Joseph Smith Birth Place

The first Sunday we were in Vermont we drove down to the Joseph Smith birth place. It is in central Vermont and is in a beautiful location on a hill among fields and forests.
This is the monument that is there which has been there for over 100 years (don't quote me on that one but I know it has been there a long time). There was an amazing sculpture show there at the visitors center which we all enjoyed. It was a beautiful drive and we all had a great time.

Random shots with cousins

Here are some random shots with Elsie and her cousins. She loved playing with all of them and talks about them all the time.

Dancing

Here is a cute one of Nathan and Elsie dancing while Mike plays on the guitar.

The beach

We got to go to the beach while we were in Boston too. It was great. The weather was hot so we were ready even though it was still May. We had a lot of fun...well I guess I could say everyone but Nathan had a lot of fun. Right when we got on the beach we realized that we forgot the blanket in the car. So Chrissy took Owen to go get it and I stayed with the two older kids. If you look at the pictures below you will see how I brought the two kidos down to the shore and was taking photos of them as the water calmly lapped at their feet...until a bigger wave came and knocked them both down!! I was mid photo when it happened and obviously did not react fast enough. I was able to grab each of them by an arm and pull them up. Luckily neither one had inhaled any water. They had just gotten wet! And this is where the problem begins...Nathan hates to get his clothes wet!!! So he was crying and not consolable and Elsie was upset but she calmed down pretty quickly. To give the little guy a little credit he was with me and not his mommy whom he wanted very badly after the above accident happened. We were all very excited to see Chrissy coming down the beach but I bet she was not so please to see what had happened. Nathan spent the next hour or so wrapped in a blanket in his mothers lap. But by the end of the morning he was playing in the sand again! We even managed to convince him to go back by the water though he did not get so close this time.

A day in Boston

My sister and I decided to spend a day in the city. We do not usually do this but I have been missing the city and so we went in for an adventure.

We drove to Quincy to catch the subway into the city. The kids liked the train and luckily we got seats for them going in and out. We got off the train in Copley square. We looked around a bit then went into the Boston Public Library and found the children's area. We asked the librarian to help us find "Make way for ducklings" a book about a duck family that moves into the public gardens in Boston. The kids were not that interested in the book as everything was so new to them. After the story we walked down to the public gardens (a large park with lots of paths, statues, flowers and a pond in down town Boston). We had brought some PB and J's so we had a little picnic on a bench. It was a good thing we sat on a bench because there were two crazy squirrels who kept coming up to us. They were so brave and even went under the bench. My nephew got a kick out of this and kept telling the squirrels "go away, go away".

After lunch we took a ride on the swan boats which was actually my first time on them. We went to see the statue make way for ducklings and then we had some ice cream. By then is was Nathan's nap time so Chrissy and Nathan went home. We stayed in the city to meet up with Charity Elsie aunt.

With Charity it was more walking around and hanging out in the big city. Elsie got to go on a carousal in Boston Common. Then we got on the train and went to the North End...or little Italy. We ate some delicious food and got some cannolis. We walked by the fire station and a fireman asked Elsie if she wanted to see the truck...and then he had us put her in the cab! Sadly I do not have proof but I think you will all believe me. We went for a walk around the harbor and enjoyed the ocean breeze.

By this point Elsie was exhausted. We did not bring a stroller and so all of this walking had been done by her too for the most part. At the end Aunt Charity was a life saver and carried her a lot!! We had so much fun in Boston. It was so nice to see Charity there even if it was just for one afternoon! And now for the pictures!!

The Children's Museum in Easton

One of the first things we did in Boston was go to the small Children's Museum in Easton a suburb of Boston. It was so much fun. I was small enough to really get to see everything and so fun to play in. They had lots of small rooms in an old house and a few larger rooms too. The kids pretended to be firemen, played in a small kitchen and in a doctors office. One of the highlights for Elsie was the face painting she got to do herself!! It was great and the best thing was being with our cousins!!!

For hot summer days

Just before we left on our trip one of our neighbors gave us a new toy!! It is a big one but a great one too. I will just show it to you rather then try to explain it. The boat can be used for a pool or a sand box. We have chosen to use it as a pool. Here is Elsie and daddy enjoying a lazy summer day by the pool.

We are back!!!

Well we have finally made it back home from the east coast and so now I will be posting like mad!! We had a great trip and have been having fun since we have been home too! Life is just rushing by. Elsie turned 3 while we were away, it just does not seem possible. Other then that there is no big news! So sit back and enjoy the following posts.