Kirtland, Ohio

One of the reasons that we have always wanted to take a drive East is to see some of the historical sights for our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The Saints lived in Kirtland, Ohio from 1830 to 1838. Despite financial hardship, the members were able to build a temple to the Lord.
The Kirtland temple still stands. And because it is no longer owned by the Mormons, it is open for tours through the Community of Christ.
The temple required so much sacrifice. The people barley had a roof over their head, but they eagerly contributed time, and money to build the temple.

We stopped for the night just outside Cleveland, and took a tour the next morning.
Many important revelations were shown to Joseph Smith during the Kirtland era. It was also a trying time for his family as persecution continued to follow them, and they lost children shortly after birth.

Joseph and Emma Smith rode the 300 miles from Palmyra New York to Kirtland in an open sleigh in the middle of Winter. Emma was seven months pregnant. They stopped first at the general store of Newel K. Whitney. Whitney and his wife, who was an excellent record keeper, had been praying to know if the church was true after they had listened to missionaries preaching.
When Joseph walked into the store he called Newel K. Whitney by name. He told him he was Joseph Smith and that Whitney had prayed him there, so what did he need from him?
The early Saints lived in Kirtland one year longer than they did in Nauvoo. Much of what Joseph was directed to do in establishing the Church was revealed here. Just a few miles from the temple is the Johnson Farm, which we did not visit. It is the sight of the mob attack on Joseph and his family, which left him tarred and feathered, and his infant son sick to the point of death after being exposed to the elements by the mob, while already not well.
I like the big, heavy, green doors on the temple. They are original to the building.

The tour of the temple was good. But I loved the tour of the general store. The building is 80% original, and it was the cutest thing ever!
We stopped at the visitors center first, which is run by missionaries from our church. They have a short movie they show before the tour. It, like all the church movies, was really well done, and the kids loved it. It was perfect to give them an idea of why we were looking at all these old buildings. The re enactments really stuck with them.
Joseph and Emma lived above the store, with a kitchen in the back, for about a year and a half. The upper floor of the store includes a small room, with a tiny fireplace that was designated the School of the Prophets. We were encouraged to be very reverent and allow the Spirit to teach us as we entered the room. Our kids were cooperative with this! Except for their many child like questions and observations.
Many revelations were given in this room, including the revelation to build a temple, the Word of Wisdom, and instructions on translation.
This spot remains sacred even today. Many men had visions in the upper room of this store. Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ also appeared in this room.

I am sure that it was difficult for the Whitneys to leave this charming store, and their home across the street, and head to the unknown, with no home. Their faithfulness in the face of persecution is so touching.
I feel like I am forgetting important details of this stop, and I can't get my mind in recall mode. I will make edits as I remember! Better to post it now, before my mind loses more information! Wow! I must be getting old!

More Manhattan

Trying to fit all the New York sights into a few short days is an impossibility! There is an endless number of things I had on my list. One of them was the 911 Memorial.
We got off the train a stop early and walked a few blocks on accident, and then suddenly... chaos!

There were people everywhere, lines forming left and right, construction workers milling around all over, jackhammers drilling a foot away, and to top it all off, every 911 Memorial worker we asked where to enter the Memorial gave us a different answer!
Del heard one person that worked there say this size crowd was completely out of the ordinary. I have a friend who told me that a few months ago they walked right in! We have great timing!

We eventually found the entrance to the World Trade Memorial, but we could not see it. Just a sea of people. Police officers pushed people up onto the sidewalks, so we were literally standing in a holding pen with hundreds of people, chest to back, shoulder to shoulder.

I had made a reservation online, but accidentally only grabbed the confirmation, and not the actual tickets, off the printer. As I said, all the people who worked there gave us a different answer. Some said to walk two blocks back up the street, and get in another crazy line for tickets, some said stay where we were.
Finally, after waiting in the suffocation for 25 minutes, Del was able to get a straight answer from a girl guarding a roped entrance. He told her we had a reservation. She pulled us out of that line, sent us through the rope ahead of all those people, to yet another line!


We waited another half hour, and then finally, success! We got through security, and into the memorial. The kids were so patient with this process. We were all clinging to each other so we wouldn't get lost in the mess! There were not many children there, and I did not see any other strollers while we were at the Memorial.

Once we were inside, it was so much more peaceful, and there was a chance to reflect for a minute, and explain it all to the kids!

As we stood in the second phase of the line, a tour guide was next to us, leading a group through. We listened as she talked to the people she was guiding. She was at work in the World Trade Center on September 11. I did not hear her story of getting out of the building, but she did talk about friends she lost, and how the event changed the course of her life.

She said to make sure that you make note of how when the towers stood, people came from all over the world to look up into the sky at them.
And now, they come to gaze down into the marks left by their foundations. The water pours from the walls to emphasize their footprint, and memorialize those whose names are carved into the plates all around the foundations.
The guide also talked about how as the years have passed, good has come to her life because of that day. She said that now she has a chance to share with others as a guide, and she has made the best of friends with other survivors, and how they have impacted her.
I was really glad we had a quiet moment in line next to her. If we have the opportunity to visit again, I would love to do a guided tour.

Our children obviously do not have a "Where I Was When the Towers Fell" story, but I hope that they can look at pictures when they understand one day, and they will feel a little more connected.
It reminded me that when I went to Pearl Harbor, I knew the significance it had in my grandparents lives. I am really glad that we were able to see this spot. Crazy beginnings and all. It was touching, and
I have a feeling it will become even more so when all the construction is done. There seems to be a long way to go. I am so glad they have completed what they did. I am sure it means a lot to the loved ones of those lost.

After we left the Memorial, we walked to Battery Park to get a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty.
One of the main reasons that I was so anxious to go to New York was that I have have wanted to go to Ellis Island for as long as I can remember.
So, as luck would have it, we were unable to because the island, and the Statue are closed indefinitely because of damage sustained during Hurricane Sandy last year.
We could have done a river tour that would have taken us out closer to it, but I was not prepared to be sea sick, and the kids were not cooperative with the idea.
Again... next time!!

We did our best to get some shots with Lady Liberty in the background. She is pretty far out there, and smaller than I thought she would be. Still, when we walked into the park and I got my first glimpse of her out in the water, I was pretty excited! Still striking, even from a distance!

After we got a glimpse at the Statue of Liberty, we headed up to the Flatiron District. Which was my favorite! Really, a cool neighborhood!

We had a nice view of the Empire State building as we walked down 5th Ave. I wish we could have spent more time on 5th Ave.

I have heard a lot about Eataly, so we stopped in. It is a huge Italian food emporium, with every kind of pasta, seafood, or cheese you can imagine. We ate pizza and pasta in the restaurant in the  back.

The unusual seafood selection kept the kids busy while we waited for a table.

Food! Finally! We were starving! We had not eaten since breakfast! Authentic Italian pasta and a Margherita pizza. It was really good, and very nut safe because they don't use any in the restaurant. I was just warned to be careful with the bread because it comes from their bakery where they do use nuts. I think Del thought the food was just okay here, but it hit the spot for me.

We walked past the Empire State building on our way to the Subway, but we decided not to go up for the tour.
We enjoyed a long walk back to the hotel, by way of Central Park for more play time for the kids, after we got off the Subway. Then, Del went to the church to play basketball, and I put the kids to bed. He made sure to get the scoop on when they play church ball from some of the guys in the hallway on Sunday.

The next morning it was time to pack up and head off for our next adventure! We took our car out of the parking garage, and used it to get a look at some of the neighborhoods that we didn't get a chance to explore.
We drove around the Upper East Side, where I jumped out to grab some more cupcakes at Magnolia in Bloomingdales. That Bloomingdales smells like Heaven, by the way. Perfume!
We also cruised by the bridges!
Queensboro, Manhatten, and Brooklyn!
These pictures have a weird shade of blue to them because of the tint on the windshield.

We drove across the Brooklyn Bridge and then turned the wrong direction to get to the Promenade, and ended up in the Projects instead. We actually found this very intriguing, as a man that we go to church with back home grew up in the Brooklyn Projects, and we were glad to be able to tell him we drove through his old neighborhood.

We also drove through China Town. I was SO bummed that we didn't get to walk around in China Town! It was really, really cool! So much to see, and I could have looked all day!
I was also really hoping to walk around Greenwhich Village. We walked the outskirts of it, but we didn't see Washington Square Park.
I need another trip to Manhattan! Endless amounts of interesting sights, smells, people, and ideas! I have no idea exactly how many miles a day we walked our kids, but they toughened right up after the first few miles! It was a great experience! I hope to repeat it soon!

New York City

For years now, we have had a trip East on our list of travel hopes.

I have tried planning this trip several times. It never worked out for one reason or another. So when we actually loaded the family up and started, I was still in a bit dubious that we would make it to all of our planned destinations.

Miracle of miracles, we did it!

We drove the many hours from Chicago to Manhattan! It is a doosy of a drive, but we are used to worse. It is far fewer hours than our Utah drives, and because Del really enjoys road trips, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Plus we planned several stops along the way.

We arrived in New York on Saturday night. We checked into the Empire Hotel, and then got a hotel room (parking garage spot) for our car. It stayed there until we went and picked it up as we left the city.

I guess our hotel is a hot spot with the television show "Gossip Girl." I must say I have no idea why or any of the details because I do not watch that show. But I will tell you that it was not geared toward families. I booked the room on Priceline.
It was in a great location, a very nice hotel, and everything worked out well during our stay, even though we broke fire code and crammed into one teeny room. But every time we went in or out of the hotel we passed the roped line, supervised by a bouncer, to get up to the roof where they have a night club. So that lent to a certain atmosphere that did make make us desirous to hang out in the lobby with our kids. Other than that, it was just fine.
I have a feeling any boutique like hotel in the city would be the same. I figured that out while trying to book one!

As I said the hotel's location was its biggest selling point! One block away from Central Park, and only two blocks from the Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!

We got up Sunday morning and headed to Sacrament meeting, which is in the same building as the temple. It was packed! We were certainly not the only ones taking in the bright lights for Spring Break!
We chatted with a few people after church and they were kind enough to snap some pictures for us! One gal from the singles ward even offered to babysit so we could go out on a date. But considering our room was the size of a postage stamp, I didn't see the logistics working in her favor!

Manhattan Temple

Outside the temple/church entrance

Breakfast.

Georgia and I across the street from our hotel.

Central Park was a huge hit with our kids because they have massive rocks that people climb all over. They could have stayed all day. The first few hours of Sunday were deceiving with warmer temperatures, but then it got really cold, really quickly. Especially because we were outside almost the whole trip! Our light jackets were put away for the rest of the week after that, and it was back to the heavy coats. I expected it, so it wasn't devastating.

The boys on the rocks. They are still talking about the rocks.

There are a lot of street (or park) performers in Central Park. There are guys that blow huge bubbles with rope and crowds gather around them. I was not paying attention at one point, because I was looking intently for a bathroom for Walker, and I walked right through one of these performances.

The bubble popped on my head! So gross! And embarrassing! The crowd laughed, and I took a little bow. I don't want to know how many video cameras captured that one!

As I looked through the pictures from our trip it struck me how little color there is in the pictures. It seems strange because when I was in the city it didn't seem drab. It does translate that way a little in pictures. Probably because we are in the same dark coats the whole time.

The kids loved all the food carts in the city. We let them buy a lot from them. Hey, take risks in life, right?
 Georgia was intent on buying a pretzel. She saw the pretzel cart as we headed back to the hotel after church, and counted all her change out in the room so she could buy one. She led us all back two blocks to where she had seen him, and got her pretzel. They were actually really good! This girl loved New York City. Sometimes I wonder if I am going to lose her to the draw of a big city at some point. She has the gumption to make it!
One day as we were were going into swim lessons before the trip Georgia took a deep breathe, smelling the air. She said,"It smells like a city! I love cities!"

We ate yummy pizza by the slice at a really good, really cheap pizzeria near Columbus Circle called Mariella. We starting talking to the owner, an older man, and he told us that a couple years ago, the Duggers from 19 Kids and Counting, came to New York and ate at his pizzeria! All twenty something of them, plus crew in his tiny restaurant! I actually saw that episode, so it all came back to me when he said that! Go there if you get a chance, it was the easiest meal we ate all week.

After we had warmed up for a while in the room, and put the kids in their pajamas, we decided it would be really classy to take them back out and get some ice cream.
So here we are in our pajamas at the closest ice cream shop.
The funny thing about this city is that even though we obviously have a unique situation hauling four kids around it, no one really gave us any extra attention. I think that because nothing there is homogenous, nothing stands out as strange. You may notice us, but one second later you will find someone far more interesting to watch. So we didn't draw the usual, "You have your hands full comments," All in a city occupied mainly by adults!
I am sure that the minute they saw us with four kids, they knew... TOURISTS!
We did get stopped a few times by people asking for directions. But they were also tourists, so that does  not give us any New York cred.

The kids loved to look out the window. They had a lot of things to point out to us. They were especially excited the morning a fruit cart had popped up right across the street. They were in fruit heaven, and they wanted to buy it all!

We used the Subway system the whole trip. We all loved it! We had a great guide of all the trains we needed, and found that people were more than happy to voluntarily stop, pull out their ear buds, and offer assistance if we looked lost. Friendly New York.

I look annoyed in this picture. Maybe I was, but I am pretty sure I was happy most of the time!

We went to the Museum of Natural History. It was perfect for a day with sleet falling outside. That also meant it was very busy. That is the story with Chicago Museums too, so it was no surprise.

This is a great museum. We did a couple of the extra exhibits. We chose "Whales" and the Monarch Butterfly IMAX movie. The movie was awesome! So interesting, and a great reminder of the unbelievable attention to detail put into every one of our Heavenly Father's creations.

The museum also has an entire section dedicated to fossils, and minerals. Wally did not stop talking the entire time he was on that floor. He had found his heaven!

We ate at Shake Shack, but we did not enjoy it. The food is good, don't get me wrong, but it was the biggest madhouse in New York at the moment we were there, and after waiting in line, after line, Del and I ate standing up while the kids shared two chairs between them. I am a tourist who hates crowds. Not a lot you can do about that.

A cold, wet day on the Upper West Side.

We went to Times Square. We spent a total of five minutes there.

So incredibly crowded with confused tourists (us times a million.) It was raining pretty hard, the people hocking their wares on the street were in our faces, the naked cowgirl was unavoidable, and it was just not my cup of tea when with my kids.
After we told one girl we were not interested in her comedy club information, she followed us the whole block screaming in Del's ear again, and again, "Where are you from? What is your name?" So over the top!
We snapped a couple pictures, and headed out for more a more family manageable spot.

Rockefeller Plaza was busy too, of course, but much more pleasant.

Georgia really wanted to ice skate, both here and in Central Park. Maybe next trip, Girlie!

Do you want to see what we look like after a day full of wandering the city in the rain?

Ta DAAAA!!!
The guy from Argentina that took this for us did not believe in giving us one more courtesy shot, so Walker's head was lucky to make it in the picture.
I took three pictures of them just to be safe. His wife will thank me.

The kids were really excited about the Lego store located in Rockefeller Center, so went went in and let them pick their souvenir for the trip there.

After our Lego fix was taken care of, we needed a cupcake fix! We stopped at Magnolia bakery for some cupcakes to take back to the room and munch on, out of the rain!
Frozen girl with a half a dozen really yummy cupcakes!

More to come from Manhatten!