn't take any pictures.

Also, Kevin started back in to school in January studying diesel systems technology at Salt Lake Community College.

 February

 Not much new happened this month (or that I can remember at this point anyway), except that Abi decorated her bedroom window for Valentines Day.

March

Abi is officially potty trained!!

We decided to just dive right in head first to wearing underwear after trying pull-ups for a while and not getting anywhere.  She only had to have one accident to decided going in the potty was way better than going in your pants.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

On a more somber note, Kevin's grandma Armitstead (Darlene) passed away March 24, 2012 at age 82.  She had been struggling with severe memory loss and declining health for the past few years.  I am grateful that I had the opportunity to get to know her, even if it was only a few short years.  She was always very kind to me and liked when I came with Kevin to visit.  She also used to call me Suzie-Q, though I'm not sure why.

Abi didn't know her very well, only that she was great-grandma and that we would go to her house sometimes.  We had a sweet experience the day before she passed.  The nurse who came to take care of her told the family that she was declining and that she would probably go in the next few days.  When we went to see her, she was lying in her bed, rail-thin and struggling to stay alive. We touched her hand and talked to her a little bit, then finally said goodnight.  Then Abi said, "She's like Sleeping Beauty." It was really sweet.  We had to explain to her that great-grandma's body wasn't working anymore and soon she was going to go and live with Heavenly Father and Jesus.  She seemed content with the idea and talked about great-grandma going to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus for the next few days.  It turned out to be a good teaching opportunity for Kevin and I as well.

How grateful I am for the knowledge of God's Plan of Happiness and that we will be with those we love even after we die.  We love you Grandma and will see you again.

 

 Darlene N. Armitstead

And that about brings us up to date.

Upcoming Events:

-Easter

-Abi's Birthday

Watch for posts on the above and I promise I'll be more diligent in posting... maybe.