Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 has been special for lots of reasons. A big one: we have lots of snow on the ground. Due to weather, we, and most of Portland, have been confined to our home for the better part of two weeks and it led up to Christmas day. We had lots of fun getting together at a friends home for Christmas eve last night and today we had a great Christmas morning. This is the first year we spent Christmas with just our immediate family. Both experiences are fun in their own ways. Funniest moneht this week: We were sitting at the dinner table and Emery passed gas really loud. Moriah jumped up from the table and ran for the front door. She swore she heard someone knocking. An honest reaction from a 6 year old. Now that's one of the funniest things I've been present for in a long time!! Here's some more pictures from our Christmas morning:

Dec 23 2008 - Blazers beat Nuggets

I was able to attend the Blazers/Nuggets game on December 23. I went with a friend who has seats in the 100 level. I am so used to my nose-bleed seats that sitting anywhere close to the action is living in luxury. It was a really cool thing to see it up close. And tonight, Przybilla was the story. Due to Oden getting in foul trouble again, Joel got extended minutes and truly stepped it up. Dude had 10 points and 19 rebounds. The fact that we can lean on a back-up center like him makes Portland that much more difficult to contain. Since was 'likely' my last game that I'll be able to attend this year, I'm really glad it was such a memorable one.

SNOW!

The picture here is me in my driveway. Dug me a snow cave in a pile of snow. The Portland metro area is experiencing historic amounts of snow this December. Typically, we get an inch or two and it melts within a couple days. Not this time. We got a few inches two weeks ago and it's been piling up since then. Culminating in a beautifil white Christmas. Well, technically, it was really sloppy snow by Christmas eve, but still a massive amount of snow for us. There was easily more then 15 inches of snow on my grass for more than a week. It also combined with freezing rain a couple of days in there and it made for some tough transportation scenarios (roads, commutes, and especially people stuck at the airport for DAYS at a time). But, from my perspective, it's been great to enjoy some snow...especially at Christmas time.

Dec 18 2008 - Blazers v. Suns

Moriah and I went to the Blazers/Suns game. Wow. The big storyline was the number 52. Most would associate this with Brandon Roy's monumental 52-point performance. It was phenomenal. The guy can score in so many ways. However, I would also point out the other #52: Greg Oden. While it was not a huge night for him (foul trouble, as is common with him lately). But I point to the first few minutes of the game. Shaq came to play, and Greg was up to the challenge. They both went at each other during the opening minutes, and I tell you what...Greg held his own. He dunked (a couple times) and had a couple nasty blocks. It was encouraging to see him step it up in a meaningful game.

Another cool thing about this game for me was Moriah being there. First, we got there EXTREMELY early - the snow was heavy, so we left early to get there in good time. Also, it was a national TV game, so it started later than usual...so we were there way too eraly. But it allowed us to go down courtside and watch the players practice. It was interesting to see what each individual was working. LaMarcus was working on footwork and short range jumpers. Bayless was shooting 3's and free throws. Sergio was shooting outside. And Shavlic Randolph was doing some vertical exercises combined with post ball control. Pretty cool to see. We also got our faces painted and enjoyed the game. Moriah was even dancing with me during big moments. Those are great memories of my little 6-year-old Moriah dancing with Daddy at a Trail Blazers game. I have a co-worker who has regular tickets and he says he's so jealous that I've been to such great games this years. He's missed them! I have been lucky to be at some great games this year.

Civil War 2008 - DUCKS WIN 65-38

I really started following the Ducks closely after I got my masters degree from there in 2005... so this is really my fourth season as a Duck. Each year since then has felt so similar: start with great promise, then fizzle in the second half of the year...culminating in a Civil war loss (two of them have been at Autzen). This year was different. The Beavers were playing for the Pac-10 title and for a Rose Bowl berth. The Ducks, all things considered, have had a good season in their own right. Both teams were nationally ranked (rare) going into the game, making this a very meaningful game for both teams. Considering the Beavs lost their #1 offensive threat (Quizz Rodgers), this had the makings of a great game. The Beavers had a great defensive presence and Oregon had a high-powered offense. The Beavers were projected as 3-point favorites in the game and many thoughtful opinions put the game in the mid-twenties and would be decided by a few points. I predicted a ducks win at 31-24. Little did I (or anyone) expect such a Beaver-pounding in Corvallis, with a final score of 65-38. It was score after score after score. And JJ (Jeremiah Johnson) had his fingerprints all over this one. Now, it would appear that the Ducks will be headed to the Holiday Bowl again this year. That's good, all things considered. Overall, I think I am so happy about the win for various reasons:
1) RIVALRY: Beaver fans are upset about being so close to the Rose Bowl, but this kept them out. I am not happy about this in itself, but this game definitely serves to fuel the health of the rivalry in the future. The civil war just got a little more interesting.
2) FINISHERS: It was great to see that UO could finish a season strong. For the last few years, they seemed to peter out. It's been a frustrating cycle as a fan.
3) WINNER: Coach Bellotti wins a big game. Say what you will about him (he's not my favorite personality, that's for sure), but he's a good coach and I'm glad to see he can shed more of the stigma that big games are not his strong suit.

Go Ducks.

November 29, 2008 - Blazers vs. Hornets

Emery and I went to the Blazers/Hornets game Friday night. The night before, New Orleans had played the Jazz in SLC and won the game with a James Posey (in this pic in the yellow headband) buzzer-beater trey. Portland played a descent game, and it was great to see Brandon Roy so dominant. He had 25-ish points and 10 assists. On a night-by-night basis, he is simply doing what he needs to do in orderto contribute to the win. The dude is effective. Byron Scott was quoted that opposing coaches now look at Roy as an elite player, preparing for him similarly as they do for LeBron, Kobe and D-Wade. Those are the names Scott used. Wow. The team is 7-0 at the Rose Garden so far this year. It's a great game venue. The city has embraced the team and it is a blast just to watch them operate while feeding on the energy of the home crowd. Emery was in to it as well. It's fun to see them growing up and starting to "get it" during sporting events.

Thanksgiving 2008

We had a great thanksgiving. Mel's parents and sister came to our place, so it was a pretty small group, but the kids sure keep it lively. I did the traditional turkey-hoops in the morning and enjoyed a great meal in the afternoon. Thank you all for cooking such a great feast!

November 19, 2008 - CLARA TURNS 1!

It's hard to believe Clara is one year old. Time is flying. We had a simple family party and Clara went at that cake, man. She was diggin' the first tasts of having her cake and eating it, too. She is also starting to walk now. It is hilarious. I forgot how much fun this stage is...watching her wobble on unsure legs. It's a complicated thing to learn, man. Bones, muscles, ligaments, joints...all being directed by the brain to keep your balance and move forward at the same time. I call her "Franken-Clara" when she walks...those arms out like a mummy and all. She is such a sweet little thing. Happy birthday, sweetheart.

November 6, 2008 - Lock down defense on Oden

At the Blazers/Rockets game, Brooke and I took advantage of the Oden photo promotion. Check out the lock-down D. And Brooke? ...shoot, she's D-in' him up nice. And check out the Jordan concentration tongue to go with it. Good stuff.

November 6, 2008: Blazers vs. Rockets

Brooke and I went to the Blazers/Rockets game Thursday night. Wow. We just happened to be there for the thrilling overtime game. The final 2 seconds of overtime were the talk of the game. Brandon Roy hit what we thought was the game winning shot with 1.9 seconds left, then the Rockets ran an in-bound play to Yao, who hit the jumper and Roy fouled him, with the single free-throw to win the game. With 0.8 seconds left, Blake inbounds to Roy 6 feet behind the 3-point line and he drains the prayer. After that: insanity at the Garden. "For as long as the NBA has been including play-by-play information…neither of these things had happened before: eight points in the final 1.9 seconds (both teams combined) or five points in the final 1.9 seconds by a blazers player."
It was a roller-coaster of emotions with each final play. Then the 30-foot prayer going in…that was amazing. From high up in my nose-bleed seats, I could see the ball rip through the net while the horn blasted and the red backboard lights ablaze. Truly beautiful. That's one Blazer moment I'll never forget. And I was there to see it in person...with my daughter. 4-year old Brooke had long-since fallen asleep (just after the halftime ice cream treat, of course), so I was jumping up and down - screaming - with this sleeping child in my arms. Didn’t matter. She slept through the deafening noise, and daddy was more than happy to carry her all around the building and the half-mile back to our car. After a win like that, she felt just a little lighter, somehow.

Note: A couple of things lost in the craziness of the final moments: Joel Przybilla, somehow, shut down Yao Ming. That was my key match-up going into the game to give the Blazers a chance. It happened, and it happened. Also, it was a defensive battle between Artest and Roy. But even more impressive - and overlooked - was Aldridge's 27-point, 9 rebound night (followed by a 24-pt, 14 rebound effort in the next game). Solid effort, LaMarcus. Even as a minimal back-to-the-basket threat right now, the kid can straight ball. And he's working on the deficiencies of his game. The guy is going to be phenomenal.

(Photo caption: Roy's x-ray vision was in full effect during clutch-time).

October 31, 2008: Happy Halloween!

Halloween costumes this year:
Emery: "Hannah Montana"
Moriah: "Fifties girl" - poodle skirt and all
Brooke: "Snow princess"
Clara: "Butterfly"
http://melissaelton.blogspot.com/2008/11/happy-halloween-here-is-picture-of-kids.html

October 29, 2008 - Bandon Dunes

I went on a business trip to southern Oregon and had the opportunity to play Bandon Dunes golf course, one of the world’s top rated golf courses. I finally got to experience it! It’s a beach course truly for fighting the elements. It is usually extremely beautiful and known for its windy conditions, but this was not my experience. The problem we had was F-O-G. The fog was so thick, we couldn’t see much of the beauty around us, and while we stood at most tee boxes, all I could see was a thick gray blanket just in front of us, no fairway, no pin, etc. So we had to trust the caddies, telling us which way the fairway/pin was. Then in an act of pure faith, I would proceed to pound my drive into the thick gray fog…hoping we could find it. Bummer that we missed out on much of the natural beauty of the course (massive oceanfront views, etc). On the bright side, I was glad the wind wasn’t much of a factor. All-in-all, it was a great experience and I hope to return again someday.

October 22-27 2008: Rollin' Solo

Melissa went to Boston for a week (http://melissaelton.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-trip-to-boston.html) to visit her sister and newborn nephew Matthew. All went well there - sister time and all. Meanwhile, I stayed home with all 4 daughters. It was interesting to say the least. I also worked from home while taking care of the kids. Man, I gained a better appreciation for what she goes through every day. The kids, the schedule, everything. It’s tough work. It takes effort to raise a family, man! And Melissa is great at it. I was amateur night, man. So happy to have "the real thing" back. And the kids are not shy to admit it. They missed mommy so bad!

October 20, 2008: Melissa is 30!

I had some relatively big plans for Mel's 30th party, but she quashed those and we ended up settling on a nice evening with a few friends (and their kids) at our house. Final tally: 18 kids between the 5 couples. That was full house. But it was great because the kids hung out watching a movie in the play room (mysteriously silent) while the adults chilled downstairs. It worked out great. That's what Melissa wanted: a simple evening with good company. We love you, Melissa. Happy middle-age!!

Mel's thoughts on the ordeal:

http://melissaelton.blogspot.com/2008/11/big-30.html

October 13th, 2008: Lakeridge memory lane

My sister Iris and my brother Barlow came to visit Monday, October 13th. We hung out at the house in the morning, and then decided to stroll down memory lane and visit the high school we all attended: Lakeridge. The school's had some significant remodeling and upgrades, so we wanted to check it out. We walked the new campus, then passed through the halls as well. We also went to the sports "hall of fame" wanting to find our brother David's golf picture. After we found it, I noticed a funny thing happen. Each of us being from different "eras" (class of 1988, 1995 and 2000), I noticed each of us gravitate to our respective areas for the hall and just checking out photos and standout athletes from our years. It was cool to see the new version of our old school. Warms the soul to mentally venture back into adolescence. OK, maybe not ALL of the adolescence experience, but generalities are nice! We also ventured down to George Roger's Park and checked out the new digs there. It was really cool to have siblings in town and have a couple hours to stroll down memory lane.

Note: in the picture of us in front of the Blazers practice facility, the trained eye can see the slight glistening of the Larry O'Brien trophy just over Barlow's left shoulder. That's the real thing - from the 1977 world championship, baby!

October 11th, 2008: Annie Warbucks

On Saturday, October 11th, we got to see something very special. My younger sister Iris was in the play: "Annie Warbucks" - about the little orphan Annie. The show took place at the Kirkland Performance Center in Kirkland, WA. Melissa and I went to the show with two of our daughters, Moriah and Brooke as well as my older sister Abbie's family. Iris played the Tennessee mother in whose home Annie ends up when she runs away. Iris' character teaches Annie what love is all about and helps return Annie to her family. She had a solo singing part and all… as well as a constant recurring funny line telling her child to "Please, stop playin' wich'yer feet!" There was also a part I didn’t expect: she affectionately kisses her husband good night. After the play I went to that actor (who was at least 25 yrs older that my sister) and said: Hey man, that's the first time a dude's kissed my sister in front of me. You better watch out." We got a chuckle out of that.

It was really cool to see Iris perform and we were really impressed with how well she did. She plans to continue pursuing roles and opportunities. Good for you, Iris. It takes a lot of talent -and guts- to get up there and do that. And you performed very well, even with somewhat minimal practice. Rock on.

October 10, 2008 - Powers Visit

The weekend of October 10th, we had some close friends visit town. They moved east in 2004 and live in Chicago now. The good thing for us is that his family still lives here, so there's always a slight chance we'll see them once in a while. For us, it's one of those relationships you only come across once in a long while. The women get along famously, the dudes like to hang, and even the kids have a great time together. It’s just a blast to get together with them. Summary: Powers family: We love you guys.

October 3, 2008 - Blazers Fan Fest

We took the whole family to Trail Blazers Fan Fest Friday night, October 3rd. Cool event. The whole family wore Blazers gear. As you can see, Brooke and Emery got their faces painted. The players were greeting fans at the door, so we got to meet Steve Blake and Steven Hill. Both were cool, (as can be expected with mandatory fan greeting). One thing that stuck out HUGE: The size of Steven Hill's hands. Man, when I shook his hand, I didn’t expect mine to be totally swallowed up. That was crazy. No wonder these guys are so good at handling the rock. Fingers and thumbs can touch when holding the ball!

The event was cool and all had fun.

Rrrrriiiiip Ciiiity!

September 14, 2008 - Cape Kiwanda sunset

My parents came into town this past weekend. They made their northwest loop, visiting their 4 children that live in Oregon and Washington. We enjoyed the weekend, and they traded in their old car for a new one while here in Portland. Melissa spoke in sacrament meeting on Sunday morning. Her topic: "How to teach children to honor womanhood." She did a great job. Of particular note was her discussion of teaching chastity and morality to girls. It is so easy for girls to get caught up in the popular culture notion that they need to wear scanty clothing and act disrespectfully toward their bodies. It was a great talk.

After church, we took the liberty of making a day trip to the Oregon coast with my parents in their new car. I tell you what, that thing may be a gas hog, but man is it sweet. It drives so smooth; it is the ideal distance trip vehicle. We went to Cape Kiwanda and strolled on the beach while the sun was going down. It was a hot 90 degree day in Portland, but at the coast it was barely 65 degrees. And it seemed to get colder and colder as we walked. We were regretting not having jackets, blankets and the like. The coldest people in the group ended up using the towels as a blanket around them, that's how chilly it got. Melissa, Brooke, Emery and I climbed up the west side of the sand hill. Moriah wanted to stay by the water and look for animal treasures. Melissa and Brooke were getting cold, so they went down shortly after getting to the top. Emery and I decided to go on an adventure around the dune, so we hiked up around the side and found a cool cove on the northwest end of the Kiwanda dune. It was really cool. After we ran down the dune returned to the car, we didn't know we were in for such a treat. We sat in the dining room of the Pelican Grill (great place to eat) and watched the sunset while we ate. It was beautiful. With that huge rock in the near distance and the sun setting over the water in the far distance. It was great. There's something about the sunset over the ocean. Probably the vast expanse and having the gorgeous contrast of colors and light. It was a sight to behold. And it was great to experience it with the people who matter most.

September 3rd, 2008 - Moriah's 6!

Moriah is 6 years old! Holy cow! Like her sisters, she is a fun one to watch grow up. For her 6th birthday party, she had a choice to make. She REALLY wanted a Barbie Jeep (power wheels - little electric care where her friend can ride with her)…and she wanted birthday cake. We told her, since the Barbie car is so expensive, she could choose to have a full-fledged party with her friends, but no Barbie car. Or, we could have a simple family party with cake and get the Barbie Jeep. She really wanted that Jeep - and she gets the cake to boot! That was a no brainer for her. She loves that little Jeep…and she can drive her sisters/friends, too. Our new driveway/cul-de-sac is very flat, so it's an ideal spot for them to be driving it.

Additionally, Moriah is entering Kindergarten right now as well. The first few days of school were tough for her. She really didn’t want to go. But now that we're a couple of weeks into it, she's adjusted well and enjoying school. Man, do they grow up fast.

August 15th, 2008 - We've moved!

Another exciting thing that happened while we were in Massachusetts during July - our home sold! We had put it on the market the day we left, to take advantage of the time while we were out of town. All the preparation (months) getting it ready to sell paid off! We had to scramble to find a way to accept the offer - eventually finding a place in the nearby town of Pittsfield, MA to fax back our acceptance. That was great. We have now moved a few blocks away to a bigger home. With the birth of our 4th child, our small house was really a bit too small for us to be comfortable and maintain the spirit in our home. That can be hard to do when you're on top of each other all the time!

We feel so blessed to have been able to sell our home while the real estate market was so poor. Most homes are on the market for 3 months and more. We prepared the home, then offered our prayers, which were essentially: "If it's right, please help us find a suitable buyer. If it's not right, we're ok with that." Then, essentially the first day of it on the market (no photos online yet, no sign on the street), a young couple responded to the MLS listing and made an offer the next day. Wow. If that isn’t an answer to prayer… There's more to the story as well. Friends in the ward have had their home on the market for a year. Now, they've moved out of state ant really needed to sell. Our home selling allowed us the opportunity to purchase their home. There were definitely a few bumps and bruises on our way to closing the transaction, but now we are in the new place and loving the space we'd needed.

August 2008 - Clara crawling

It's official - Clara is mobile! She's showed signs for a few weeks, but now we can officially say she's crawling. It is so cute!!!

August 8th, 2008 - Daddy-daughter campout

The daddy-daughter campout took place at Mt. Hood this year. It was special to me because it was at a location in Welches, OR near where my parents had a cabin while I was growing up. So I spent a fair amount of time in that area as a kid. I was a bit nostalgic as we were able to eat dinner at the Zig Zag Inn. Lots of memories in these parts. I even drove the girls by the old house. Isn’t it amazing how life moves so rapidly, yet we seem to leave little parts of ourselves scattered about, everywhere we’ve been? Woah.

July 26th, 2008 - Tanglewood Film Night

Upon our return to the Berkshires, we enjoyed a couple more days of swimming and relaxing. Then, Saturday night, our final night there, we were able to go to "film night" at the Tanglewood music shed. This year it was a celebration of the life and work of John Williams, heralded composer. The Boston Symphony Orchestra (Boston Pops) performed with Mr. Williams and a surprise guest host/narrator joined him on stage: Stephen Spielberg. Williams and Spielberg worked on films together, and one of the most memorable collaborations of the two is the "Indiana Jones" films.

One cool thing they did was illustrate the value of the music score in a movie. They used an example from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". They showed a scene from the film without music (and Spielberg narrating throughout), then they showed the same sequence with Williams' score included. It was night and day. I was amazed at how much life music adds to a motion picture. It was a really cool outdoor event. The weather was horrible leading up to the event, it cleared up during the show, and then it rained hard again that night. We got very lucky. What a great experience. Thanks Murphy's!!!

July 25th, 2008 - The Sacred Grove

Early the next morning, I ventured out to the Sacred Grove at the crack of dawn. I left around 5:50 a.m. and when I got to the parking lot of the grove, it was totally empty. I strolled through the front farm area in the still-semi-dark, reading plaque markers and enjoying the environment. One thing I hadn’t realized was the financial plight of the Smiths at that time. They lived in a homestead log cabin for some time, then were able to build the frame house and moved into it for a short time, but then were forced to move back into the log cabin when they could no longer afford to live in the frame house. Interesting.

I then walked into the grove. What an amazing experience. I had the whole place to myself for over an hour. I was able to drop to my knees anytime throughout the walk and offer prayers for various needs. Some my own, some for others. That place felt so special and sacred, I felt very blessed and humbled to have such a unique opportunity. I also sat on a bench in the middle of the grove, pondering for quite some time while the sun was just beginning to enter. I sat so long that it appeared even the wildlife didn’t notice me, at two squirrels ran and played right next to where I sat. It was serine. My testimony was fortified that day. And as I began the walk out, I was struck with an overwhelming realization regarding the boy Joseph. The COURAGE it must have required for him to relate the events that took place that day in the spring of 1820. It inspired me to write a poem about it:

____________________________________________

"The Courage of that boy" - by Aaron Elton

It was a spring morning, so beautiful and clear,
Questions abounding in his heart so dear.
So he went to the spot to ponder and pray,
Unaware of the importance of that day.
He poured out his heart, so simple and sincere.
A boy's faith - free of prejudice and fear.

Discouragement by the underworld sought to overtake him,
With the Light of that Vision, he was not shaken.

The Father and Son offered guidance and direction.
The answer to prayer; assurance of love and affection.

He left that Grove a different person than when he went in,
A life of devotion, perspiration and inspiration begins.
The world would scoff, but the sincere would hear.
The results of simple faith - free of prejudice and fear.
Waves of persecution, waves of Joy.
A faith the underworld simply could not destroy.
Let us not underestimate, the Courage of that boy.
_________________________________________

Later that morning, our whole group was able to go to the Grove together. We went into the frame house and enjoyed our surroundings as we entered the Grove. Many teenagers and other tourists were there by then as well, but it did not distract from the sacred nature of the visit. As we walked, I was able to lag behind and watch my beautiful wife and children walk and breathe in a very special place. I was struck by the sheer serenity of the moment. I'm so grateful for my family, and the trust that has been placed in me. I am also grateful for the testimony that I have burning in my heart, which so often offers comfort during sojourn through mortality. I can rely on my testimony and the basic tenets of the Gospel to help guide me through life. I am grateful for moments like this - and for geographical places like this to remind me of what's important and not to let distractions take away from clear, simple comprehension of what True priorities should be guiding my actions. The Sacred Grove and my experience there helped me gain a little better perspective.

Oh yeah, and the kids found a slug, too.

July 24th, 2008 - Palmyra

After our time at Niagara Falls, we headed east again to Palmyra - the place where the Prophet Joseph Smith was raised. There are so many significant events that took place in this area. We checked-in to our hotel, the "Palmyra Inn" which is a great spot. It was recently built and is a perfect place to stay while enjoying the area's historical attractions. The rooms are reasonable and set up very well for families to stay in.

After checking in, we went to dinner. While the group was waiting for our food, I snuck away in hopes of seeing the Grandin building - the historical site of the first printing/publication of the Book of Mormon - a few blocks away from the restaurant. It was great. I did a quick tour of the building, learned a few things about the printing, and scurried back to the restaurant. It was really cool to see the place where the printing took place. 5,000 copies - monumental at the time. Martin Harris had to mortgage his farm in order to pay for it. Pretty amazing.

After dinner, we headed to Cumorah, the site where the plates were buried for around 1,400 years. The Palmyra pageant had ended a week earlier, so there were still hints of the throngs of people who had been there recently. The hill is ordinary in many ways, particularly considering the extraordinary things that have taken place there. We spent a few minutes taking pictures at the monument on the top of the hill, then visited the visitor center at the base of the hill. The open room in the front of the building where the statue of Christ is located is very impressive. We took to opportunity to sing some hymns there (I mainly listened, as my bad singing voice typically just ruins the moment). The Murphy’s have such great voices. And they are teaching their kids the value of music as well. It was a really memorable experience.

July 24, 2008 - Niagara Falls

After the Whitmer farm, we drove all the way on to Niagara Falls. We crossed the US-Canada border and got there just as the sun was setting. Unfortunately, due to a mix-up finding a hotel, we just barely missed the fireworks show over the Falls (happens once a week on Wednesdays). That would have been really cool. But we were able to see the falls at night. Very cool. The next morning we were able to do some of the touristy things. Primarily, we rode the "Maid of the Mist" boat that goes directly into the main horseshoe falls. The sheer force of that water is amazing. We missed out on a lot of other things that would have been cool: The cable-car ride over the river, exploring the caves beneath, and the IMAX films about the fury of Niagara. There are a lot of things to do there. But I think my dad got it right when he was giving me some advice about the trip: Niagara is more of a couples-thing, not necessarily a kid’s thing. The kids enjoyed it, but getting to some of the other attractions would have been too much for the group. We hope to see those things another time - some day. It was a cool place to visit… So we'll go back some day, I'm sure. I had been there once when I was 9 years old, but going as an adult was totally different and really cool.

Gripe warning: To be honest, by the time we were leaving, man was I ready to leave. It felt like the city was nickel-and-diming us to death. Breakfast didn’t even include water! I just wanted some tap water - please. But no, they said I could purchase bottled water, but tap water is not served. So, if you wanted something wet…anything wet, you had to pay a large drink fee. I think it was $3-ish for a juice. We're talking about 4 adults and 6 kids with our group. That adds up fast. The "cheap" breakfast we thought we were getting ended up being a lot more. It felt like there was a little fee for every little thing… I mean, I understand the tourist trap thing, but sometimes it's excessive and the perceived value just is not there. So I learned a little something while there as well.

July 23rd, 2008 - The Whitmer Farm

After spending a couple of days in the Berkshires, we ventured off to upstate New York to see some Church historical sites and Niagara Falls. The first stop was Fayette, New York and the Peter Whitmer farmhouse. The place where the Church was officially organized on April 6, 1830. It is also the site of a great deal of translation of the Book of Mormon. It was really neat to see the replica house and get a feel for the geography of the area. One thing that struck us about the old homes like this is that they look so small from the outside, but when you go in, there's more room than one might expect. And an upper floor with more space as well. This site is especially important because multiple significant events took place here. Primarily, the Whitmer's provided a place where Joseph Smith and company (Oliver, etc) could work in peace. It was a place where they could focus on the monumental translation task at hand. It was also a humble, yet ideal, setting for the organization of the Church. Think about it. A farm is pristine and beautiful; it also represents a place where hard work provides a crop, which sustains life. There is a metaphor for the Church in a simple, beautiful place like this. An ideal place for the 'birthplace" of the restoration.

July 21st, 2008 - The Berkshires

The next stop on our east coast trip was also the true destination: The Berkshires. What a cool spot. The home that we stayed at is technically in the town of Richmond, MA. It is nestled in the Berkshire mountains and the house recently had a new swimming pool and tennis courts added to the enormous back yard. It was the perfect spot to spend some time, enjoy each other and create some lasting memories. One very exciting development is that both Emery and Moriah both learned how to swim during a two-day period. Previously, they both required life-jackets to swim in a pool deeper than their waist. Here, they jumped off the diving board a few times with their life jackets on. But then a funny thing happened. Emery wanted to try it without the life jacket. She did - and swam just fine. Then, Moriah wanted to do it, too. Splash! All of a sudden, the two of them were swimming without floatation devices. That made the diving board a very popular spot! We all wanted our turn. I hadn't done a flip for a few years, but man is that fun! The place was awesome. But most importantly, spending time with family (cousins and grandparents who were there) was so great. It was a great environment to simply relax and not think too much about external cares.