Grace's Birthday

I'm a bit behind on my blogging, and eventually I will get myself caught up, but until then I'll post the most recent of our comings and goings.

Happy Birthday to my now favorite 4 year old! 

We celebrated  this sweet girl all day long yesterday, and had so much fun! We were just sad that daddy was stuck in Indiana yesterday and couldn't be here to join in on all the birthday fun!

We started off by getting up super early in the morning, and going up to pine valley mountain to go fishing with my brother and his son Kyler. We didn't catch anything which was a bummer, but the cool temperature and the views of the mountain and kids playing made up for it. The kids had a great time and were covered in dirt by the end.

The kids napped on the way home, which allowed us to bathe them as soon as we got home. We headed straight to the movie theater afterwards, where We saw secret life of pets. The kids loved it.

That evening my brother and his family came to my parents house to party. We ate pizza, salad, and root beer for dinner. Afterwards we opened presents, and followed up with cake and ice cream.  We ended the night hitting a piñata which the kids loved!!

Grace hit the jack pot when it comes to presents and still has some waiting at home in Indiana for her. She got Disney princess magic clip dolls. Which is basically an easy way to change the outfits of the princesses. She got the talking big book of boo boo's from doc mcstuffins. She also got Legos, a stamp/art set, a memory game, and a little decorate your own magnet set.

This year Grace was a bit wishy washy on the type of cake she wanted. All year long she wanted doc mcstuffins, but then a month ago she said she wanted a frozen cake. She kept going back and forth. Finally, I decided on doc mcstuffins after I found the figurines on clearance 50% off.  It turned out cute, but most importantly Grace Loved it.

I ended up taking a video of Hayden at the piñata because he was using his baseball skills  and really going to town on it. I'll post it later.

Happy birthday my little Gracie girl!!! We sure love you!!! Thanks for choosing to come to our family.

Myrtle beach day 4

Wednesday was another outside day, but we had nothing planned. We just wanted to soak up the sun, sand, and water at the beach. 

It's been so great because the beach and the ocean is literally the backyard of the resort we are staying at. We can see it from our front porch and our back porch. It has been making the stay pretty dreamy.

We got to the beach early and walked along hoping to spot some wild life in the ocean again. We got lucky AGAIN! We saw a dolphin swimming and splashing around just off shore! It was so neat!

That little splash is in the distance is the dolphin.

The rest of the day we splashed in the water, Played football, walked the beach and built sand castles. It was a fun and dreamy day.

Rosie loved the sea gulls and would just them as fast as her little legs would let her. 

I wanted to make mention that we completely tuckered them out. All three kids had a nap today which is something that hasn't happened since Rosie was a newborn.

Our awesome sand castle with an alligator guard.

Kirtland

I ended up cutting my trip about 3 days short, but ended it on a high note in Kirtland Ohio.  We were not there long, but I was able to go on he church tours and see the Kirtland temple. It was so wonderful to see more of my heritage roots and feel of the spirit there. It definitely strengthened my testimony , and I am so grateful that I got to be there and see so many sacred places.

Kirtland Temple

This is the room where the school of the prophets was held. This is the room were Joseph smith received the word of wisdom and 65 other sections of the Doctorine and Covenants. It is also a room where many visits from Christ and God the Father not just to Joseph but to many other men. The spirit was so strong in this room.

I can't remember the name but this is true river where some of the first baptisms were performed.

Joseph and Emma's bedroom

The saw mill. Newl K. Whitney donated his saw mill for the building of the Kirtland temple.

After our morning in Kirtland the girls and I headed home. Hayden went on to Detroit with Chris and Stephanie.

It was such a fun trip, and the perfect way to launch ourselves into another new adventure.... KINDERGARTEN!

Pennsylvania

After our stay in Ohio we headed on to the family reunion in Sharon Pennsylvania. 

The drive was incredibly beautiful. Rolling hills, wild flowers and trees for miles. When we got to the reunion, I was in heaven. This reunion was on a 200 year old farm, that has stayed with the original family.  The views were incredible and the Alexander family was a pure delight to be around. They were so warm and welcoming of the children and myself even though we technically weren't family. We spent the Friday evening and all of Saturday going for hay rides, singing songs, catching fire flies, playing corn hole, eating way way way way way to much amazing food, riding in the model T, watching the Amish families ride by in their buggies, roasting s'mores and hot dogs, and simply just enjoyed watching the children laugh and play, and visiting each other. It was truly magical and would have been perfect if my sweet hubby would have been there. It was every thing a summer day and evening should be. By the end of the day my kids were covered in dirt and were Sticky. The big smiles on their faces and it made it all worth it.

This farm was stunning and so beautiful. I fell in love with Pennsylvania when I was their, and have since been talking Ron into doing his post doc even farther east.

Grace wasn't happy I wasn't riding with her. 

Sweaty filthy boy.

 Catching fireflies

Grace caught one all by herself

Thre Amish homesteads were something to behold, and looked like they came right out of little house on the prairie. It made me so excited for Ron and My dream farm one day.

Not one but 2 sets of twin horses!! That's almost unheard of!!!

We wore the little ones out. It was so fun to say the least.