Up State New York: Day 4 Palmyra

My parents and Dallas flew into Rochester where we picked them up and headed straight to Palmyra to see some of the historic church sites.

We started at the visitors center located at the base of the Hill Cumorah.  I had the great idea to race Dallas straight up the hill instead of driving with the rest of the family...not the brightest idea I've ever had!

By the time we ran to the top in the blistering heat and humidity, we were a bit tired...

It was such an amazing feeling standing on such hollowed ground.  I am so grateful that I had the chance to visit the historical places from our church's history.  

After visiting the Hill Cumorah, we drove to the Smith Family homestead next to the Sacred Grove.  The church has restored the homes on the family plot, with tours given by the sister missionaries.

I wish I could put into words how it felt to visit the different historical sites.  The best I can do are images...

Up State New York: Day 3 Ithica

Is it totally weird that I find cemetaries absolutely gorgeous?

Having lived on the West Coast all my life, I was not expecting the beauty of the graveyards back East.  Everything has so much history and I loved how the headstones were above ground.  

On my third day visiting, Richard took the girls and I down to Ithica to visit Cornell University.  Cornell's main campus is located in Ithica, but Richard specialized in Agricultural sciences and the main research facility he worked at was in Geneva, about an hour away.  

He showed me around campus, which was beautiful, and then picked up his masters thesis hard bound copies and cap and gown for graduation.

On our way back to Geneva we stopped at a local waterfall that fed into Cayuga Lake.  We didn't have enough time to hike out to the base, but the view from the top was quite beautiful, so I didn't mind.

Richard was such a sweetheart to drive me around to see all the fun sites.  I had a blast hanging out with him and his adorable family!

Up State New York: Day 2 Niagara Falls

The second day in Geneva we decided to drive over to Niagara Falls.  It was a couple hours from Richard's apartment, but with a little baby on board we took a few stops.  I got some good shopping in along the way, so I couldn't complain!

Niagra Falls has been on my bucket list for years, so when we finally crossed over the border into Canada and got our first glimpse of the falls I couldn't help but squeal...yes squeal...and yes, Richard made fun of me!

We walked along the Canadian side of the Falls with the best view of "Horseshoe Falls".  I eagerly snapped away the pictures.  I wish they did the falls justice, but with the endless amount of water tumbling over the side it created a ton of mist. We were pretty wet, but I loved every minute of it!

Some cool facts about Niagara Falls...

• The first person to go over the Falls in a barrel and survive was a 63 year old female schoolteacher, which I think is pretty darn cool!
• High wire tightrope acts used to be performed across the river.
• Twenty percent of the worlds freshwater lies in the Great Lakes, and most flows over Niagara Falls.
• The length of Horseshoe Falls' brink is 2,600 feet, the height is 167 feet, and the volume of water going over the falls is 600,000 gallons per second.

It was a pretty awesome experience to be so close to something so powerful.

I think Richard and Leisha had the right idea after seeing these signs...little Emma was just fine staying in her stroller!

Up State New York: Day 1

At the end of May my little brother, Richard, graduated from Cornell University with his Masters.  Dallas and I were able to fly out and help celebrate the occasion.  I arrived a few days earlier to site see and play with my two adorable nieces, Emma and baby Nora.

After Richard and Leisha picked me up in Rochester we took a scenic drive along the coast of Lake Ontario.  We stopped at a fun park at Sodus Point to let Emma play.  Then we drove down to Geneva where they've lived the past couple years while attending school.

Geneva was absolutely beautiful!  It's located along the coast of Seneca Lake, one of the finger lakes.  After dinner we played at a fun park along the lake...Emma has a MAJOR passion for parks!

It was a perfect first day to our adventure!

Nora is such a sweetheart and spent most of the time smiling.  

I absolutely LOVE all that dark hair!

Playing Catch Up

I can't believe it is already July 9th!  Where have the past few months gone?

Actually I know exactly how to answer that question, because it's literally been insane, but I figured I should let everyone else know what we've been up to...

In May my older brother, Erik, and his gorgeous wife, Heather, celebrated their 10 year anniversary by traveling to Brazil for two weeks.

Because I live so close, I got to help mom out with the babysitting while they were away.  It was so much fun playing "mommy" and getting as many snuggles as possible.

My mom is basically amazing.  She created a job chart for each of the kids where they put stickers and earned rewards for completed jobs.  There was not a single whine the entire two weeks...it was glorious!  I admit we may have gone a little overboard with the rewards at the end, but that's just how my parents roll!

Here are some highlights from our two weeks of babysitting...

Dallas and I decided to give mom a break by taking the three older kids to Muir Beach while she stayed at home with little Will.  We had a blast playing in the sand, eating our picnic, and getting very wet.

Mom brought a bunch of crafts for the kids to do while their parents were gone.  It was so cute to see them so excited for each activity. 

We made two different kinds of puppets, plaster cement designs for their yard, and an adorable mother's day apron.

 

Mom and I had a lot of fun together, but we couldn't help but be excited when Erik and Heather got home to take over.  We were excited to get some sleep!

Erik and Heather brought back some fun souvenirs for everyone.

You don't get much cuter than these kids!

Two Years...eternity to go

  

Two years ago I stepped out of the Salt Lake City temple hand in hand with my best friend and husband.  We spent a whirlwind of a day with family and friends, taking pictures, eating cheesecake, dancing, laughing, hugging; everyone celebrating our marriage.  I thought I knew what love was then.  I thought I could never love anyone as deeply as I loved my Dallas.  

I sit here typing, two years later, only to realize that the love I felt for my husband has been multiplied over and over and how grateful I am for the 730 days being sealed to my best friend.  

So here is the only thing I can say to the man who has literally changed my life...

Thank you.

Thank you for waking me up every morning with your kisses.

Thank you for making sure that every day you are responsible for at least one of my many smiles.

Thank you for being so understanding with my obsession with teen literature and yes, I'll say it, vampires.

Thank you for finding subtle ways to brighten my day; for the flowers, the treats, the special surprises.

Thank you for the weekends away to rejuvenate us.

Thank you for loving my family.

Thank you for making me laugh, not just the occasional giggle, but the old man wheezing laughter.

Thank you for being a gentleman.

Thank you for helping out with the house and being so understanding with my failures in the kitchen.

Thank you for reminding me how special I am.

Thank you for pushing me to be better.

Thank you for showing me patience and love no matter how stubborn I am acting.

Thank you for holding me while I cry.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you for shaking your money maker in public.

Thank you for taking care of me, especially this past week.

Thank you for being willing to travel and share adventures together.

Thank you for having the desire to start a family.

Thank you for loving my friends and being willing to open our home to any who want to come visit.

Thank you for always being supportive when I want to try something new.

Thank you for working so hard to support us.

Thank you for being a worthy priesthood holder.

Thank you for sharing your strength and testimony.

Thank you for never letting me go to bed angry.

Thank you for kissing me goodnight before falling asleep.

Thank you for always striving to further your knowledge; for your excitement of learning and desire for more education.

Thank you for helping me get to know your mom.

Thank you for knowing exactly what to do when I need you; or at least faking it enough so I don't notice the difference.

Thank you for letting me attack you with my nonstop kisses, especially when your exhausted.

Thank you for trying so hard to do what's right.

Thank you for being an incredible uncle.

Thank you for shaving your face and then kissing me with the clean shaven face :)

Thank you for not being too frightened when you wake up and find me staring at your gorgeous face.

Thank you for being my best friend.

Thank you for loving me, in spite of all my endless flaws.

You truly are my best friend and I will forever be grateful for that fateful day I met you in the hallway with my cousin, Greg.  For your bravery of asking out a total stranger with a boyfriend. For your knowledge of how to court me long distance and "buy my love".  For your consistency, through dating and marriage, so that I will never question how much you love me.

I am the lucky one.

I am the lucky one.