The Friday after Christmas we headed out of town. That night we picked up Lee early from work and drove up to the temple. Lee and I like to attend once a month and this worked out to be a good time to go to the temple. I was able to go to the temple in Utah, so Lee went in that night for initiatories. Lena and Mike and Lois and Jeff met us there too. They all went in at some point and we all took turns with the kids. We went in the Visitors' Center mainly to use the bathrooms, and then walked around and looked at lights. It is so pretty there with all the lights around the holidays!
We drove up to Pennsylvania that night to spend the rest of the holidays with my brother Darrel and his family. We had a great time at your house Darrell and Stacie! We love visiting them. We arrived late that night.
Saturday morning some of the adults and the kids walked down to Duck Weed Pond that is by their house.
That afternoon we went to their library for a Lego build. Our library does the same thing and my kids always love it. Even though they have a gazillion Legos at home, they always love the chance to build with them.
I must say, Clark can come up with some amazing creations. At the library he just worked with what he had, but at home I am blown away with what he comes up with sometimes!
Look at that red and blonde hair!!!
The ladies! Sorry I am covering you Mom!
Isn't Lillie just so cute?! She let me hold her a few times and mainly as long as she couldn't see her mom.
My dad even got in on the build.
Cute Keith!
My mom couldn't resist either!
After the library we went to a fun park. You know those old western movies where the store fronts weren't really a whole store...just the store front...a flat piece of wood? At the park they have all these "buildings" that are mainly just the store fronts with bike/scooter paths all over. It's fun place to play and ride bikes and such. There was also a fun playground and basketball courts.
That night we had a ladies night out. Stacie took us to a yummy Thai restaurant.
Sunday was my brother Darrell's birthday. He was born the day before me, but 6 years earlier. We enjoyed going to church with them and hanging out at their home. I made sure at church that his birthday was announced. Every fifth Sunday during the last hour of church usually all of the adult meet together for a joint lesson. The person conducting let everyone know that it was Darrell's 40th birthday that day. We joined in on his birthday party Sunday night. Stacie made a yummy German chocolate cake. We had ice cream too. See Lee in the background? I noticed this when I was looking back at the pictures. Lena is handing him her glasses.
He is giving some optometry advice to Lena. I should have gotten a picture of Darrell blowing out the candles on his cake. Happy 40th birthday Darrell!!! It is fun to be with him on his birthday.
The next day, Monday, was my birthday. I turned 34! Kind of weird. I am moving closer to 40! That is really weird! We spent the bulk of the day in Philadelphia. First stop, the Liberty Bell.
Lena and Mike with their seven kids got a great shot with their family.
Ours on the other hand wasn't so great.
We even managed a group shot! Mike was the cameraman. Blake did not want to be in the picture. I wouldn't let him get out of it.
Next stop, Independence hall.
I can't remember what this building is. I think it's where they would hold meetings and such.
If I remember correctly this is a copy of the Declaration of Independence that was a newspaper insert. (Or it could be the constitution, but I think it was the Declaration of Independence). I am amazed when people go on trips over seas or some big city and can remember every city and every museum they went to. Sorry folks, I am having a hard time here.
Next stop we saw the room where people gathered for the Constitutional Convention and signed the Constitution of the United States. It's fun seeing things people used and touched way back when. Like the Rising Sun chair George Washington sat in.
This picture was taken because Elden and Blake wanted me to hold them both, at the same time.
We then drove over to the Philadelphia Museum of Art just to walk around.
Here are a lot of people at the top of the "Rocky Steps". I've seen at least one Rocky movie but it was years ago...before high school even, I think. I had no idea that is why were there. I am not a Rocky buff.
Running races up the steps.
Across the street from the museum is a George Washington monument. Lee and I and some of our kids went over there while others were getting the picture with the Rocky statue.
We followed Stacie to the temple site where they are building the Philadelphia temple. It is basically right downtown. I can't wait to go to the open house. It will be open to the public if any one wants to go! It will be completed in a couple more years.
After the temple I followed Darrell back to his place. We ended up at a Russian grocery store, Cost Net. I went inside with most of my kids. I don't think Clark was riding with us, and someone might have been asleep. Not long after we entered the store Santa and an "elf" came up to us. The elf asked the kids their names and if they would sing a song to Santa. Then the elf gave everyone a big handful of Russian candy. It was really fun. We walked around a little bit and looked at the store.
That night Lee made some yummy lasagna for dinner. I made some french bread at home and brought it to Darrell's. Lee made garlic bread with that. It's been a little while since we've had lasagna. Great job Lee! It was a delicious birthday dinner.
Shanna and I like eating desserts with baby spoons. I am not sure why, but I think it's fun to eat a treat with a little spoon. We lost our last baby spoon recently. I am thinking about buying a pack of baby spoons just for treats!
Since we had birthday cake just the night before we had ice cream and hot fudge for my birthday treat that night. Yep, there are 34 candles on there!
I blew them all out in one breath. Still young.
Haley gave me some fake flowers. She didn't want to get me chocolate or something to eat. She wanted to get me fake flowers because they last forever. So cute. (Mom I still have them and haven't thrown them away!)
Two of my nieces were so sweet and bought me a present. They each gave me some nail polish!
Darrell and Stacie treated me to a box of Russian chocolates! They were yummy!
I had a nice birthday. Lee got me some earrings, a cookbook and a book by JoAnne Fluke. I love her stories about Hannah and the Cookie Jar. (Though if you ever read the series let me know....there is a page that I would skip in the 1st book, just a page.) I love having my birthday during the holidays. I am usually with a lot of family and my kids are out of school. When I was younger I never had school on my birthday either. Of course I've never known a different birthday date, but I don't mind one bit that it is right after Christmas.
We drove up to Pennsylvania that night to spend the rest of the holidays with my brother Darrel and his family. We had a great time at your house Darrell and Stacie! We love visiting them. We arrived late that night.
Saturday morning some of the adults and the kids walked down to Duck Weed Pond that is by their house.
That afternoon we went to their library for a Lego build. Our library does the same thing and my kids always love it. Even though they have a gazillion Legos at home, they always love the chance to build with them.
I must say, Clark can come up with some amazing creations. At the library he just worked with what he had, but at home I am blown away with what he comes up with sometimes!
Look at that red and blonde hair!!!
The ladies! Sorry I am covering you Mom!
Isn't Lillie just so cute?! She let me hold her a few times and mainly as long as she couldn't see her mom.
My dad even got in on the build.
Cute Keith!
My mom couldn't resist either!
After the library we went to a fun park. You know those old western movies where the store fronts weren't really a whole store...just the store front...a flat piece of wood? At the park they have all these "buildings" that are mainly just the store fronts with bike/scooter paths all over. It's fun place to play and ride bikes and such. There was also a fun playground and basketball courts.
That night we had a ladies night out. Stacie took us to a yummy Thai restaurant.
Sunday was my brother Darrell's birthday. He was born the day before me, but 6 years earlier. We enjoyed going to church with them and hanging out at their home. I made sure at church that his birthday was announced. Every fifth Sunday during the last hour of church usually all of the adult meet together for a joint lesson. The person conducting let everyone know that it was Darrell's 40th birthday that day. We joined in on his birthday party Sunday night. Stacie made a yummy German chocolate cake. We had ice cream too. See Lee in the background? I noticed this when I was looking back at the pictures. Lena is handing him her glasses.
He is giving some optometry advice to Lena. I should have gotten a picture of Darrell blowing out the candles on his cake. Happy 40th birthday Darrell!!! It is fun to be with him on his birthday.
The next day, Monday, was my birthday. I turned 34! Kind of weird. I am moving closer to 40! That is really weird! We spent the bulk of the day in Philadelphia. First stop, the Liberty Bell.
Lena and Mike with their seven kids got a great shot with their family.
Ours on the other hand wasn't so great.
We even managed a group shot! Mike was the cameraman. Blake did not want to be in the picture. I wouldn't let him get out of it.
Next stop, Independence hall.
I can't remember what this building is. I think it's where they would hold meetings and such.
If I remember correctly this is a copy of the Declaration of Independence that was a newspaper insert. (Or it could be the constitution, but I think it was the Declaration of Independence). I am amazed when people go on trips over seas or some big city and can remember every city and every museum they went to. Sorry folks, I am having a hard time here.
Next stop we saw the room where people gathered for the Constitutional Convention and signed the Constitution of the United States. It's fun seeing things people used and touched way back when. Like the Rising Sun chair George Washington sat in.
This picture was taken because Elden and Blake wanted me to hold them both, at the same time.
We then drove over to the Philadelphia Museum of Art just to walk around.
Here are a lot of people at the top of the "Rocky Steps". I've seen at least one Rocky movie but it was years ago...before high school even, I think. I had no idea that is why were there. I am not a Rocky buff.
Running races up the steps.
Across the street from the museum is a George Washington monument. Lee and I and some of our kids went over there while others were getting the picture with the Rocky statue.
We followed Stacie to the temple site where they are building the Philadelphia temple. It is basically right downtown. I can't wait to go to the open house. It will be open to the public if any one wants to go! It will be completed in a couple more years.
After the temple I followed Darrell back to his place. We ended up at a Russian grocery store, Cost Net. I went inside with most of my kids. I don't think Clark was riding with us, and someone might have been asleep. Not long after we entered the store Santa and an "elf" came up to us. The elf asked the kids their names and if they would sing a song to Santa. Then the elf gave everyone a big handful of Russian candy. It was really fun. We walked around a little bit and looked at the store.
That night Lee made some yummy lasagna for dinner. I made some french bread at home and brought it to Darrell's. Lee made garlic bread with that. It's been a little while since we've had lasagna. Great job Lee! It was a delicious birthday dinner.
Shanna and I like eating desserts with baby spoons. I am not sure why, but I think it's fun to eat a treat with a little spoon. We lost our last baby spoon recently. I am thinking about buying a pack of baby spoons just for treats!
Since we had birthday cake just the night before we had ice cream and hot fudge for my birthday treat that night. Yep, there are 34 candles on there!
I blew them all out in one breath. Still young.
Haley gave me some fake flowers. She didn't want to get me chocolate or something to eat. She wanted to get me fake flowers because they last forever. So cute. (Mom I still have them and haven't thrown them away!)
Two of my nieces were so sweet and bought me a present. They each gave me some nail polish!
Darrell and Stacie treated me to a box of Russian chocolates! They were yummy!
I had a nice birthday. Lee got me some earrings, a cookbook and a book by JoAnne Fluke. I love her stories about Hannah and the Cookie Jar. (Though if you ever read the series let me know....there is a page that I would skip in the 1st book, just a page.) I love having my birthday during the holidays. I am usually with a lot of family and my kids are out of school. When I was younger I never had school on my birthday either. Of course I've never known a different birthday date, but I don't mind one bit that it is right after Christmas.
1 comment:
Happy Belated Birthday, Ruth! that's awesome that you don't mind it being around Christmas and that you get to spend it with lots of family. It was fun to see pictures of you guys in Philadelphia, our old stomping grounds. There really is so much to do up there. I admire how much you guys travel around and how it doesn't phase you...all the packing, cleaning, unpacking is often too much for me and enough to make me not want to go on little trips. And of course I'm jealous that you have siblings close enough to visit!
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