On to Palmyra, New York. Another very important spot in LDS history. Joseph Smith Jr. saw God and Jesus Christ in this little town in a spot we now refer to as the “sacred grove”. For more of the story of Joseph Smith visit here. This was a very special visit for us. We felt the Spirit of God as we toured the different sites and had it confirmed to us once again that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet of God just like Moses and Abraham. God spoke to him and revealed important truth that had been lost after the Savior’s twelve apostles were killed. Things such as the purpose in life and what happens after we die. The eternal nature of families and how God and Jesus Christ are two separate people and they are still very much involved in our lives just as they were in ancient days when they instructed prophets back in the old testament.
My kids are seriously the cutest! I think the Temple spirit impacted them because Hallie kissed Kyle and he let her!
The Palmyra temple
After walking the grounds of the Temple we went and took a tour of the smith family farm.
Where Joseph would have slept when Angel Moroni appeared to him.
Alvin was building this home for his bride. After he died the Smith family decided to finish it and move in. It is just up the lane from their old house. It was so much bigger and nicer. I am sure the Smiths were so happy to move in.
The Sacred Grove:
The Sacred Grove. It was so amazing to be there and feel the spirit. I even started singing "Joseph Smith's first prayer" and I am NOT a singer. lolAgain the spirit impacted my kids and they held hands while walking for a bit.
The Hill Cumorah:
Hallie got a new hat.Can you get more studly than that?!View from the top of Hill Cumorah.Hill Cumorah memorial.I think this looks like a good place where Joseph could have found the plates. 🙂
Fayette, New York:
Peter Whitmer Sr. home where the church was organized on April 6, 1830
The room where the church was organized.
Visitors' center at the Whitmer farm. I love visitors' centers. 🙂
Not pictured is the printing press office that we went to in down down Palmyra. I loved the tour and learning about how everything fell into place for the Book of Mormon to be printed there. (All the pictures are on Ben’s phone and who knows how long it will be until I get them uploaded.)
Next we went to Sharon, Vermont. The birth place of Joseph Smith Jr. The LDS church has a beautiful visitors’ center and memorial there.
This shows how big the original house of the Smith family was. I can't imagine so many people in such a tiny house. Life is so different now.An original stone from the foundation.Another original stone from the Smith home.
After spending time at the visitors’ center we stuffed ourselves silly at a cheese factory. Oh it was glorious.
We went around and around at the sample table.The kids loved the cheese popcorn. I love Hallie's face in this picture like she got caught.Next we visited a maple store. We got cider that was amazing and cider donuts that were equally good.Typical site in the RV. Everyone on an electronic device.
We were able to camp at some beautiful camping spots. Here are on camping next to Lake Erie.
Beautiful sunset that the picture can't do justice.Love my man!Love my little stud!Love my little dancer.
Next up was Maine and New Hampshire. In Maine Ben and Papa ate Lobster rolls and the girls went shopping.
New Hampshire: Ben’s friend Clint lives in New Hampshire and has a business selling Solawrap and Geo-domes. They are amazing. One day I would love to have a garden in a geo-dome. Â We had a great time visiting with the Ellsworth family. Thanks for hosting us Clint and Britt. Here is the website:Â www.harvestpathway.com/
Next up on our agenda was a visit in Plymouth and Boston, Massachusetts. But first some stops in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Both beautiful states!
Connecticut:
Rhode Island:
Plymouth, Massachusetts: One of my very favorite stops! I would love to live there one day. It was fabulous.
Plymouth rock.
Boston, Massachusetts: Another one of my favorite stops. I would love to visit Boston again when we have more time to explore. It was a beautiful city.
I LOVED walking through this old part of Italian boston.We tried to go to Paul Revere's house but it closed right as we got there. So disappointing!
Authentic Italian Pizza
The Boston Massacre. They have changed that building into a subway station. You walk in and go down to the subway. It was crazy and completely unexpected.
I can’t wait to go back to Plymouth and Boston. 🙂
The first stop on our trip was NYC. I was the only one who had been there before out of all 6 of us. I was excited to show everyone the NYC that I loved and everyone else was excited to finally see the famous city. Â We stayed in a RV park just outside the city in New Jersey. We got there late and Ben wanted to go in that night. We left the kids with my parents and headed in. It was a fabulous date night. We walked a ton, hit up time square and ate ice cream.
Ben's first time in Times Square
Empire State Building
Just chillin'Ben instantly thought of his Grandpa Crane when he saw this licensee plate display. We need to send this picture to him.
The next morning we all rode the train in. We got off at the World Trade Center Memorial. It was raining and misty so we couldn’t see much.
Next we walked and walked and walked.We finally found somewhere to eat and filled up our bellies. Kyle couldn't resist Nana's sandwich. Both kids couldn't resist Papa's chocolate chip muffin. Really all they wanted was the chocolate chips and poor Papa was left with a plain muffin.We finally found a bus stop and hopped on. We were exhausted and Papa can fall asleep anywhere.Being the awesome Firefighter that he is Papa had to stop and take a picture by a NYC fire station.Hallie with a smile in all the rain.Next we went to the M&M factory. Hallie has happy with her purchase of a variety of colored M&M's.Papa got his true color tested and it was....PINK. lol We all had a good laugh at that one.Kyle chose blue and green M&M's.Wet Times SquareMeeting Elmo.The kids got to ride the ferris wheel in the toy store.Cake boss now has a times square store! I love this show and the sweets. YUM!The lobster tail was fabulous!Ky was tuckered out. Too bad he fell asleep while the rest of us were eating treats! He missed out poor guy.Time to go back to New Jersey. Kyle thought he was a cool dude on the train.Hallie and Papa were pretty inseparable.
Day #2 in NYC
The next day we rode in and went to the top of the Empire State building. It was on my list because it was something I had never done during my other NYC trips. I was a bit disappointed with the amount of people up there. It was so crowded I couldn't enjoy it. Hallie was captain grumpy pants. I think she was scared being up so high so she showed it with attitude.Trying a NYC hot dog and pretzel from a vendor.It didn't rain the second day in NY (Thank heavens!) and we were able to actually see the city from the top of the bus. In my opinion it is the best way to see everything. World Trade CenterMy cute parents at the Stardust DinerI am so grateful I got to meet up with my good friend and old roommate Lindsie. She moved to NYC awhile ago and made time in her busy day to come meet up for a bit. Love her!I love the Stardust Diner. Your waiters and waitresses are broadway hopefuls and they perform while you eat. It is fabulous.At the end of the day my parents took the tired kids back to the RV and Ben and I ventured into Central park.People watching in Central Park with my best friend. So much fun!
The next morning on our way out of town we HAD to stop off in Hoboken, New Jersey and visit the original Cake Boss bakery.
Next stop….more states and a visit in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Our epic trip this year consisted of traveling in a motorhome and visiting every state in the north east. My parents came with us and we had a great time making lots of memories.
This is the baby we drove around for two weeks. It was good to us until it got hot enough to need the air conditioner at which point we discovered it did not work! We only had two days left of the trip by then and so we toughed it out during the day and at night the company paid for a hotel (with a swimming pool I might add).
Ben’s elders quorum decided to do a skeet shoot in May and we wanted to tag along and make a camping trip out of it. A few families from church went with us and we had a blast. We couldn’t have asked for better friends to camp with.
I have NEVER seen Hallie so patient in her whole life. She waited a good 20 minutes or more for these marshmallows to be perfect.
Making breakfastMy first time shooting a gun. I loved it!!!The little man was exhausted! He ended up falling asleep on me which never happens!
A month or so ago Ben and I were able to take a trip without the kids to Williamsburg, Virginia. (Thanks to our wonderful friends for watching our kids!) We have a nice set up in Williamsburg where we listen to a time share pitch say no and get everything for free plus a $100 gift card. We think it works out nicely. lol We were able to relax, sleep in, go swimming, watch T.V., and visit Jamestown which is just a few miles away. We had a fabulous 2 days!
Jamestown is where the story of Pocahontas takes place. It was so fun to explore history. One of our favorite things to do in fact.
Small sleeping quarters for even the captain.
How the Indians build boats-burn a log until hollow. Before:After:
What separated the Indians and the English.Indian homes
Our church did a family pinewood derby this year and the kids were happy to participate. I bought already made cars where you paint them then screw on the wheels and voila you have a pinewood derby car. Only one car per family was allowed to race so we had planned to race Hallie and Kyle’s against each other. However, on the day of the race Ky’s car got lost so Hallie’s car was the lucky one. When we got to the church each family had to name their car. Hallie named our car “Hallie”. Original I know! We lost every race and Hallie was really disappointed but after Ben’s explanation that her car was more of a fighter car (it was a hummer) rather than a racer she seemed pacified. Every family got an award. Our award: “The fastest looking car”. lol Pretty sure the awards were given out randomly but still the kids were happy.
Ben and I had the chance to visit Thomas Jefferson’s home Monticello about a month ago. We loved it and we wish we could live there. It is seriously so gorgeous! It was a great place for Jefferson to contemplate life and our government’s role in it. I love learning about our founding fathers. I am so grateful for the system they set up for us to live in a free country with a government set up with checks and balances. I’m sure they are going crazy in heaven watching all the corruption in our government now and how freely we give up our freedoms in our effort to be safe. But that is a whole blog post I won’t be writing. 🙂
I think Jefferson and Ben are similar in a lot of ways. Ben loves to read and invent. It would be Ben’s dream to have a home like this where he is constantly improving things making them better and better. Jefferson hated being involved in government but knew it was his duty. Sounds like Ben.
We had a wonderful day and wish we could have stayed longer.
Jefferson's gardenWhere Jefferson used to sit and contemplateMiles and miles of beautiful landJefferson's graveJefferson's house he was always re-doingTunnels under the house for servants. The kitchen was one of many rooms down here.
