Hill Cumorah Pageant, Family Vaca Pt. 2

 So I know it isn't the next day, but I warned you.  I'm kind of just going with the flow of things right now and just post when I can...oh, who am I kidding, I post when I'm feeling it.  I'm finally feeling it, so here is the rest of our trip.

The Pageant was actually the main reason we even stayed with my cousin in Rochester, can you believe Niagara was just a bonus?!  That place was amazing!  But the Pageant was just as awesome, and the site seeing was really fun.  I was afraid that the kids wouldn't do well during the pageant, but they were so mesmerized by the pageant it was never an issue to get them to pay attention, which made it so much more enjoyable for me that I was able to actually watch the show!

Here is the stage right before the show.  The actors were walking around the crowds in costume, which was really neat.  What's even more amazing is that all the actors are volunteers!  The effects had the coolest 'WOW!' factor!  There was a boat that sailed through the ocean, a storm that ripped the sail, lightening, it was unbelievable. 

At the top of the Hill Cumorah.

The Palmyra Temple

 

 

Smith House and Barn

While we were site seeing the Smith property a few storms came through.  We thought it would just blow over and took refuge at the visitors center.  It slacked off a little, but that was just the beginning.  As we walked around the stormy clouds started blowing in with lightening striking very close.  My main goal was to walk through the Sacred Grove, but with the erratic storm we weren't sure we would be able to make it.  We walked down the path to the woods behind the property where a nice couple missionaries were sitting under a tent and told us that they are advising people that it isn't safe to go in at that moment.  No big, we just stood there with them chatting as we waited for the all clear.  Once another guide came over the walkie talkie that it was alright to go we headed in.  It was really neat being in there, the trees created this canopy over head so we couldn't even see the sky.  We couldn't see the sky but we saw the flashing of lightening and according on the thunder that followed it was close!  We picked up the pace and practically ran out of the grove, and just in time, when we got to the exit there were workers that were just coming through to evacuate the grove.  I was super sad that we couldn't spend more time walking around.  We'll just have to go back and make sure that we check the weather before heading out!

We also checked out the Printing Press where the first Book of Mormon was published.  They had the same original floors that the Smith's and Martin Harris would have walked on.

This is a first edition Book of Mormon they had on display.  It was a really nice family vacation and I was so happy that I could take my kids and enjoy history that way.

Arrow of Light

 I truly am proud of my Tobie and this great accomplishment, he received his Arrow of Light.  It helps that he really enjoys Scouts and it's always an added bonus when you have your Dad as your Scout Master pushing you...ha!

 Here's the incredible good looking Scout Master pinning Tobie...heehee...;)

 And here is Tobie struggling to get my pin on.  I think I took over after a minute or two because I didn't want to get blood on my shirt.

Theo got the idea to build a "bridge" for the boys to walk over to represent their crossing over into Boy Scouts.  He had a boy represent from each of the levels of Cub Scout come up and place a rock on the floor.  After the Tiger, Wolf, Bear and Webelo placed their rock Theo put 2X4's down and had the boys walk across it with the Mother's helping along the way.

It was a nice ceremony, and ended it with eating the Arrow of Light cake. :)  Now Theo and Tobie have been getting ready all week for Scout camp next week.  Tobie will actually be having his birthday while he is at camp.  I don't know how I feel about that...but Theo assures me it is going to be so much fun Tobie won't have time to be homesick.  I hope he's right, Theo has so many fond memories of Scouts that it isn't hard to get him involved in all the activities with Tobie.  I'm a little jealous, but really, with 4 girls I have a LOT of Girls' Camps to look forward to!

Easter 2013

 We have a really good Coast Guard group here in that they like to throw parties for the holidays.  They had an Easter Egg Hunt on the Saturday before the Saturday before Easter.  The kids loved seeing the Bunny, in fact Charlotte probably loved him the most, she kept going up to him and getting in other people's shots!  Another Coast Guard friend took this picture for us, isn't the helicopter a cool back drop?!

The Ward Primary Easter party almost didn't happen.  They usually have the YW put on a Spring Fling party that includes an egg hunt, but for some reason this year it's 2 weeks after Easter, so instead of canceling the Primary egg hunt I stepped up and volunteered to plan it.  It was a lot of work, but I have awesome help from the Primary President, 2nd Counselor, Secretary and other very eager volunteers.  If it wasn't for all these people there would have been no way I could have created something so much fun!

 This is the spot for the Easter Bunny to sit.  Not as cool as the helicopter, but I couldn't fit that into the gym.

 We had a cookie station for the kids so they could decorate Easter themed cookies.  I made all the icing, but I had lots of help with people donating cookies.

 This was another station where they did all kinds of crafts.  They made a funny bunny hat (scroll down to see Miriam modeling her creation), a hanging Easter accordion egg, a cute chicky plate and coloring pages.

 This is actually where we had the hunt.  At our church building there is no back yard area, it's just all parking area.  Then in the front is a busy road, so no outside area for a decent egg hunt.  So I just created one in the hallway of our church.  This is before the eggs were placed, but imagine a ton of eggs on chairs, on door handles, in the hallway...everywhere!!

 We also had a guess how many jelly beans are in the jar contest.  Can you believe that there was actually a girl who got the exact number right!!  The prize was the jelly bean jar!

 We did the hunt in waves.  First the Sunbeams and Nursery got to go, then we reset and let the Valiants go, then reset for the last time and let the CTR's go. 

 Charlotte wasn't really getting the concept yet, she kept grabbing the eggs and putting them in other peoples baskets!  She was content with the ones she could hold, but didn't concern herself with filling up her own basket.

 This is down the other side of the hall.  Hannah with her friend Lilia are combing the place to make sure they got them all.

 This is the funny bunny hat I went with.  I think it's hilarious!  And it's different than the plain bunny ears one, thanks Pinterest!

 That is one happy Bunny!!  I wonder who that could be?

 Oh right, it's Theo!  LOL!!  Of course since I'm in charge of it I assigned the costume wearing to my husband.  He loved it though, and did an awesome jig for the kids, seriously it was so funny I almost wet myself...

Our lovely family photo, except Charlotte had already had her fill of Mister Bunny so she wasn't cooperating.  But it was a super fun day and I was so happy I got to head it up.

 Of course I had to include a picture of the kids in their Easter Sunday best.  Aren't they just too adorable!

I had to include this one also, I have no idea what was so funny but they are so cute.  I really was a great Easter season, I hope everyone else had a good Easter as well!