20th Anniversary!!! (And Youth Camps!)

With Clark on his mission and the kids at camp, Lee and I decided to celebrate our 20th anniversary early with a trip to NYC.  We purposely didn't volunteer to go to camp either, so we could go on this little trip.  I almost booked a trip to Cabo San Lucas, but they we'd have to figure out rides for our kids.  Cal went a day early on Monday since he was a youth camp director. He had lots of meetings and preparation before this day.  In the spring he was working at Food Lion, doing track and seminary and working on summer camp.  One night he was on a meeting on our way home from PA and fell asleep during the meeting. He was pretty tired! Sadly I don't have any pictures from camp! 

The main thing I wanted to do was see the Music Man.  The tickets were so expensive and the kids behind us were talking and hitting my chair (I kept getting after them), but it was so good! First we parked our car, dropped off our stuff at the hotel, then walked over to the Music Man.  There was quite a wait just to get in the door to go to our seats.  

It was funny seeing Pret A Manger stores in NYC as we saw them all over in London.

We tried to go in the Chrysler building, but the security guy wouldn't let us in. I can't remember exaclty what we did.  We walked around, went to a couple of buildings.  We ate at the Shake Shack that night and walked on the High Line Park.  So pretty! 

We had fun seeing the Vessel and got to walk around a little in the inside on street entry. We couldn't walk on the stairs though. 

High Line Park

We walked over to Little Island and explored that area too. Cute park! There was a cool optical illusion as well there. 

The second day we went to Brooklyn and walked over the bridge.  You can find great prices on hats and tshirts on the entrance and exit of the bridge. 

We got on the metro and rode a little way to the botanical garden.

Next stop was the One World Observatory. It was fun going all the way to the top. It was like a roller coaster ride for my stomach as we went up very fast in the elevator.  The elevator presentation was pretty cool. 

We walked by the 9-11 memorial as well. 

The last big event (after pizza at a $1 pizza slice shop) was a sunset harbor cruise of the NYC skyline.  So pretty!  

We drove home that night.  We had a problem with our parking but thankfully I found the reservation I made beforehand and we got the reduced parking price that I had paid for online. 

It was quite weird with the kids gone!  We weren't really at home while they were gone, that's why we planned the trip when we did.  But when we were home it was weird!  I'm excited for the kids to be off on their own adventures soon, but I think I might be in for a harder adjustment than I realize. Cal will be gone next summer, then the girls in 3 years and Elden in 5 years.  Wow. 

The kids had a great time at camp.  Lee picked up the boys at camp.  I picked up the girls at the church building.  That weekend a little boy in our ward, Wesley Briggs died in a drowning accident.  It's been very sad.  I'll be planning the funeral for that. He just turned 2. 

Haley made some yummy crinkle cookies!

We got our new bike racke! Holds 7 bikes!

The work continues on the building.  Lee installed the front porch light and it looks great!

We got the ceiling power washed, along with the steps. 

FSY & Ruth's Motorcycle!

 Cal, Shanna and Haley went to their first For the Strength of Youth this summer!  It was a week long youth conference in Williamsburg at the university of William & Mary. They loved it!  I think Shanna and Cal's groups did a couple things together.  Haley was more so on her own.  Cal was with some guys that got in to the talent show.  They lip synced to the Back Street Boy's song, I Want It That Way.  Overall they had a great time. Though I think Haley liked it okay, a nice time.  Cal was really excited to be on his own and not do anything with anyone that he knew.  He wanted to meet all new people.  While that wasn't totally possible, he did meet a lot of new people and really loved it.  They rode with Bishop Peterson to the conference.  

I had grand plans of doing fun stuff with Elden....but that didn't happen. We drug him around to our different things that week. Elden finished a puzzle!  

One place we went was to look at stone for new office counters. We ended up not getting stone, but went ahead with some custom wood counters of dark walnut. 

The puzzle didn't last too long. 

The kids found these....things? at Smith Mountain Lake and brought them home. They had fun keeping them alive for a little while.  And we even saw them spit out water. 

We did go to a new bakery/coffee place in McGaheysville.  Of course no coffee for us!  Elden got a smoothie and a treat and Lee and I shared two pasteries I think. 

A purchase we made that week was a new motorcycle for me!  I got my license in 2020, but couldn't practice because Lee's bike is too tall for me.  I haven't been out on it practically at all since we are waiting for the license plates. 

We met the guy at the Turner Ashby High School parking lot. Lee drove it around and we bought it.  He drove it home with no plates.  Thankfully he didn't get pulled over! I stayed right behind him the whole time. 

We picked up the kids from FSY!  We had plans to go to a ropes course that morning after getting the kids.  We didn't plan well and needed leather gloves.  We drove to an ACE hardware and bought some.  Then we went online, looking at the time slots and the next availability was over an hour later.  We decided to go another time and head to Kings Dominion. 

Shanna wasn't feeling too hot so she stayed in the Chevy with me. Lee and the other kids went for a little while.  We didn't stay long as it started raining. 

We drove by the Richmond temple on the way home. So pretty!!!

It was fun hearing all the FSY stories and seeing who noticed the motorcyle. 

Cal and Shanna also showed off some swing dance moves. 

We are getting some progress done on the building!  The painting is wrapping up and we are making progress on the baseboards.  Still a long ways to go before we are ready to open.  

The kids took turns riding around in the office parking lot. 

Fun outside!

Best friends forever!

I guess it was pizza for lunch!

Look at that trim work!  Lee did such a great job!!!

And now maybe nap time on the trampoline?!

Also during this time, we found out Cal had COVID.  The Monday after FSY we were supposed to go camping at Watoga State Park with the Swinsons and the Mabundas.  Cal was feeling pretty lousy and we tested him Monday morning.  He was postive.  Most of us got COVID as well.  Thankfully it was pretty mild. It was so sad missing the camping trip! Hopefully next summer we can make it happen.  I have a credit for the campsites.