A Happy Birthday at the Happiest Place on Earth

For my birthday yesterday, we decided to go to Disneyland. Here we are, getting ready to go.

Standing in front of the Haunted Mansion to see the "Nightmare Before Christmas" theme.

In front the the Castle.

The Happiest Baby on Earth.

Maddie just couldn't handle all of the excitement and slept most of the time we were there.

Main Street at night.

Kellie, Scott and Esther came over after we got home from Disneyland and surprised me with pie. MMMMM

Making a wish.

Sam's Getting Ready.

I can't believe it. The time has come where my little Sammy is getting ready for his mission. All of the paperwork is filled out and he just had his wisdom teeth removed this morning. It was cute, when he came to, he just started laughing. He had the staff cracking up. I guess that is not an unusual reaction to anesthesia.
When we found out that we were expecting with him, we were surprised. He is our only "oops". We were not sure that we even wanted any more children after going through the experience of losing a child. Good thing that we didn't make the decision. We were so blessed to have Samuel come into our lives. I call him the "Rainbow After the Storm". He has been such a pleasure. Don't get me wrong, I love all of my children. I'm just glad that we didn't stop at four. I now dedicate him unto the Lord, to do his work. I will miss him sooooo much. Michael and I are very proud of him.

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Okay, it's been a long time since I have blogged, probably because I didn't finish blogging my vacation. I ran out of umph. I came back to a lot of work. We fixed up a new house for Ross and Beula in St. George Utah and moved them all in. We are in the process of selling their HB house and we have one more load of boxes to bring up to them. I love St. George. Every one is so nice and so willing to help you. I think that they like it up there but I'm sure that is quite an adjustment. Living fifty years in one place and moving to a new place with new things and new friends will be a challenge. I am so proud of how brave they have been.

Today I went to the Mother's Bay with Esther and met Rebecca, Kelly and their kids there. It is so peaceful there. I remember taking my little one there long ago. Later Kellie Ann and I went to visit Grandma Virginia, I am so fortunate to be close to my Grandma and Grandchildren.

Our Trip Day Thirteen (Washington DC)

This was the first of five days in Washington DC

We walked past the White House on the way to the Mall.

It was the 4th of July so we also walked past a parade. There were so many people.

Inside the National Air and Space Museum.

It was so bright out. Here are my men with the Capitol Building in the background.

The Washington Monument in the background.

Inside the Smithsonian Natural History Museum.

Aaron in front of the Department of the Treasury Building.

Our Trip Day Twelve (Gettysburg)

We visited Gettysburg during the anniversary of the Battle at Gettysburg. It was an awesome time to visit.

So many people walk around town in period costumes.

We went to this place where they old time pictures using an authentic camera of the times.

We got all dressed up.

My men loved it.

They look so authentic.

I'll have to scan the tin type when I get home so that you can see how it turned out in black and white.

A monument in the battlefield of Gettysburg.

One of the many battlefields in Gettysburg.

During the anniversary, they hold reenactments of the battle.

One of the funnest things we did so far was to take a segway tour.

We were out on these things for over three hours.

We loved it.

Our Trip Day Eleven (Amish Country)

If you click on this picture, you can see the Amish girl in front of the house.

Laundry Hanging out to dry. According to their religion, they are not allowed to use electricity.

We took an Amish buggy tour through the many farms in the area.

We really liked the tour. We weren't aloud to take pictures on the farms. We stopped off at one farm and bought cookies and lemonade.

The horse and buggy.

I don't know if you can see this, but their is a team of horses pulling a plow in this field.

Sometimes a simpler way of life seems pretty appealing.

An Amish Farmer working in the field.

We bought some home-made root beer from this little shack that was on an Amish Farm. They also sold baked goods and hand sewn Amish children's clothes. I almost bought some clothes for the grand kids, but Michael said that they would never wear them.

Just ahead of us was a horse and buggy.

Samuel drinking the home-made Amish root beer that we bought. It kind of looks like it could be moonshine.

A real Amish couple driving/riding down the street. They have to share the road with us Gentiles driving cars.

Our Trip Day Ten (Hershey, PA)

On day ten of our vacation, we went to Hershey Pennsylvania. The street lights were in the shape of Hershey Kisses.

Every other light was wrapped (silver) and every other was unwrapped.

How would you like to live on the corner of Cocoa Ave. and Chocolate Ave.?

We went to the Hershey Museum to learn about the story of Mr. Hershey. He seemed like a very good guy.

Can you tell that Sam and Aaron like chocolate a little?

The Chocolate Lab

We got to go inside the Hershey Laboratory and learn about chocolate and cocoa beans and then we got to make our own chocolate bars. They gave us some spices to put on the bars, I put cinnamon and Sam put cinnamon and crushed red pepper. He liked it.

Mmmm, yummy, this was actually the best chocolate that I have ever tasted, so creamy.

Our Trip Day Nine

Newell K. Whitney Store in Kirtland Ohio.

Inside the store.

Upstairs at the Newell K. Whitney Store.

Below is the Kirtland Temple, Built by the Mormons, but now owned by the Community of Christ Church. We were able to go inside but not take any pictures. It was interesting.

In Canton, Ohio is the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It actually was pretty cool. We all liked it, but
something you only need to do once in a life time.

John Madden
(I think that his head was the biggest in the whole place) :D

Back at the hotel in Canton, Ohio

Our Trip Day Eight (Niagara Falls)

On day eight we drove to Niagara Falls. I couldn't believe that I was actually there in person. It was so beautiful.

We all went on the Maid of the Mist and believe me, these blue ponchos were necessary.

The Maid of the Mist

Taken from the Maid of the Mist. I couldn't take one any closer because my camera would have drown in the mist. BTW, you can see the mist rising up into the air from miles away, it looks like steam or smoke.

The bridge that crosses over to Canada. You could actually walk across it. Too bad we didn't think to get passports.
We walk over a bridge to get to this side of the river/falls.

Our Trip Day Seven

It is just amazing how green every thing is in upstate New York

Statue inside the visitors center by the Hill Cumorah

Monument at the top of the Hill Cumorah

We visited these places on Sunday after going to church in Syracuse NY