Day Nine

What can I say but HOME SWEET HOME. The good thing about the flight is we got to SLC 45 min. early. There was no third person in our row. And we are now home and I get to sleep in my own BED.
PS. I must add I LOVE UTAH, I LOVE WEST JORDAN, I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I LOVE MY HOME.

Day Eight

On our eighth day we spent in New York City. We took the subway into Manhatten. We went up to the Top of the Rock - Rockefeller Center. Also saw the studio where the Today Show takes place. We then took a City Sights tour on a double decker bus that lasted for 2 hours. I did not like New York City - to many people, to many smokers (I had to walk though cigarette smoke and smell constantly. I got a migrane headache, couldn't find bathrooms. I'm so glad we were only there for l day instead of 4 - we made the right decision of going to Baltimore instead. We then took the subway back to the airport and got on an airtrain. After several subway and airtrain mistakes we found where our motel shuttle would pick us up. So we get back to the hotel - and since we don't have a car anymore - we ate at the Hotel Restaurant - we both ordered a hamburger. We got served AJ's was fine- mine was raw - so they took it back - and I waited about 15 min. - they served me again and this one was even rawer (sp)- so I waited another 15 min. and finally the third time - it was coooked and I could eat it. It was just not a good day. We packed and got up at 4 am to fly home.
The reason why we don't have very many pictures - is because AJ didn't bring our charger from home - so the one we bought at Best Buy - wasn't very good and we would run out of juice - So no camera.

Views from on Top of the Rock


View of the Empire State Building




View of Statue of Liberty


View of Central Park

Day Seven

Today was a go to Church day, say goodbye to Megan, Tyler and Judson and travel day.
We attended the Inner-Harbor Ward. Then said our goodbye's and they headed south and we headed north. Mapquest has helped us tremendously, however, this time we got lost--we felt we were going wrong so we got off and ended up at Princeton University-we drove through there and got directions to New York. Gas was only $3.25 a gallon in New Jersey. We finally got on the New Jersey Turnpike and headed toward JKF airport. The traffic was at a standstill and slow and go the rest of the way. We finally checked into the Sheraton Hotel by the Airport. Tomorrow we will turn in our car and take a train into New York City. To Carter, Ava, and Elsie thanks for the cute pic on AJ's phone - We miss you to. (as a sidenote - loved all the college upsets so that BYU moved up in the polls without even playing!!!!!)

Day Six

This morning we woke up to rain, rain and more rain - we ate at a McDonalds for breakfast and then headed over to the Baltimore World Trade Center. We rode up to the 27th Floor. It really was neat to see out over the city and water. If it had been a clear day we would have seen farther out but it still was good. During the afternoon Megan & I watched a movie while the guys watched football. It's nice because they opened the door between our two rooms. We are staying at the Hyatt Regency.









Well, I don't know how many of you heard about Hurricane Kyle moving up the eastern coast - so we ended up with some of the remnants from that. It rained and was windy all afternoon. We decided to go to the Cheesecake Factory again. And by the time we were done eating - it cleared up some - so these are the pictures from after dinner.

Day Five

On Friday we woke up to cloudy and rainy weather. Before heading to Baltimore we stopped at the Hershey Chocolate Factory. They have a little ride you take that tells about where the cocao beans come from the rainforest and then how chocolate is made. It was fun. And then AJ had to buy Hershey Chocolate Bars (those are his favorite).
We then headed down the road to Baltimore and got there around noon. We had about and hour before Megan, Tyler and Judson arrived. We spent the afternoon around the harbor, we had lunch and toured probably the largest aquarium. It was like 6 levels and two different buildings. We then rested a bit and went to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. That was our first time (AJ & Deb). It was really good, we shared a meal.
We sat out on the harbor for awhile until it started to rain and then retired for the evening.











Grandma and Judson




Maryland Aquarium




Evening View


Sitting Out on the Harbor after eating at the Cheesecake Factory

Day Four

Well, today was a travel day. We started in Palmyra and ended up in Harrisburg-Hershey Pennsylvania. It was a really beautiful drive. Alot of our travel was on country roads and we even saw a Amish Couple with a little baby in their horse and buggy going along the road. These pictures are some of the things we saw. However, when we got up into higher elevation it was very beautiful with the leaves changing colors, their were red, orange, yellow, green truly beautiful all along the hillside. (But our camera died) so we took some pictures on AJ's cell phone - but Tyler will have to show us how to retrieve them. Tomorrow we will meet up with Meg, Tyler and little Judson. Can't wait.

Day Three

So today we start outside the Hilton Hotel - we drove down and parked and walked along the River and then the Falls.  It is quite an amazing site.  That water is so powerful in fact, AJ's comment was it made him dizzy looking at it.  We then drove across the Rainbow Bridge, where you had to stop and show your passport getting back into the United States (cause the night before Canada didn't care) but he didn't even stamp my passport. We then drove for awhile and stopped to eat (because we never had breakfast) at a Cheeburger.  The Shake was really good but the rest so/so and they of course never heard of fry sauce.  We continued on and finally was on a toll road, they don't have Rest Areas but they are called Service Areas, where they have a gas station, several eateries inside, rest rooms. And then you can continue on. We got into Palymra early afternoon and stopped at the Joseph Smith Farm. Saw the log home, the Frame Home and then walked through the Sacred Grove.  The Spirit was really strong there.  We then drove into Palymra and visited the Book of Mormon Publication Site.  Sister Pinegar gave us the tour and I asked if she was related to Ed Pinegar, she said that is my husband (I went to him back when I was at BYU.  He was a dentist and also taught Religion Classes at BYU which I took several of his classes.) SO I got to see him before we left.  We then visited the Martin Harris Farm. After that we checked into the Palmyra Inn and then went to the Hill Cumorah. We walked up the paved path and then down the dirt path on the other side.  It was very spectacular to be up there and see out as far as we could.  We were up there alone and sat and just took in all that has transpired over these few days.  In the evening we were able to go out to dinner with Bro. and Sis. Jones who have been assigned to the Temple Presidency here.  It was such a nice visit with them.

Outside in Front of the Hilton in NiagaraNiagara FallsThis Is The Room Where Joseph was Visited Three Times During the Night by the Angel Moroni
This is where Joseph hid the plates under the bricks in front of the fireplace when he brought them home the first time from the Hill Cumorah The Frame Home on the Joseph Smith Farm
The Temple Behind UsPalmyra New York Temple
Martin Harris Farm
Angel Moroni on top of the Hill Cumorah

Day Two

Well, I couldn't blog last night. Yesterday morning we went to the Kirtland Visitors Center. While there AJ asked if Sister Knowles was there by chance and just as he finished asking she walked in the door with her companion on their way to a district meeting. For any 9th Ward members reading this (she is from our Singles Ward) Sarah is doing great and loving her mission. It was so good to see her.
A missionary couple took us on a tour of the Kirtland Village. On the second floor of the store was where the School of the Prophets met. The Spirit was very strong there. One interesting tidbit was in the Whitney home in the sitting room was a courting candle. So if they parents liked the gentlemen caller they would put more wick in. If not, it would burn out sooner. We then drove about 30 miles to the John Johnson Farm. Bro. and Sister Cluff were the missionary couple and the Johnsons were her great-grandparents. They only have two weeks left there serving. It truly was a remarkable experience to have her share with us about her heritage. We then
drove back to the Kirtland Temple which is run by the Community of Christ Church. There just was something missing there. Their presentation lacked and the Spirit was not there. But it was very interesting. We then took off toward Niagara Falls. We drove for awhile stopping to eat dinner. We arrived in Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada around 9 p.m. We were up on the 21st Floor of the Hilton (they don't have wifi in your room unless you want to pay) hence why I didn't post. Our room had a window overlooking the United States side of the falls. They have a light show - it was really good.

Breakfast at McDonalds


Newell K. Whitney Store


Newell K. Whitney Home

That is a silver baby bottle with a lead nipple in the cradle


Kirtland Sawmill


John Johnson Farm

Our Trip

 

Today is the first day of OUR TRIP. We arrived in Cleveland, OH around 4 p.m. The turbulence out of Salt Lake was really bad -- I thought I was going to throw up - if felt like being on a roller coaster ride. Anyway we made it here and are ready to visit Kirtland tomorrow.

BYUtiful Day

Need I say more. BYU Rocks!!!! BYU 44 Wyoming 0. On KSL they said that the last time BYU had back to back blowouts was in 1985. BYU beat Wyoming 59 - 0 and the next week beat USU 44 - 0. The exact same scores as this year 2008. Way to go Cougars.

GOOOOOOOO COUGARS!!!!!

Just had to post the score. BYU 59 UCLA 0. It was a great game especially after last weeks controversial ending at Washington. BYU Cougars are for real. I put it on KSL 1160 to hear them call the game while watching it on TV. They were slightly ahead of the plays on TV which was great for me and my nerves.

Ward Outing

Last night we went up to Millcreek Canyon for a cookout. We had hamburgers, hotdogs and of course, Smores. We had about 30 kids come. Driving up the canyon the temperature dropped 10 degrees - it was great to put our hoodies on, eat and sit around the campfire. Fall is definitely in the air.