The Relatives Came...

Anyone know that book... the Relatives Came? A classic. And one we mentioned a few times during my family's visit this past weekend. (Warning... combining photos from my, Marice and my mom's cameras, this is a LONG post!)

My parents took my younger siblings, Marcie and David to NYC for couple days, then drove to Harmony, PA to see the Sesquahanna River and then to Palmyra where we met them after Megan's Walk-a-thon. They were eating lunch at our favorite place, Mark's Pizza, when we pulled up. Marcie was so sweet and ran out to meet us. Although it may have been more for Collin than us. He had just woken up and was being extra snuggly.

Playing with Marcie's "bling". He kept saying "Wow" with big eyes.

We headed across the street to start at the Book of Mormon publishing house and got swallowed up with buses of old people on church history tours. I felt bad because all the other times we've had personal tours, but I guess they got the gist of it.

Then on to the Joseph Smith farm. This time we were mostly by ourselves, but the tour guide wasn't much into details or information. When we were in the upper level of the log cabin she said frankly, "Well, this is where the Angel Moroni appeared. Your thoughts?" {Crickets chirping}

Walking from the log cabin to the frame home, you can see the temple, so we stopped for a photo shoot.

Entering the Sacred Grove.... we were laughing and joking, walking up, then decided we should probably act more reverent. :)

Love my parents!

While my parents took full advantage of their time in the grove, I was freezing my tush off, so we went back to car to wait. Collin was having fun turning on the windshield wipers and touching all the buttons... AND showing us some skin.

A quick walk around the temple...

And then on to the Hill Cumorah as the sun set. I was enthralled with all the pretty colors. We've never been to Palmyra in October and it was breathtakingly gorgeous!

It was late when we pulled into Duff's, so Trav took Collin home and sweet Rach came over on zero notice, to put him to bed while we had dinner. We have the best friends!

I tried two new things this night.... vinegar on my french fries (yum) and Loganberry soda (is it soda or just juice?). It was a bit too syrupy on its own, but mixed with DP, it was great. I ate entirely too many wings, then we got pints of Ben and Jerry's at Wegmans afterward and I'm surprised I didn't die of heart attack right then and there. I looked at the nutrition label at there were 80 grams of fat in my pint!!!! And I ate half. I woke up the next morning wanting to throw up.

This guy had a few phot sessions with Marcie. She was just eating him up. And vice versa.

You'd almost think it was HIM who had chicken wings on top on Ben and Jerrys!

They came to church with us the next morning and I was petrified because I had to give the lesson in Gospel Doctrine. I was even more nervous than when I had to give my first lesson. And it's not over yet, because when Shelley and Casey come to visit next week, they'll be here for my next lesson! Sheesh. (PS. the first thing I thought when I looked at this picture was, um, hello flower child? I've seen myself in pictures in this dress before so how is it that it just occured to me that I'm totally rockin' the hippy vibe? I wonder sometimes...)

In our third year of living here, I JUST learned that this building used to be a business supple store before they remodeled it. Makes so much more sense now!

After church we drove straight to Canada to visit Niagra Falls and go on Maid of the Mist.... or as my dad puts it... desecrate the Sabbath. I felt like it was crazy busy... much more so than when we've gone before. Probably best not to go on a weekend.

Collin was having fun with the ponchos.

Right before the boat started going, Collin threw his pacifer overboard, but it landed on a little ledge under us. After it was over, Trav jumped over the railing to retrieve it, then jumped back before I saw him. Good thing too, or else I probably would have screamed or my heart would have failed. I am going to be so outnumbered with 3 crazy boys.

It happened to be fast Sunday and I think everyone started out with good intentions, but only Travis and my parents could truly "break their fast" with Cafe Rio dinner that night.

And then I attempted a Raspberry Torte Cake recipe that I got from a friend out here. Thanks Melissa! It was divine. 

Monday morning we got a quick tour of the dental school with the 1/2 hour that Trav had between class and starting clinic for the day.

Here is his operatory.

Right after that, we went home and they packed up and left for Kirtland before flying home the next morning. It was too short a trip!! Collin and I waved goodbye on the driveway and the second the car disappeared, my eyes filled with tears. Buffalo and Mesa are just too darn far apart! Waaaa, it's not fair. All I had to console myself with, were a half a dozen, half eaten cartons of Ben and Jerrys in the freezer. You'd think I'd have learned. They numbed the pain a bit :) Collin enjoyed it too. Even after it was gone, he'd stick his face in it, hoping to lap up even a drop more. Like mother, like son. Atta boy Collin!

We sure love when the Relatives Come.