Water Gun Fight!

 

When we moved into the "new" house the one thing the kids loved about it was the backyard. That's it. The yard. All they have wanted their young lives is to have a nice size back yard so they can run and play hide and seek, and hopefully have a hammock and a blow up pool. They have loved every minute of it and have taken advantage of it since summer solstice. 

So the first thing they asked us to buy was a slip and slide and water guns. So we bought both but they couldn't wait to set up the slip and slide and because they wanted to test the waters went old school and played with the sprinkler instead and had a water gun fight. And it was the best sight of my two youngest I have ever seen. Totally reminded me of my sister and I when were little without the water guns. 

And they are going to continue to take advantage of every hot day outside in our backyard getting wet until school resumes! 

Light Leaks In Brooklyn!

So happy to be a 70's baby and to have been raised in the 80's. This amazing immersive art installation took place in Brooklyn and it took me back to the 70's where Chelsea and I took in the sounds of listening and dancing to the background music while a ton of disco balls were glistening all throughout the room. Truly a genius creation. Light Leaks is the place to go that will take you back in time to relive the 70's. So glad they expressed their creation with disco lights and balls for 50 days! It's no longer on display but hopefully they'll come back again next year! 

Sunflower Season!

Sunflower season is blooming and being that we live in the garden state there are so many sunflower fields to go to. I discovered this beautiful sunflower field last month on my way to Freehold called Del Jardin. It truly is a hidden gem and a simple field at that. Never have I've been to a peaceful and more secluded place. If you go as soon as they open on Thursday or Friday you can find some time for yourself and take in the beauty of the flowers. Noah was photographer for that moment and he captured me pretty well I think! 

Dog Days Of Summer!

Since the end of July summer in the east has been scorching hot with heat waves and high temperatures. And August was worse with Hurricane Henri bringing in a ton of rain to New York and New Jersey which set off sweltering temps nearing 100 degrees! Luckily I'm an archaic mom and bought an old school slip and slide so the kids can play on and cool themselves off. Our little neighbor Gwen joined in on the fun and the kids had such a fun time. If you follow my Instagram I created a couple of reels of the kids slipping and sliding! So fun and you can watch them here and here! As much as I love fall weather I don't want summer to end yet. There is still so much I want to do with these kids and so little time. It's not like I can pull them out of school like I did during the pandemic for a day of relaxing and adventuring. We will try to soak in more days of summer before it ends because I can already feel the autumn breeze coming in! 

For The Beauty of The Temple.

Going to the temple even if it's to walk the temple grounds is peaceful especially in the summer time with all the colorful flowers. I don't know what heaven would be like but I can only imagine it will be surrounded by beauty and cleanliness. 

While on our trip to Palmyra we stopped by the temple and we walked all around it.The flowers that surround this small building were bright in color. We could have just sat here all day and just gazed at the sun. Pondering our heaviest thoughts and imagining what it would be like to be together forever. No matter what annoyances and disagreements we bring in a family we know that at the end of the day we can choose to overcome, find a resolve and be happy. Find joy if you will and learn from the lessons that might have been trying that day. To not stress over the little things that we have no control of. God will not judge us because He knows us. And He also wants us to see those small miracles that are waiting to happen to us. 

After a year of the temples being close due to the pandemic I am so happy that they are now open for us to attend to gain and feel that peace again. I only hope that they won't shut down again because of the surge of the delta variant virus again. And if they do, we can always just go anyway and walk the temple grounds just like we did on this day.

Peter Whitmer Farm.

Going to the Peter Whitmer farm is another great reminder of how The Church of Jesus Christ started. It was where the church was first organized and where they first held church service with like eight people. It's also nostalgic for me to go to historical log cabin homes like this and like the the Joseph Smith log home, reminds me of my childhood. Not necessarily how the house looks but the fact that it was small and simple. I love it and I love the feeling that it brings as we tour and walk around through and around it. Although these kids are all about the city they also find solace in visiting places like this.

Joseph Smith Log Cabin.

I literally grew up in a house this size except it was one story with three rooms. Our shower & bathroom we’re outside. I never complained of our living conditions as a child but as I grew older in my teens was embarrassed to show my friends where I lived. Eventually I learned not to care and to appreciate the fact that I at least had a roof over my head. 

I’m always in awe when I come to Palmyra and see the little house Joseph Smith grew up in. As I walk in I am reminded of the necessities we need. And we never need a lot. Just enough to make our house a home. A bed, clothes, blankets, kitchen with simple gadgets to cook meals with. 

I’m grateful for the house we have now and that it’s not gigantic, but roomy enough to fit my family and the things we need. 

And to have a yard is pretty dreamy. It helps put our kids to work and to get their hands dirty, and keep up with the yard and garden. This is how we grow up & learn and to be humble and thankful in appreciating all that we have. 

Because Joseph Smith & his family did just that. 

Atop The Hill Cumorah in 2021.

We've been home for almost two weeks from our little getaway trip to Palmyra and already missing it! I love upstate New York and the quietness that it brings. As much as I love living near the city and in a borough that has a lot of action, every now and then I long for that stillness of nature of peace and tranquility and going to Palmyra to see the church history sites does it for me. Some may not think that's boring (especially if you're not into Jesus) but as for and my family we love coming here so for the next few days I will be documenting about the places we went to and our little adventures. A lot has changed since the pageant was permanently canceled but we still love coming up here to remember it all. Those little reminders of what happened here years agohstrengthen us and build our love for the Savior even more. 

Girls Beach Date!

Beach days are an absolute must in the summer time and since we only live about 40 minutes away take advantage of our time to go. We've been a few times this summer and plan to go again before school starts! While Noah was at scout camp we decided to have a girls beach date and we had so much fun. The water was extra warm and we literally didn't want to get out of the water! Chelsea was a true aqua woman and having the best time and even though she missed Noah at times it was nice for her to be able to go deep into the ocean and swim. Normally she'll stay close to Noah and play in the water with him but since he's not a swimmer doesn't like going in too deep. So chelsea went all in and took advantage of the waves! I myself am not a great swimmer and so I too stay close to the shore. Maybe it's cause I'm getting old. LOL! Anyway, we had such a blast just the two of us. We should definitley make this a tradition when dad's at work and Noah is away at scout camp! 

Noah's First Scout Camp!

Time has certainly flown by these past few years especially for Noah. He had his very first scout camp trip last month and I am so proud of him for enduring the entire week while developing a bit of homesickness! I knew something like this would happen but he had a great time and by the time Thursday came around he was better and had a great time being around the kids his age learning new skills. Merit badges are the absolute best to gain but he didn't come home with any and that's okay. He's only 11 and next year he will learn more and become a better swimmer and hopefully bring home some badges! I can't believe my boy is almost as tall as I am! I will always remember the very first time he became a Cub Scout. And now he's a Boy Scout! Seriously though, where has the time gone?

Jason Naylor Art Exhibit.

If I had 7,000 bucks I would have definitely bought a painting from the one and only Jason Naylor. He is an absolute gem when it comes to art and his creativity when painting his pictures. I love that they all portray acts of love, kindness, peace, and hope in reaching out to the world that he is indeed spreading inspiration in the city. Especially when everyone was experiencing isolation at the time Covid began. I know his colorful words of inspiration gave people hope. We have seen many of his murals throughout the boroughs of New York and when we heard he was having his first solo gallery exhibition called, "Reading Between The Lines" in Brooklyn for one day we headed on out to see what he had left. All he had were two huge paintings left and unfortunately couldn't spend our stimulus check on it! LOL! It would have been nice but I guess I'll have to save my pennies for next time but look how colorful and gorgeous these paintings are! If you live in the city and hear about Jason Naylor having another exhibit please go check it out. He is also a very pleasant person to talk too! 

Graffiti Train.

It was a cloudy afternoon in May when we decided to go for a drive toward New Hope to check out this graffiti train that is located in Lambertville. Although it was a pretty cool train I still wouldn't touch anything except the handle to climb in. I was however impressed with how clean it was. There were no empty spray cans, needles, trash, empty cans, etc. Still...we were careful and had fun while capturing the moments inside this train cause after all...how often do you find a hidden gem like this in a small Jersey town. 

We also stumbled along another train while on a walk along the D &R Canal trail that was not very clean. We only stayed for about five minutes to take a few photos and then we headed back to town where we crossed the bridge and Noah stood in two states at once. 

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens!

The summer month of July went by so fast and there is so much to document and write about. So much that deals with current events of the world, moving into a new place and of course writing about our adventures. I love keeping up with our day to day and sharing it online particularly with my friends and family who live far away. It's something that I love to do that keeps me sane and is very therapeutic for me. We have so much culture at our fingertips where we live and as long as I am able to find the time I love venturing out with the kids and taking them to the unknown.