This year we decided to do a big trip for Fall Break and use up some of those frequent flyer miles before they expired. We went to Washington DC with a side trip to Palmyra and Niagara Falls. It was an amazing vacation that we will always remember. Here are some of the memories:
We flew in to DC on Saturday, October 9th. We stayed with my sister Emily, and Ryan while we were in DC. It was fun to see where they live and just hang out with them. They were excellent hosts. Sunday we went to church with them and then walked around some of the monuments in the afternoon.
We flew in to DC on Saturday, October 9th. We stayed with my sister Emily, and Ryan while we were in DC. It was fun to see where they live and just hang out with them. They were excellent hosts. Sunday we went to church with them and then walked around some of the monuments in the afternoon.
Cute cousins...
Kids sitting under the Arizona wreath.
Monday was Columbus Day and we joined the crowds in some of the Smithsonian museums.
On Tuesday our family loaded up in a rental van and headed out on our side trip to Palmyra and Niagara falls.
It was about a six hour drive but the time passed quickly because we were driving at the peak of Fall beauty back east. Coming from Tucson, it was even more stunning. I definitely needed my fill of fall leaves. It was honestly some of the most breathtaking scenery I have ever seen. We arrived in Palmyra in the evening and found somewhere to eat and then just crashed at our hotel. We woke up on Wednesday the 13th to the most beautiful fall day. Perfect for our day filled with seeing all of the sights of the restoration in Palmyra. We started with the Sacred Grove. We took a tour and were first shown the old log cabin where Joseph lived when he had the first vision.
Walking from the log cabin to the new framed home, there is an amazing view of the new Palmyra temple:
Our tour guide told us that originally they planned to have a large mural of the Sacred Grove in the Celestial room, but when President Hinkley visited the site before it was complete, he said something like "why are we going to have a painting when we have the real thing right there?" So instead they have a window overlooking the Sacred Grove. From the temple you can see the Sacred Grove and from the Sacred Grove you can see the temple.
Here is the family in the Sacred Grove:
It was an amazing experience to be there. That feeling of peace, the Spirit, is tangible.
After the Sacred Grove we headed to the Hill Cumorah. Us in the visitor's center:
The monument up on the hill:
Next stop, the Grandin Printing press where the Book of Mormon was first published.
We also drove to see the Martin Harris homestead. After seeing all we could in Palmyra we decided to take a 30 minute drive to the Whitmer farm and see the home where the Church was Reorganized in April 1830.
The whole day in Palmyra was just perfect. Such a great experience.
Monday was Columbus Day and we joined the crowds in some of the Smithsonian museums.
On Tuesday our family loaded up in a rental van and headed out on our side trip to Palmyra and Niagara falls.
It was about a six hour drive but the time passed quickly because we were driving at the peak of Fall beauty back east. Coming from Tucson, it was even more stunning. I definitely needed my fill of fall leaves. It was honestly some of the most breathtaking scenery I have ever seen. We arrived in Palmyra in the evening and found somewhere to eat and then just crashed at our hotel. We woke up on Wednesday the 13th to the most beautiful fall day. Perfect for our day filled with seeing all of the sights of the restoration in Palmyra. We started with the Sacred Grove. We took a tour and were first shown the old log cabin where Joseph lived when he had the first vision.Walking from the log cabin to the new framed home, there is an amazing view of the new Palmyra temple:Our tour guide told us that originally they planned to have a large mural of the Sacred Grove in the Celestial room, but when President Hinkley visited the site before it was complete, he said something like "why are we going to have a painting when we have the real thing right there?" So instead they have a window overlooking the Sacred Grove. From the temple you can see the Sacred Grove and from the Sacred Grove you can see the temple. Here is the family in the Sacred Grove:
It was an amazing experience to be there. That feeling of peace, the Spirit, is tangible. 
After the Sacred Grove we headed to the Hill Cumorah. Us in the visitor's center:
The monument up on the hill:
Next stop, the Grandin Printing press where the Book of Mormon was first published.
We also drove to see the Martin Harris homestead. After seeing all we could in Palmyra we decided to take a 30 minute drive to the Whitmer farm and see the home where the Church was Reorganized in April 1830. 
The whole day in Palmyra was just perfect. Such a great experience. From the Whitmer farm we headed to our hotel near Niagara Falls. When we woke up it was a little bit wet and drizzly, but we decided we would be getting wet anyway! We rode the Maid of the Mist into the falls. A really cool experience. It was also so beautiful!!
After Niagara it was back to DC to spend a few more days with the Gillan's. On Friday Emily watched the kids while Shane and I went to Mt. Vernon (George Washington's home). That was definitely worth going to. Unfortunatly I forgot my camera, but Shane and I both really enjoyed it.
After Niagara it was back to DC to spend a few more days with the Gillan's. On Friday Emily watched the kids while Shane and I went to Mt. Vernon (George Washington's home). That was definitely worth going to. Unfortunatly I forgot my camera, but Shane and I both really enjoyed it. Friday afternoon we went to a pumpkin patch near Emily's house to soak in some more Fall goodness:
Saturday, back to reality. On the flight home we had the usual meltdowns by our then almost 3 yr. old, and the only other tears happened when, after running to catch our connecting flight, Bryant realized he had left his DS on the first plane and there was nothing we could do about it. (A little lesson in responsibility I'm sure he won't soon forget!)
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