Myrtle Beach

Once again Craig went down to Myrtle Beach for a conference in early June and the kids and I went with him.  This visit we stayed at the Marriott right on the beach and loved it.

The Marriott has about 4 pools, a water slide, hammocks and then the ocean just a short walk down to the beach.  I did my best keeping the kids from getting completely sunburned even though we were out playing 8-10 hours every day, (though I was not as successful at keeping my back from getting sunburned).

I'm not sure which the kids enjoyed more, playing in the sand, the waves of the ocean, or the water slide but we did plenty of all of it.

 

We also took the kids down to the board walk and rode the sky wheel one evening.  What a great view of the beach.

I am so grateful for a wonderful husband who works hard even when we were down playing at the pool and ocean all weekend.

Playing with the cousins

We arrived home from our Spring Break vacation and my brother was just starting his families vacation in Williamsburg, VA less than 3 hours from our house, so we unpacked then packed again to visit them for two days.  In Williamsburg of course is Busch Gardens so we found ourselves riding more roller coasters and rides which was fun for us. 

We always have fun playing with our cousins!!

Grandma and Grandpa

We were so excited that Grandma and Grandpa came to visit us on their way home from serving a LDS mission in Nauvoo Illinois.  They were only able to spend a day and a half so we decided to go somewhere close by and took them to the Air and Space museum by the Dulles airport.  It was a good choice since Grandpa loves airplanes and has never been to this museum.

We really love seeing the space shuttle.  It is soooo big.  I think Grandpa loved the Blackbird the best but we couldn't tell as much because he seemed to like every plane that we saw. 

Liam really liked this R2D2 mailbox. 

Then we sat in this Cessna airplane and pretended we were really flying it.  This airplane is similar to the one Grandpa flew and owned. 

We had a really great day and can't wait for them to come back and see us again. 

Legos

The past couple of years we have really discovered Legos.  Liam in particular loves to build and create new ships and gadgets with them.  He especially loves the Star Wars Legos so for Christmas he received these two Lego Star Wars ships.  We sit down and I help sort out the pieces he needs then he puts them together.  We spent a couple of hours on each of these ships.  Then he added all of his Lego people on them.  They have since been torn apart to build other ships and contraptions which is a little harder on me but I love that he can be creative and make his own masterpieces. 

Learning the ropes

Lately Craig has been working on my poor little car trying to get it in working condition.  The other Saturday while he was out working on it I looked out and saw Liam out helping him and handing him some tools.  I am so thankful to have a husband who knows how to work with his hands and work on cars and especially thankful that he is already starting to teach my son some of those skills. 

KINDERGARTEN!!

My 3lb 6 oz baby started Kindergarten this year!!  Seriously, how did that happen?  I do remember some long days when I looked forward to this event but those days quickly turned into months and then years.  Luckily, we only have 1/2 day kindergarten so I am able to get used to the fact that he is not home all day.  I worked that day so Craig stayed home to take him to school and pick him up, it was probably a good thing I did work because I know a few tears would have been shed.  Liam absolutely loves school and was very excited to go.  The first few days he came home and told me all about recess and playing dodge ball and how much he likes his teachers Mrs. Reles and Mrs. Macklin.  

I will admit I am enjoying my time alone with my daughter and I am actually accomplishing a few things while he is at school.  Who knows, maybe I will even be able to work on some of the many projects I find on pinterest. 

Nauvoo

Nauvoo, the city of Joseph

We had an amazing visit to Nauvoo.  My parents are serving as missionaries there and we loved our week spent with them.
We were able to see so many historic sites and spend a lot of time with family but most important we strengthened our testimonies of this amazing gospel with the spirit that is felt in Nauvoo.  

Liam racing Daddy in the potato sack race

Grandma helping Caitlyn make a pioneer doll

Caitlyn loved dressing up in the pioneer clothes

She played house and school at the pioneer park

Also at pioneer park Liam played the pioneer games

The kids loved watching Grandma and Grandpa in the plays

Grandma played a crazy woman and really dramatized her part

Caitlyn wearing Grandma's costume

Liam wearing Grandpa's hat

The young performing missionaries really brought the spirit with their music and performances

Liam and Caitlyn in the children's parade

We went on a wagon ride and carriage ride, the kids loved it

Grandpa gave us the tour of his favorite historic home, the kids liked the brick shop and blacksmith also

We were able to visit with some cousins for a little while also

Grandma and Grandpa babysat so we could attend the temple

The statue of Joseph and Hyrum as they were riding out of town to Carthage

On the way out of town we stopped at Carthage. 

 When we reluctantly packed up to leave I could not help but think of the Trail of Hope and of my own ancestors that packed up all of their belongings to leave their homes, the Temple and this beautiful city they had built.  They left with hope and faith and they took that spirit with them to establish new cities where they could raise their families in peace, not the violence they experienced in Nauvoo and Missouri.  While I can't even imagine how difficult that had to be they did leave with hope because they had their family with them and they knew the family bond was an eternal bond.  Craig and I were able to leave with our own family and while we did leave my parents behind to continue their mission I left with the same hope and faith knowing that I am also bound to my family with an eternal bond, that knowledge was strengthened by my time I spent in Nauvoo.
The memories and souvenirs brought home with us will be a reminder of the precious time we were able to spend there.