Niagara Falls

While my sister and her family were here we decided to take a trip to Palmyra, but before going there we wanted to do Niagara Falls since we live (somewhat) close. They were game, so they joined us on the trip. We got a minivan to fit us all in one car, and we headed out into our adventure. It was really fun to be all together and driving the 7 hours, made the time pass by much more quickly. 

While driving we had to pass through two other states! We started off in the city, then went over to New Jersey, then up through Pennsylvania, then back into New York. It was kinda crazy, but a highlight for me was that we were going to pass right by Scranton, Pennsylvania!!!! I am a HUGE The Office fan, so I was excited just to see the signs for Scranton. So I had Tyler take a picture so I could remember passing by. haha!

We get to Niagara Falls and started looking around. Not much is there besides the Falls, so it wasn't too hard to see all that there was to see. 

 We took a ride on the Maid of the Mist boat, and it was fun! Preston was in his stroller so I didn't put his poncho on him, so myself and my sister stayed in the lower deck with Preston so we wouldn't get too wet. The rest of the boys went up on the top deck and got pretty wet. Here are some pictures of passing by the Falls.

Very pretty Falls, of course not as big as Victoria Falls, but still pretty big and I also loved seeing the rocks at the bottom. 

After that everyone wanted to go and do the walk down to the Cave of the Winds (I think that is what it is called). Preston couldn't go, so I stayed with him at the entrance while everyone else got their special sandals and ponchos on, and started the walk down into the Falls. Tyler thankfully took some pictures down there. 

W and Spencer getting soaked!!!!

Spencer getting soaked.

We had lots of fun see the Falls and also finding a yummy ice cream stand. The next day we drove over to Palmyra, where part of the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints happened. 

Fan Fest

The 2013 All Star Baseball stuff was happening here at Citi Field where the Mets play, and so my sister and her family came up for a week to visit. We were able to do lots while they were here, and one of the highlights was to go to the Fan Fest at the convention center to see and do lots of things.

Spencer and Tyler in front of the big baseball. 

They had lots of activity type stuff for the kids to do, and adults. This one was to steal a base while watching the video of someone pitching. Spencer really liked this one, as did Tyler. 

Here is another one where Spencer was hitting the baseball from a stand. He did pretty well. Because his cousin, W (who is standing in the background), is REALLY great at baseball Spencer has wanted to play. So this fall he is signed up to play!!

Preston liked it too! He got to wear Dad's baseball hat and the necklaces they were handing out. 

What a cutie!!!

Too cute!

There was also this test where it was a big square board with little lights all over it, when one of the lights lit up you had to push the light's button. We all tried and realized that W had the quickest reaction. Could it be because he is 13, and we are all older?? Who knows, but he did win. Tyler got pretty close, as did W's dad, and I wasn't too far behind. 

A little of July

July mostly was a playing around month. Preston is the master of just rolling around on the ground and playing and playing. 

He loves it when I put things on his head for him to grab. That smile kills me too! 

Remember our friends/family in Zimbabwe? I was lucky enough to have another person from the family come visit!!! She lives in Utah, and came out to NYC with two friends to just see the city, it was so great to see her and catch up! 

We loved having friends over to play and enjoyed their company. The boys really liked it, especially since the girl in the middle here helped Spencer figure out some great moves for Planets vs. Zombies, and Preston couldn't get enough of the guy who visited. 

We had lots of days going to the park too. 

Preston loves the swings!

More teeth!!

We also made forts this month. Spencer loved making them, and Preston thought it was fun to tear it all down. 

This is a look I get often. Most of the time it's to see if Mom is watching, and if she is, then make the innocent face. 

We also were able to have my parents here for July 4th and watch the fireworks outside our living room window, but I don't seem to have pictures of it. I guess we were having TOO much fun. 

June catch-up

June was Spencer's last month of school, and Preston started learning how to do a lot more. 

My favorite video of Preston, because you can see all of his fun little tricks that he does. 

Since Preston was mobile, we had to put up the gate in front of Spencer's door so then Preston couldn't get all the little toys in his mouth. During the day he would often sneak back there just to look around in the room, wishing he could play with his big brother's toys. 

Spencer and Tyler got ready for the Father/Son campout for our ward, but sadly a huge thunderstorm was rolling through that whole weekend, and the campsite was most likely to flood so they couldn't go. We were so sad, so we decided to put the tent up in the living room and the boys had a sleepover in the tent that night anyway, I think Spencer had fun doing it. 

Aw, cute Preston, with no teeth yet!

Preston started eating big people food that month, or more of it. He really liked the Oreos I gave him this day.

Spencer's end of school culmination happened, and it was all the things they learned about the second half of the year, which was the history of New York. Each of the kids in class was to become a certain person/job during the 1800s here in New York. Spencer was a cobbler! Here he is in the classroom with his mural behind him ready to tell people what he did and how he did his work. 

Cobbling away.

Finding a costume for this was interesting, but we did it, and thanks to Amazon for one day shipping for the apron. 

These were Spencer's teachers this year!!! They were AWESOME!! Jesse and Michael are so creative and fun, and Spencer loved having them as his third grade teachers. 

This was at a gym that our neighbors go to and they invited Spencer along for a free afternoon. He loved it! Climbing all over stuff is just what he likes to do (he does pretend that he is an American Ninja Warrior). 

Jumping on the trampoline.

The climbing wall!! He did pretty well at this, and got a little over halfway up.

Preston playing with the whale we have, he loves snuggling and playing with him. 

Lifting weights. Getting strong. 

Our friends/family from Zimbabwe were in town in New York for some golf stuff so we were able to see them and have lunch!!! I LOVED that we were able to see them and catch up. To the left is Reeve, whose family is from Zimbabwe and we got to know her whole family REALLY well (we love you!), next to her is Cece who is from Norway, and then Lolly from South Africa. These ladies are amazing people, golfers and examples of service to us all. 

I had to catch this picture of Preston just sitting in the mist of all of his toys, not noticing anyone. 

Then when I came closer he fell over, but still loved being surrounded by toys.

I think this picture of Preston sums up how he is a New Yorker, the King of this city. We were out running errands, and he just is relaxed as anything (even though there are lots of people, cars, and sirens all around). It's like he owns this city!? 

I'm getting closer to being all caught up!! YAY! Good thing to because we are moving in just a few weeks to our place down in Virginia!! Hopefully I can get all the posts up that I want/need to get up. 

Disneyland- the last 3 days

For the other two days we were at Disneyland I did not bring my camera with me, just so we didn't have to lug one more thing around. But here are some of us riding Splash Mountain.

Told you Todd makes good faces for the camera. 

So does Tyler. I don't think Spencer was trying to make a face, but he did a good job at it. 

On Friday everyone went to the beach, but Preston and I stayed home. He got sick at the end of the week, along with three other little ones, so I kept him home. But also because we burn SO quickly, and Preston already had a little sunburn on his legs, so he took a nap at home, and we played. 

Tyler and Spencer went with the rest of the family to the beach and had a blast! Spencer loves playing in the sand, and swimming a little in the ocean. 

They also swam in the pool at the house we rented for the week. I love this picture of the three boys.

One thing Spencer learned after going to the beach with dad....don't have dad put on sunscreen. This is what happens when dad sprays sunscreen and thinks he got everywhere. 

Pretty cool design, and it didn't hurt Spencer too bad. This is when it started to peel a couple of weeks later. 

Tyler lounging on the beach. 

This trip was SO FUN, even though Preston got sick, we were exhausted and Spencer got sunburnt. I would do it all over again, it was THAT good. Hopefully we can go when the younger ones are older, because it was hard with a baby in a stroller. So we'll definitely have to go again as a family in about 5 or 6 years.