Christmas 2010

Hershey was excited for Christmas this year.We didn't expect her enthusiasm...
Mallory on the other hand was ecstatic to get another pet. One that doesn't poo....

Court can now become a world famous designer thanks to Connor's gift...

And proof that they really do love each other. (One of my favorite gifts...)

And the family gift.

There was even more screaming later as we told them of our set excursions. Pete and the kids spoiled me this year with everything I wanted. Pete got almost everything on his list. The Ferrari may have to wait a few years. A very merry Christmas this year!

Family Movie Night

The girls school had a movie night that we attended. Connor came for the first little bit and then gave up the bean bag to Court and her friends. Mallory abandoned us to sit with her friend
And Court was just waiting for Connor to vacate the bean bag.

Pete and I lugged the reclining camping chairs over and we were very comfy!

Mallory's 1st league game

Mallory had her 1st game of the season. She was put in three times and did a really good job of knowing where to be.

One down, more on the way!

Court's 1st League Game

Courtney had her first game last night. She did really good. Saturday they had three games to play in a tournament but this was the first league game to start us off. Court got her same number from last year. She is excited about that. Pete is her teams assistant coach this year.

Christmas Decorations

The kids helped decorate this year and now I'm ready for the holidays!

Courtney Get's her Braces

Courtney got her braces today and was excited to have her Basketball team colors on. It really was a freezing cold day. Yesterday they canceled school! Hello winter!

Where in the World is Pete today?

In the last month Pete has had to travel again. It's been a really long time since this was the norm and it hit me like a ton of bricks.

1st off was a trip to Detroit. Yes, Detroit. It didn't seem to have much potential (Pete's edits: by the way, these are business trips, so not sure what Julie means by potential? Not much difference from one conference room to another, but I guess going to Detroit just sounds depressing) but in the end Pete had a good time at the progressive dinner that took them to a few really good places through town (this is true, we went to an Iron Chef's restaurant and ordered "Beast of the Day", this should be on all menus). Then he headed home for a few days (the weekend) and was off again on trip #2. This one was in Denver. It was all that was anticipated except for the call he got from his boss.

Scenario:

Tuesday evening

phone rings

Pete: Hi hon. How much do you love me? (always a good opening, eh?)

Me: A lot. What's up?

Pete: I may have to go to Munich. (read, "I have to go to Munich")

Me: When?

Pete: Saturday.

Dead silence.

Me: I'm coming too right?

I did go online just for the sake of it. The cheapest ticket I could find was 1700+ before taxes. A definite no go.

This trip was a quick turn around for international travel. Saturday fly out, Wednesday fly home. At least that was the plan. The flight was canceled in Munich (the plane was smoking, always a bad sign) and he had to stay another day (mainly in the airport). Then in Chicago his flight kept getting delayed. Because Pete is used to it, he'd been watching and caught a different flight. Way to go Pete!

So home Thursday (night @ 9pm), work meeting Friday 8:30am, long day of catch up, Halloween party at work with the kids, Halloween party for us (way fun by the way!), Saturday he got to sleep in and then we had the trunk or treat at church. Sunday he wakes up in a panic because he doesn't know the day. I pat him on the shoulder and tell he it's Sunday go back to sleep. Poor guy!

Monday another work day plus assisting at basketball practice with Courtney and then on another plane at 6am Tuesday (Phoenix, but hey, it's 90 degrees here. nice). What a mess. We're both hoping it will be slower. At least for a little while! (amen)

Where has the Time Gone?

I haven't been taking pictures because there hasn't been much going on. Well besides school every day, open gym for the girls twice a week, jazz band for Connor, band for Courtney, piano lessons for all three of the kids, Y/M for Connor, activity days for the girls, I think that's all of it....

The girls had Basketball tryouts and both made their teams. Today starts the 2-3 times a week of practices. Pete has volunteered to be Courtney's assistant coach. That will help if there is ever a conflict with the girls schedules. They are both excited and Pete and I are very proud of them.

We went to the Intel party and we had our picture taken. Yeah! One Halloween picture!

Erie Canal

On Saturday Tara told us we should see Pittsford so we did. I loved this little "village". They have preserved the old buildings along the canal and made them into little boutique's. We think we need some of these water fountains put in around Oregon. Hershey would love it.
It was really pretty along this walk.
We took the kids to the movies after our sightseeing. Pete took Connor to see The Sorcerer's apprentice and I took the girls to see Ramona and Beezus. They started within a few minutes of each other. It worked out great! On Sunday we headed home.
Our seasoned travelers!!

Our flight from Rochester to Detroit was great but our flight from Detroit home was a zoo!! We made it home and were ready to be there. We had such a good time seeing Tara, Coley, and Abby and the sights too. Thanks for having us!

Lake Ontario

Tara and Coley took us down to Lake Ontario. This little place served frozen custard. We got the chocolate with hazelnuts. It was yummy!! This is a little strip of land between the lake and one of it's bays. A storm started coming in on our walk out onto the pier. To me this looks like it should be the ocean. I've never not been able to see the other side of a lake!!
The end of the pier.

The girls didn't mind the wind until it started sand washing us.

The wind had fun with Connor's hair.

We had a good time seeing the lake. Tara and Coley have found some really good places!

Palmyra

Our day in Palmyra started at the Hill Cumorah. The Christus statue is in a beautiful circular room with a wall of windows. It was a very peaceful room and we were able to hear a nice testimony of the sister missionary there. We watched a movie there (and I can't wait to purchase it!) and it was the perfect way to start. It outlined Joseph Smith's life and the starting of the church. The kids enjoyed watching the film and they were able to ask questions when they needed to because we had the room to ourselves!
Outside of the visitors center we drove up the hill to the monument there. The drive through the trees was beautiful.
While we were reading the plaques, I saw a few butterflies and couldn't resist taking a picture.

This is inside of the home Joseph grew up in. The home is a replica but they were able to find the foundation and build it like it would have been.

The Palmyra temple is built just across the street from the home and the Sacred Grove.

The golden plates were hidden under these fireplace bricks at one time.

This was a replica of the cooper shop that the Smith's would have had. It was so interesting to see the tools they had to make the barrels and buckets.

The kids in the Sacred Grove. It was such a peaceful, beautiful place to be.

The home where Joseph grew up was very close to the grove. For some reason I had always pictured it further away.

We drove up to the temple. I LOVE the stained glass windows.

Each side was a different picture of the trees.

The next stop was the Grandin Publishing building where the first copies of the Book of Mormon were published. The kids really liked learning about how it was done. This is the original building.

The girls were seeing how the pages were sewn together.

After seeing the sites we headed over to Chill and Grill for ice cream. These were the kiddie sizes.

We had a really good day and I know I loved seeing the places I've learned about in church. I hope the kids will remember it.

The rest of Courtney's Birthday

Courtney wanted to try a new Italian restaurant for her dinner. It was called Carraba's. The food was great. I know we missed having some fantastic Italian but with the kids, chain places go over better. Connor loved that he couldn't finish his portion.Tara and Coley headed back before we did and Tara made her a cake.
Happy 11th Birthday Courtney!

Niagara Falls

On our way back to Tara's from Toronto, we stopped at Niagara Falls. Courtney chose where she could be on her birthday and she chose here. It was beautiful. This is Horseshoe falls.
Courtney took some video so we could hear how loud it was.



The bridge from Canada to the U.S.
and Bridal veil falls.
Getting ready to board the Maid of the Mist.





After seeing how powerful the falls are.

We walked up the road to look through some of the shops.

And we had to stop in the Hershey store.

We didn't let them get anything here. We told them it would have to wait until we could go to Pennsylvania.