First Stop: Nauvoo (Day 2)

 Our first stop on our ROAD TRIP 2012 was Nauvoo, IL to see this gal:

Sister Sarah McKneely who was serving for the summer as a Young Performing Missionary (YPM).

We arrived there mid day on Sunday and enjoyed a picnic lunch right on the Mississippi River (and yes Sam and Kaitlyn learned how to spell that while we vacationed).  We knew Sarah's schedule and were on the lookout for her but we wanted to leave her to her duties, we knew we'd see her that night.

 

 

We enjoyed the family life center where we learned a bit about how much work pioneer life required.

 

So then after a day of seeing a few things we settled down along Parley Street for the walk at dusk.  The YPM's stand at different points along the street leading down to the Mississippi River bank where the early church members traveled as they left their beloved city.

I knew that Sarah was one of 2 drivers assigned to drive their big 15 passenger van and I saw it coming down the street.  I got our children and we all started waiving and I was jumping up and down waiving like crazy.  It WAS her and she slowed down and waived and blew us kisses.  We were so excited to see her (see photos above)

During the evening presentation, Stephen had a little buddy take a ride.....

On the road again.....(Day 1)

Our BIG Vacation of the summer was a road trip.  

10 days

probably 4,000 miles in the car

4 young children from age 2-8

Destinations included: 

1.  Nauvoo, IL to see Aunt Sarah as a Young Performing Missionary

2.  N. Canton, OH for Lewis Family Fun

3.  With Lewis' clan we hit Niagara Falls, NY

4.  (Still with Lewis') Palmyra, NY (Hill Cummorah Pagaent)

5.  On way back to N. Canton we briefly hit Kirtland, OH but have vowed to go back and do it better

Day 1:

Was a lot of driving.  We left around noon and went as far as we could. Which was Jeffersson City, MO  (pretty good time)

We started playing the Licence Plate Game and were really excited to find a BUNCH of plates on our first day (15!!) including 2 Indian nation ones (thank you OK).

Our kids do great in the car--we were so thrilled.

Dallas Zoo

While Ben and Summer were here we headed to the zoo....(Pardon the camera roll)

We really saw A LOT of the fun animals: Gorillas, Lions, we fed the Giraffes (SUPER COOL), elephants, and even the new Koala exhibit.  We were quite the crew of kids but we had a really fun day, AND we bought an annual pass so we'll be back!

Ben and Summer come for a visit

My brother Ben lives in Japan with his wife Summer and their two little girls.  They come for a visit when they can but so far it's been every year!

They were coming for an extended visit and stayed with us for almost 3 weeks until we all met back up in Ohio for our Lewis reunion.

We were SO GRATEFUL that they would become the temporary parents of 6 so that Stephen and I could steal away for a few days to Boston.

Our children stayed busy and happy....

Blanket tent on the stairs, dress up parties as princesses

Playing at the splash fountains at the Villages at Fairview complete with milkshakes from the Purple Cow--can you imagine the looks this crew got with all these little ones?!  Ben and Summer are such troopers.

We did lots of things (more posts later) but I HAD to include these great photos that will be perfect for blackmail later....

Bye bye Boston--Day 5

Our time in Boston was coming to a close.  Sunday morning dawned and we knew that our flight home to our normal life and our wonderful children wasn't until the afternoon so we decided to take in at least a sacrament meeting.

The closest family ward was a bit of a walk so we got ready for church and headed out.  We were stalled a bit when we found ourselves in the middle of a 10K.  I was really inspired by all the runners in Boston, I guess they take their marathon pretty seriously!

Our route took us along the Charles River and across the Longfellow Bridge.  I was really happy about that because it was a beautiful walk AND we hadn't gotten any pictures of this yet.

This bridge is often called the "salt and pepper bridge" for these tower things.  We rode under this bridge during our "Duck Tour" at the beginning of the week.

And there is a lovely park along the banks of this river which provided some nice shade on the warm morning.

We made it to church in good time and while we were looking for an English Speaking Family Ward, we saw a Spanish speaking couple and a full-time elder entering the church the same time as us and we followed them to their own meeting.  We never saw any other cars and don't even know if an English ward was meeting there but it was fine.  Actually kind of nice and sentimental since Stephen and I met while serving in a Spanish Speaking branch.  I understood everything and felt very at home.

On our walk back to Joey's place we passed by the crew starting to set up the famous stage used for the Boston Pop's Orchestra's performance on the 4th of July.  That was cool!

Our trip to the airport and back home was uneventful--our children were probably as happy to see us as we were to see them.  They'd had a great time while we were gone and a future post will have some pictures to prove it.  

I am so grateful that Stephen and I got to have this chance to get away and enjoy some time together, we really are a great match and I'm so glad I get to take this journey with him!

Boston Day 4

Boston is a walking town--which is awesome!  Most things you want to see you can walk to and Saturday was our walking day!

We headed out first thing to get as much in as we could.  We aimed to hit Fennway Park FIRST THING but didn't quite make the earliest tour, so we bought tickets and looped back to see the Mapporium (no picures allowed) which was cool, it's a stained glass globe made "to scale" that you can walk through.

So then on to Fennway!  Stephen was real excited about this place and really enjoyed the tour.  I would have like to attend a game, but he'd been to a game here not too long ago on a business trip and wanted to see the tour so.....here we are up by "The BIG GREEN MONSTA"

Then a quick stop by on of the oldest operating and busiest Fire Stations in Boston (pointed out to us by on the Duck Tour) where we got Sam a t-shirt.

Then in the afternoon we took the "Freedom Tour", a well known self guided walking tour throughout the historical sites of Boston.  This was really cool, we took more pictures than I care to upload but highlights included Paul Revere's grave & home, church where the lanterns were hung (one if by land, two if by sea), USS Constitution, and Bunker Hill.

Just as I adored all the old colonial homes in the country, I also was thrilled with the beauty of Boston and was grateful to all the efforts by historical societies to keep true to the cities unique colonial roots.  3 story brownstones, smaller doors and windows, lots of character and just beautiful!

Dinner that night was DELICIOUS with Joseph & Liz at an Italian restaurant near Joseph's apartment (made up for the disappointing Chatham's Bar Inn).

Boston Day 3

Day 3 was a lot of driving and touristy stuff.  I won't bore you with photos of EVERYTHING but we saw....

• Lexington and Concord and learned of the historical significance of the things that took place there leading up to the Revolutionary War. (shot heard round the world)
• Walden Pond
• Yummy Custard Ice Cream (it was super hot!)
• The Louisa May Alcott House
• Harvard
• Boston Temple

 

I have to admit that as we drove around the more country parts of Massachusetts I fell in love with the colonial charm of so many homes.  I began to dream that Stephen transfers to the offices there in the Boston area just so we could live in a beautiful old home with a wrap around porch! It was just beautiful!

 

Here are our awesome hosts for the weekend!  LOVE THEM!!

And us at Walden Pond

  

And then headed back to a relaxing night at Joey's apartment and ordered pizza in--this was our sunset to finish a long day, and then the skyline at night....