Get Away 2012

In July, I begged Jake to get me out of Gilbert. . .It had already been a long, hot summer, and I needed OUT!  So, the week after school started, I planned that we take a long weekend and get out of Gilbert!  I made Jake my companion, used points on Southwest, and a free trip and I planned where to go.  Well, there were a couple of places that I thought sounded fun. . .Jake didn't care where we went, so one day when it was a 115 degrees, really and I was miserable I decided the coolest place that we could realistically go was. . .Northern New York!  We had a plan, it got a little hairy when the Dr that works for Jake, his father in law died.  No coverage on Saturday and there would be a relief vet working short.  . .Literally, we didn't know if we were going, until Jake came home to leave.
We left a week after the boys went back to school and flew into Buffalo. 

Niagara Falls was our first stop on Friday morning.  I Loved everything about it.  Everything.  The amount of water that came off of the falls was so amazing, the green the power of the water everything.  I really thought the clourds were amazing.  We parked in New York and walked over to Canada.  We had many people tell us to ride Maid of the Mist.  Loved that.  It was so amazing to see it all up close and really made me appreciate it all so much more.   

We laughed when we came back to America that we had to pay to get back in!!  It struck us funny when we paid our fifty cents and came back into America!

We drove to Palmyra, New York and got to see some of the church history sites.  This clouds and sunsets were so beautiful.  This one was taken from the Hill Cummorah. 

 

 

When we got to Palmyra, we went and saw the Smith family home.  It was pretty amazing to learn and actually be in the area where Joseph Smith actually grew up, and prayed and was blessed to learn the truth and start his translation of the Book of Mormon.  It was interesting to lean that the temple is built on some of the Smith family land.  I was disappointed that we didn't get to do a session, but we loved getting so see that beautiful edifice and feel the Spirit in the area. 
The Grandin Print Shop was our first stop the second day and I was pleasantly surprised to see the office and learn more about it.   It truly testifies of the Lord's hand in all things. 

We took the opportunity to spend a good amount of time in the Sacred Grove and the feeling in the Grove was so peaceful and the area was gorgeous.  I will truly count this one of the most amazing parts of our trip.   

After our visit to Palmyra, we hopped in the car and drove to Kirkland, Ohio.  It was interesting to see the historic center and learn more about the time that the Saints lived in Kirkland. 

On Sunday, we went to church in the Kirkland ward, it was their ward conference and it just gave a pleasant feel when they read the notes of the Kirkland Ward Conference.  Crazy to be there!  After church we went to the Kirkland temple.  It was truly amazing to see the temple that the early saints sacrificed so much to build.   

We also went to the John Johnson farm.  I think this was probably one of my favorite places.  I really gained a deep sense of gratitude for these early pioneers sacrifices and the amount of their faith to give so much.  Jake made the point that it made him understand the saying where are your sites, and what our sites were what we would get.  I do love these early pioneers and the example they set.   

Lake Erie.  We went and walked along Lake Erie, it was pretty amazing to see the great lake and see the size of the lake, for this Arizona girl, I have never seen anything so big! 

We enjoyed our trip. The 70 degrees, the beauty was amazing!  I am so grateful that we got to go, as we were coming home, we were trying to decide when to bring our boys! 

A Democrat in our House?!!!

Spencer always puts a smile on my face with the things he says. Sunday was no different. He was talking about the Pledge of Allegiance, he told us that it annoyed him to have to say it, and sometimes he didn't say it. We asked him why, which he proceeded to say, my teacher said that when you pledge allgiance, what you are saying is that you are promising your country that you will do your best, and sometimes he doesn't want to do his best. I proceeded to tell him that if he doesn't want to do his best he isn't going to want to be a cub scout because they always promise to do their best (he can't wait to be a cub scout). He thought for a few minutes and reported that he guessed he would say the pledge. He then proceeded to tell us that when he grew up he was going to be a gasp Democrat. Jake took it in stride and said ok Grandpa Knapp (my grandfather that I never knew was a Democrat) -- I guess we will have to see what becomes of my aspiring Democrat, but I sure love our Spencer boy!

Snocones for Sale!

 

In June and July, I marked one of the things that I really wanted the boys to be able to have a snocone stand.  They did it!  Along with a dozen of their favorite friends at different times.  They made about 50 dollars to have a late night, that still is to come. . .
Ryan sold snocones when the firework stand was across the street and made 30 dollars on his own.  I was proud of fhim, as this is a stretch for him!  It was hot, and these boys all earned their snocones, that is for sure!

All Caught up!

This is a text that Jake sent me while he and the boys were in Utah.  They forgot or wore an odd combination of clothes or forgot items.  It really is demonstrative of all three of them and their personalties! 

I finally caught up with blogging!  What a  crazy summer we have had!  Glad to be caught up, but wish I would have stayed on it.  Here is to turning over new leaves!

2nd, 5th and 8th!

 

 

 

We started school today.  The boys were really excited to get back to see friends, meet new friends and get started with the new year.  I think they are hopeful that they will all like their teachers, and with the excessive heat, they might as well be back to school.  Ready or not, here we go!  I will miss having them home, but I know they will enjoy the new things they will learn!  I can't believe they are getting so OLD! 

Honey and Sugar and YOUTUBE

 

Two or three bored boys -- not sure if Jacob was involved or not -- but Sunday, while Jake and I were walking, the boys made candy makeup.  I guess I am glad they documented it! 

Lego Camp and a Movie

 

 

My boys all went to a legos camp this summer.  They LOVED it.  They learned lots of new secrets and were anxious each time they got to go.  Ryan and Jacob went to a camp that used alternative forms of energy, and Spencer went to a robotics camp that they learned some basics of creating robots. 

Ryan has been working on a Legos movie. The pictures above are a handful of the pictures that if you were to look at my camera you would find.  He has posed all of this legos and taken meticulous pictures of these legos and when we get a chance, he will make a movie.  I love to see the effort he will put into something that HE is interested in! 

Horseback Riding

You would never know that this little boy was fussing about having to go horseback riding by his face would you?!  I took the boys down to go riding at some friends down the street. 

Ryan is always cautious. . .he did have fun, though

Jacob rode a really tall horse, and was shaking to begin with, but ended up having a blast.  Jake was a bit embarassed by the helmets, but all three had a blast! 

Science Center

 

 

I bought an annual pass for the Science Center this year from Groupon.  The boys LOVE going to the science center, they were interested and amazed at the math exhibit they had and how math is used in our daily life.  They were really glad to go back to a couple of their favorites, the weather interactive and being able to dam up the water. . .The boys had so much fun, we really need to head down there SOON!

Tadpoles and Cousins

 

 

After a really violent storm, there was lots of standing water.  While we were visiting my parents, my boys and their cousins, found TADPOLES!!!!  They had so much fun playing in the water and catching TADPOLES.  Gross.  They collected them in a shopping bag and otter pop container -- they weren't very happy with me as I wouldn't let them bring the gross things in my NEW car.  Thankfully, Grandpa took them home, otherwise they would have had to hoof it. . .

Redneck Swimming

 

 

 

My parents called while my sister in law was visiting from Oklahoma -- we are irrigating, do your boys want to come over?  Cooper and Spencer had SOOOO much fun playing in the water outside!!!  It was like a dirty swimming pool.  Ryan and Jacob enjoyed the water, but got bored and came in and played with the little girls and with legos.  Fun times!

Swim Team

Ryan swam in a private swim team this year.  It was hard, it was a little bit of a drive, but there weren't very many people in it and they actually helped Ryan learn how to do things just a bit better.  So glad he was able to participate!

Bowling

 

 

I took Ryan, Jacob and a friend, Lincoln bowling with a Groupon this summer.  We had soooo much fun!  The boys, and I had a blast --- yep, I love the bumpers being up and being able to bowl lots of strikes and spares!