Hill Cumorah Pageant '16

The past couple of weeks of July have gone by so fast that it seems as if we came back from upstate New York yesterday! After blogging about Lexie attending EFY in Kirtland yesterday I realized that i didn't document our spontaneous, quick trip to Palmyra to catch the Hill Cumorah Pageant. 

When we picked up Lexie on saturday morning we figured we weren't too far from Palmyra, and we all decided to take advantage and watch the pageant. It's become tradition, and we didn't want to break tradition! Counting our blessings for five hour energy drinks in which Jon takes only when we drive more than five hours, and in this case we did. 

We normally stay overnight at a friends home in Palmrya, but ended up going home right after the pageant. We figured since it was so last minute not to impose on them. Come to find out they weren't home all weekend due to a reception, and when I mentioned to them how we were there the weekend they were gone said how we could have had their whole house to ourselves! Such awesomeness coming from great friends, but it was meant for us to go straight home, and even though we arrived at 5am we still managed to attend church at 9am! Jon and I were running on fumes, but were coherent during sunday school, and I was asked to teach on the temple next week which is tomorrow! I think all the commenting I've done in class in this ward has prompted the Relief Society President to ask me to teach! I'm excited to finally teach a lesson. I hadn't taught one in so long, and the time couldn't be more perfect. Especially since we have the Philadelphia temple ready to open the doors to the public. I have been preparing my lesson in hopes that it'll inspire at least one person! 

The pageant, as always is spiritually amazing! We just love coming here. We had the time to walk through the sacred grove, and go by the temple. 

Another small, beautiful temple! 

Wish we had time to go through, but it was nice to walk the grounds, and capture these cute kids in front of the sign with such beautiful flowers. I look at this picture compared to last years post, and the kids somewhat look the same, but are still getting older. Wish they wouldn't! 

As always Jon took the kids on a "prophet hunt." Noah was so excited, and always looks forward to this. It's almost like an "i spy a prophet" game. He is getting better at becoming familiar with the prophets from the book of mormon. I know that by teaching him at home, and especially when we come here that it helps him to remember who they are, and what they did, as well as beginning to appreciate their role in how they lived their life. 

Here are a few photos of a few prophets he spotted. Of course the first one that caught his eye was Joseph Smith. 

 Here's my sweet Noah with the not so nice Noah!

 Like me Noah has a few favorite prophets. There are just so many that were such great examples to the world. Here he is with Abinadi.

Lehi. 

and here are all the kids with two of Lehi's sons Nephi, and the not so nice Laman. 

We absolutey love coming here every year. It's like spiritual food, and going to Kirtland before coming here was perfect! So grateful for these opportunities, and the blessings that come from it. Here's hoping that everyone will make it to the pageant someday. It'll truly change your life, and you'll leave feeling so inspired! 

What Matters Most- EFY In Kirtland

"Mom, thank you for letting me come to Kirtland for EFY. I learned so much here, and everything that was taught to me has helped me in so many ways." That was the text I received from Lexie on the day we were in route back to Kirtland to pick her up from EFY. I felt her spirit through that text so strongly, and couldn't wait to arrive so that she can tell us all about her experiences. 

Although we saw all the church sites together earlier in the week having her go again with her company was extremely special. She had the opportunity to tour everything twice, and to really take in all the history and stories of the Church sites in this part of Ohio. 

But most of all to really appreciate it, and to know that she comes here for a spiritual purpose. 

I am so happy that she chose to come to Kirtland this year. It truly was a special, and unique experience for her compared to when she went to EFY in Buena Vista last summer. Don't get her wrong, she absolutely loved her first experience, but she mentioned that because this particular session was all hands-on talking about church history, and actually being at the sites made it a unique experience. She chose this location on her own motive, and we were obliged to drive her there. 

Her company was amazing, and her roommate Julia was an absolute gem. 

There were only two girls to a dorm this year as opposed to four girls to a dorm back in Virginia, and I think that because it was just the two of them that they really took the time to bond, and get to know each other. Lexie is all for making new friends no matter where she goes, and she made a very special one here.

Her entire company seemed so unified, and when she told me the stories of all that they did, she mentioned that everyone was extremely happy to be together and to have met one another. She absolutely loves her counselor, and mentioned that they didn't allow any "cliques" to be created, and if there were any signs of that the counselor would nip that in the bud. Now that's my kind of counselor! 

Since Lexie didn't have a smartphone she took a few Polaroids, and here are a few photos that Julia sent me from their week at EFY.

The kids toured the N.K. Whitney Store at the visitors center, and Lexie found it intriguing to hear the stories behind N.K. Whitney, Isaac Morley, and John Johnson. 

Here's the lovely Julia again whom I could tell was going to be an awesome roomie and friend to Lexie. Especially since she called me "fly" for having a snapchat! I love her and hope to see her again soon! 

I always enjoyed hearing Sierra's experiences when she attended EFY and to have heard Lexie's is so different. So cool to have two daughters tell me of their similar, yet unique experiences and feelings of EFY and for me as a mother to listen to it in different perspectives. 

I'm so grateful that these youth had a great week. They have all been in contact since they went home, and for once I actually heard Lexie talking, not texting on the phone to her friends that she met here! Very rare for teens to talk on the phone these days, and it was a nice sight to hear Lexie actually talking and not texting. 

I totally saw that her entire company were going to miss each other. They called themselves the Partridge family (which they're holding a banner in the first photo I posted). I can see in the pictures that it's all bittersweet.

So grateful for this program that puts the special editions of EFY together. They were having one in Nauvoo and palmyra, but because Lex had never been to Kirtland decided to go there. 

And I'm so glad she picked that location, and that we all went! 

Like the theme this year, "what matters most" Lexie really took that to heart, and hopes to always be better in putting what matters most first. Especially the things that lead us to Jesus Christ. 

"If life and its rushed pace, and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most."

Brothers, and sisters, diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the world." 

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Princeton University Art Museum.

Last year when I took Noah to the art museum over at Princeton University I was bummed that we didn't bring the girls. Since we moved to Jersey we've always made trips to Princeton as a family, but because they were in school that day weren't able to come. Bummed or not it was always nice to have had our mommy and son dates. 

This past Tuesday we all ventured out to the museum, and because we live closer to Princeton it only took us 15 minutes to get there. Not that I minded the 45 minute drive before, but this time we were able to take our time, and see the museum in its entirety, and the kids even got to play in the fountain. We sure do love this area! 

It was such a beautiful day to walk on the university grounds, and to be surrounded by an artistic environment is such a blessing. 

Lexie was amazed at the artwork, and has really become obsessed with European art. 

Noah was even more appreciative of the art this time around now that he's a bit older. I had to chuckle at some of the questions he was asking as we were walking around looking at the exhibit, and wanted to know the meaning behind the sculptures, paintings, and artifacts. He asked questions such as "why does this statue have one arm?" "Where did it come from?" and "is it real?" 

 I think watching "the Night at the museum"one time too many times has him thinking that the whole museum will come to life!

He was looking at these little artifacts, and asked, "mommy, will everything come alive tonight when it's closed?" I said, "no papa, it's nothing like the movie."

Here he is staring at the mummy as if he's waiting for him to pop out of his casket to reveal itself. It was so cute and funny to see Noah's reactions, and pauses to make sure I was telling the truth. The sun was going down, and no live mummy. Sorry son. 

It was so nice to watch Noah studying, and figuring out what the heck kind of artwork this was. I told him it was Chinese handwriting, and he thought it was different, and so cool.  

 I personally thought these paintings were fun, and loved the bright colors. 

The European part of the museum was amazing. From a distance I thought that this painting was that of Hamilton, and lexie was like, "no mom." So we walked around to see if Hamilton was hanging up somewhere, but to no avail. We sure do love that founding father. 

On our way from visiting the museum the kids decided to play in the fountain for a bit. We figured it was legal since we saw numerous folk sunbathing, and kids splashing in it. Kind a looked a bit tacky for my taste, but said to myself, "who cares, it's hot today!" So I told the kids to go ahead, get in, and have some fun! 

Noah did most of the splashing, and was the only one who completely got soaked. Next time we come here we are definitely bringing towels, and a change of clothes!

We even took a few photos with our "year of the animal." 

 I'm so grateful to be living in this part of Jersey where art is majorly exposed to the community, and because there's so much appreciation for it we too never want to take it for granted.