Where Joseph Smith Lived

October 2, 2012

So this weekend, we decided to go on a little family vacation. Our original plan was to go for one day to Palmyra, NY, where the prophet Joseph Smith lived. Then we were going to go to Niagara Falls the following day and drive the 4 1/2 hours home on Monday. We had our two hotel rooms reserved and were especially excited about the one at Niagara. It was on the Canadian side and we got a fabulous deal and would be pampered immensely. I had never been to Niagara Falls and Sawyer was excited to see the BIG waterfalls. We were all pscyhed! So Friday night we went to get the birth certificates for our boys and our passports. Lance opened my passport and calmly said, "Am, your passport expired last year." I responded with, "No way! Those are good for 10 years!" Well, oddly enough my trip to Europe my senior year was 11 years ago! Go figure! So our trip kind of changed a bit after that. :) 

Luckily, we were able to cancel our lovely hotel reservation after a pathetic yet persuasive phone call to our Canadian hotel and we just shortened our long weekend trip to a weekend trip. 

The trees in northern Pennsylvania and in New York were vibrant!

Lance said that it was the most beautiful drive that he had ever been on. 

I have to agree with him. It was a perfect day!

We stopped in Mansfield, PA for lunch. 

It was a cute little town and lunch was enjoyable.

Then we got back in the car and had such a pleasant drive...

that is until Naples, New York. 

Apparently there was a Grape Festival going on that 

monopolized our only way out of the town.

We sat in traffic for almost an hour! 

This is how we felt when we got to Naples.

But after seeing a lot of this...

We felt more like this!

Luckily, we were finally able to escape 

the grapes and drove on... into this!

I felt like we were driving into a scene from Harry Potter.

But it cleared up in about a half an hour and we

 were able to view one of the fingerlakes. 

The boys were amazing little travelers--

especially considering the Naples delay. 

They even napped on the way there. 

Is it just me or does Sawyer look 

ginormous in his carseat?!

We finally arrived at the temple in Palmyra!

Reuben was excited to sprawl out on the grass!

We love to see the temple!

Especially with two cute little boys in front of it!

They both got to touch the beautiful wall of the Lord's House!

Sawyer

Reuben

 Then we went to the Smith's cabin and wandered into the Sacred Grove 

where Joseph Smith went into the woods as a 14 year-old boy and asked

 God which church was true, so that he could know which one to join. 

It was here, in these sacred woods that Heavenly Father and Jesus 

appeared to this innocent boy and told him that he would be an
 instrument in bringing the true gospel of Christ back to the earth. 

This might sound like quite the extravagant story--

I thought so too when I heard it the first time. 

But after I read the Book of Mormon and prayed
 to see if it was really true, I had it confirmed
in my heart and I have never questioned it since.

It was  such a blessing to be in such a special place
with my beautiful family that I love so much!

However, it was a challenge to make our

 3 year-old realize what a sacred place this was. 

After being in the car for so long, he preferred to walk on logs.

And play in the leaves.

And collect sticks.

After a special and shorter than expected

 (due to a 3 year-old attention span) devotional about the 

prophet in those sacred woods, we headed back to the car. 

And after a cute picture of my boys... 

...we let Sawyer free to run in the field 

outside of the Smith family cabin. 

 Then we ate dinner at a local diner where we met a cute local
couple that loved our boys and headed to our hotel.

The next morning we went to church near our hotel, 

had lunch in Waterloo, NY (and some tasty pumpkin ice cream), 

and then headed to the Peter Whitmer Farm. 

(You can see the reconstructed cabin in the background)

After that, we began the drive home.

Although it was a rainy and cloudy day for the first part 

of the drive, it cleared up toward the end and blessed us 

with some breathtaking views on the way home. 

That night as we put our babies to bed, 

we asked Sawyer what had been his favorite part of the trip.  

He responded with, "Going where Joseph Smith lived." 

9 Months Old!

October 1, 2012

Weight-18.8 lbs (29%)
Length-27 3/4 in (23%)
HC-17 3/4 in (47%)

He's a little peanut!
It's crazy to me because he eats a lot of food!

And he's had a lot more delicious ones this month. 

Unfortunately, I cannot prove this with photo documentation. 

I've gotten a bit lazy. And he doesn't like to wait around for his food 

while I take pictures anymore. Once you put on the bib, it's go time! 

However, I did get a photo of one of the newbies that he loves!!

Chicken and Apples. Yes, it sounds a bit eeeww, 

but don't diss it til you've tried it people. It really isn't bad!

Yes. I try everything I put in his mouth. 

I don't want to talk about the mac and cheese. 

Seriously, I'm gagging here!

 Anyway, Apples and Chicken...

And we tried Puffs.

"Hmmm...what is this?"

"Sure. I'll give it a go..."

"Am I supposed to eat this thing or just play with it?"

"Oh. Ok. Not bad!"

Yes. EVERYTHING goes in his mouth!

But his favorite" chew plan" has always been...

Step 1-Suck on and remove cloth covering.

(AKA sock)

Step 2- Stare at and taunt tantalizing treat.

Step 3- Endulge.

Step 4- Realize you got caught!

Sawyer's not the only one who loves trains around here. 

Reuben loves Diesel.

And what little boy doesn't like Thomas?!

We tried a bottle for the first time this month. 

I gave Lance the bottle and went upstairs. 

However, when I heard it wasn't going well, 

I came back downstairs to get some pictures. 

Even though he didn't drink anything, he sure looked cute!

They all looked cute!

P.S. After trying at every feed for about 5 days,

 I finally got him to drink from the bottle. 

I found if I distracted him with the TV, he would drink.

He's a big talker. We hear a lot of babbling these days--

Dada, Baba, Mum(when he cries) and a lot of happy screeches!

He still army crawls instead of the typical hand and knee crawl.

(I think I'd rather too that too on the hardwood floor)

 

He also starting sitting up by himself this month. 

And this sitting...

... turned into pulling himself up to his knees. 

He would pull up under a chair...

...but then his bum would slide and he'd get stuck. 

Or he'd crawl through his favorite obstacle...

...and get stuck again while trying to get out.

Then he started climbing!

Watch me Momma!

Tada!

He's a crazy little mover who is fearless!

And although he's a small fry, he's still pretty tough!

But he's definitely got a sensitive side. 

And he's a little bit of a drama king!

But he's a really happy boy... 

...who smiles like crazy!

Especially when he's hanging with his big brother.

or relaxing in the tubby.

We love you baby!