Countries: 2 - US and Canada
States: 9- TX, AK, TN, KY, VA, MD, PA, NY, OH
Days in a hotel: 4
Movies watched on the road: too many to count
Total miles: 3,661
Time with family: Priceless
After one stop at McDonald's, Kaitlyn took over the shake.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
By the Numbers
Total days on the road: 16
Countries: 2 - US and Canada
States: 9- TX, AK, TN, KY, VA, MD, PA, NY, OH
Days in a hotel: 4
Movies watched on the road: too many to count
Total miles: 3,661
Time with family: Priceless
After one stop at McDonald's, Kaitlyn took over the shake.
Countries: 2 - US and Canada
States: 9- TX, AK, TN, KY, VA, MD, PA, NY, OH
Days in a hotel: 4
Movies watched on the road: too many to count
Total miles: 3,661
Time with family: Priceless
After one stop at McDonald's, Kaitlyn took over the shake.
Monday, June 23, 2008
The Last Week- Ohio
Our final week was spent with my brother's family in Ohio. It was a party 24/7 with the cousins. Abby had a sleep-over every night in the cousin's room which she LOVED. We had a wonderful week playing at a rec. center, a picnic and a hike, throwing rocks in a creek, making s'mores, going to the zoo, Graters ice-cream (yummy cotton candy flavor!), picking strawberries (Kaitlyn just ate what we put in the basket- stem and all), and eating really good BBQ. Yes, I had to go to Ohio for some awesome BBQ! After two more days of driving home and then being 10 minutes from home, Abby cries out from the back seat, "But I don't want to go home! I want to play with my cousins!" Thanks Matt and Dara and boys for hosting us for a week.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Day 9 in Kirtland, OH
Our last tourist stop was in Kirtland, OH for more church history sites. You really need only a few hours to see it all. The girls were sited out by now and we cut a few things short.
At the beginning of the tour at the church visitors center they show a movie on Kirtland. The whole time through the movie Abby kept asking me which one was Nephi. I had to explain over and over again it was about Joseph Smith. Seeing the Kirtland temple was interesting. Did you know that a long time ago the high school used the upstairs for classes. The still have special meetings and holiday celebrations held in the temple every year.
At the beginning of the tour at the church visitors center they show a movie on Kirtland. The whole time through the movie Abby kept asking me which one was Nephi. I had to explain over and over again it was about Joseph Smith. Seeing the Kirtland temple was interesting. Did you know that a long time ago the high school used the upstairs for classes. The still have special meetings and holiday celebrations held in the temple every year.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Day 8 in Niagara Falls, Canada
After Palmyra we headed out to Niagara Falls. We had a fabulous view from our hotel room and the girls loved taking a bath in the jacuzzi tub. Abby was also excited that the sofa turned into her bed "that's awesome!"
We of course did all the tourist-y things; walked the boardwalk, did the "Behind the Falls (you go down an elevator and walk through some tunnels that come out behind the falls, hence the name) saw some interesting pictures of devices that people used to go over the falls, took the Ferris Wheel ride, and rode the Maid of the Mist. That was my personal favorite. The little, plastic rain coat they gave me didn't help me much. Since we were there on a weekend we also were able to enjoy the firework display over the falls. The trip to Niagara was very relaxing and lots of fun. I also was able to pick up some of my favorite Canadian candy bars- Wunderbar! YUM!!!
Funny things she said: During dinner Abby was a robot with tools and was "fixing" Todd. Todd asked Abby to replace his eyes. Abby says, "I can't. I'm not Jesus."
We of course did all the tourist-y things; walked the boardwalk, did the "Behind the Falls (you go down an elevator and walk through some tunnels that come out behind the falls, hence the name) saw some interesting pictures of devices that people used to go over the falls, took the Ferris Wheel ride, and rode the Maid of the Mist. That was my personal favorite. The little, plastic rain coat they gave me didn't help me much. Since we were there on a weekend we also were able to enjoy the firework display over the falls. The trip to Niagara was very relaxing and lots of fun. I also was able to pick up some of my favorite Canadian candy bars- Wunderbar! YUM!!!
Funny things she said: During dinner Abby was a robot with tools and was "fixing" Todd. Todd asked Abby to replace his eyes. Abby says, "I can't. I'm not Jesus."
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Days 6 & 7 in Ithaca and Palmyra, NY
It's nice having family and friends in different parts of the world that you can pop in and visit when you're traveling. The next couple of days took us to Todd's brother Tyson's house in Ithaca. One of Todd's older brothers, Trent, happened to be in town too with his wife so we were able to see more family. We spent a nice day visiting with family, letting the girls play with 2 of their cousins, and doing a little laundry.
We spent one day in Palmyra visiting church history sites. The past several weeks for Family Home Evening we had been teaching the girls some church history. It was also nice the that Friend has great little articles on Joseph Smith that we were able to share. So after spending some time at home learning some church history, it was wonderful for the girls to see where it all happened. This is the day that Abby got sick and ran a high fever. She would go from having bursts of energy to want to be carried. She was quite the trooper to get through everything that we wanted to do.
I absolutely love the feeling in the sacred grove and just walking around the temple. It's so peaceful and awe inspiring.
Things we loved:
1. Eating ice-cream at Chill and Grill - order the kiddie size if you're ever there, you'll still need 2 people to finish off.
2. Kaitlyn crying in the Sacred Grove then one second putting her head on my shoulder and falling asleep. Classic.
3. Abby wanting to be carried one minute, running after her uncle the next.
4. Abby asking in the Sacred Grove, "When are Heavenly Father and Jesus coming?"
5. Getting a Book of Mormon signature sheet from the printing press.
6. While at the visitor center one of the missionaries asked the question, "What did Heavenly Father say to Joseph?" Abby not paying attention and playing around with Todd's head says loudly, "Open your mouth!" It was funny how it all came out.
We spent one day in Palmyra visiting church history sites. The past several weeks for Family Home Evening we had been teaching the girls some church history. It was also nice the that Friend has great little articles on Joseph Smith that we were able to share. So after spending some time at home learning some church history, it was wonderful for the girls to see where it all happened. This is the day that Abby got sick and ran a high fever. She would go from having bursts of energy to want to be carried. She was quite the trooper to get through everything that we wanted to do.
I absolutely love the feeling in the sacred grove and just walking around the temple. It's so peaceful and awe inspiring.
Things we loved:
1. Eating ice-cream at Chill and Grill - order the kiddie size if you're ever there, you'll still need 2 people to finish off.
2. Kaitlyn crying in the Sacred Grove then one second putting her head on my shoulder and falling asleep. Classic.
3. Abby wanting to be carried one minute, running after her uncle the next.
4. Abby asking in the Sacred Grove, "When are Heavenly Father and Jesus coming?"
5. Getting a Book of Mormon signature sheet from the printing press.
6. While at the visitor center one of the missionaries asked the question, "What did Heavenly Father say to Joseph?" Abby not paying attention and playing around with Todd's head says loudly, "Open your mouth!" It was funny how it all came out.
Days 3,4, & 5 in Washington, DC
After 24 hours of driving it was nice to take a breather in DC. We stayed with my old college roommate, Kerry, and her family. Abby and Kaitlyn loved playing with their little girl Lacey and were so sad to leave. I enjoyed hanging out with Kerry and we even got a sitter and went on a double date while we were there!
I think we crammed everything we could in the few days we were in DC. I loved the city and there were so many more things I would have loved to have done but a little difficult with the girls. Todd and I will some day make a trip back by ourselves. Some of our highlights (besides seeing Kerry and Dave):
1. Seeing all the major national monuments and war memorials. I think the Lincoln Memorial was my favorite. He's happily situated looking over DC.
2. Visiting the Natural History and Air and Space museums. Kaitlyn saying "beep beep" in the airplane as if it were a car.
3. Watching the girls chase birds on the lawn of the Mall.
4. Riding the horse carousal - the girls LOVED this!
5. Eating Ledo's Pizza- YUM!
6. Date night with the Stroms
7. Seeing the Washington, DC temple. Pictures don't do it justice.
8. Watching Lacey, Kaitlyn, and Abby dump sprinkles and other misc. spices all over the ground to make a "birthday cake" and then eat the stuff off the floor.
Funny thing said: While taking a break and sitting on a bench in front of the Washington Monument we see a young teenage girl dressed up in a really nice pink formal gown and wearing a tiara. Abby gets excited and says, "Look a princess!" then in a sad voice, "I wish I could be a princess."
Other randomness: We stayed near a street called "McKinsey" - Todd can't escape work even on vacation.
And it's not officially a road trip in our family unless we have a sick kid and there is throw- up involved. Luckily it wasn't in the car. Kaitlyn ran a fever on Tues. and threw up Wed. as we were heading to the car after all our sight seeing. Ah, road trips.
I think we crammed everything we could in the few days we were in DC. I loved the city and there were so many more things I would have loved to have done but a little difficult with the girls. Todd and I will some day make a trip back by ourselves. Some of our highlights (besides seeing Kerry and Dave):
1. Seeing all the major national monuments and war memorials. I think the Lincoln Memorial was my favorite. He's happily situated looking over DC.
2. Visiting the Natural History and Air and Space museums. Kaitlyn saying "beep beep" in the airplane as if it were a car.
3. Watching the girls chase birds on the lawn of the Mall.
4. Riding the horse carousal - the girls LOVED this!
5. Eating Ledo's Pizza- YUM!
6. Date night with the Stroms
7. Seeing the Washington, DC temple. Pictures don't do it justice.
8. Watching Lacey, Kaitlyn, and Abby dump sprinkles and other misc. spices all over the ground to make a "birthday cake" and then eat the stuff off the floor.
Funny thing said: While taking a break and sitting on a bench in front of the Washington Monument we see a young teenage girl dressed up in a really nice pink formal gown and wearing a tiara. Abby gets excited and says, "Look a princess!" then in a sad voice, "I wish I could be a princess."
Other randomness: We stayed near a street called "McKinsey" - Todd can't escape work even on vacation.
And it's not officially a road trip in our family unless we have a sick kid and there is throw- up involved. Luckily it wasn't in the car. Kaitlyn ran a fever on Tues. and threw up Wed. as we were heading to the car after all our sight seeing. Ah, road trips.
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