Summer Showers

I have had a number of conversations lately that included talking about the rain we have been getting lately. NORMALLY, it doesn't really rain that hard in Utah. You can tell if it rained hard if while you were driving in the rain, it was hard enough to get the back window of the car wet. I have noted a few times in the past year before we moved that that usually was not the case in Utah. Here in New York it definitely rains hard. Karalenn told me about a friend who would shampoo her hair during warm rain of the summer. So we thought that sounded fun and we would try it. Wouldn't you know that the rain would fizzle out just as the girls got going. Well, they had fun anyway. I just ended up pouring warm water from the kitchen over them to get them rinsed off well enough.

Easy Going Laid Back Summer

We have recently taken advantage of our close proximity to LDS church history sites. We had a nice time just taking our time walking around. When we were here in August 2005 it was so hot and humid that my memories of these places are pleasant, but slower and on cool evenings has made for better times. Here are just a few of the pictures we had fun with, and for those of you who have requested pictures of the beautiful scenery. Sorry a couple of the pictures are fuzzy. The camera was on a weird setting for some of them and I didn't realize.

The Hill Cumorah Monument

"Strike a pose, Mom."

Looking out from Cumorah Hill

Serenity loves it here. Can't you tell?

Cadence taking a quiet moment in the Sacred Grove.

The Frame House on the Smith Farm

The Log House on the Smith Farm

The Sacred Grove. One of the most peaceful places I've ever been.

Enjoying our time together.

To Dad ~ Love Serenity and Cadence

The girls wanted to post a little something for Father's day. Of course being on opposite sides of the country, their dad wasn't able to enjoy the song all the kids at church sang for the dads, so we filmed this especially for him. They even changed a couple of the words to personalize it to their dad.


These are two of the sweetest girls in the world and they love their dad. They are so thoughtful and they are a great team. I am glad they have each other.

My New Job

So, I am sure a lot of you already know, but I thought I would post a little something about my new job. I finished my first week of working part time at the LDS bookstore right next door to the Grandin Press Building where the Book of Mormon was first published. In the picture, the bookstore is to the left of the Grandin. The store is called Latter Day Harvest. There are only two of them, one here and the other in Nauvoo, IL. I am really enjoying it. It is such a good environment to be in. It's gonna get a lot crazy during the Hill Cumorah Pageant, or so I am told, but I'm gonna have fun doing it. Although our list of things that the girls and I want from the store make me wonder how much of my pay check will be spent right there. The other perk is that it takes me about three minutes to walk to work from our house, so, score.

Spring Chorus Concert

Serenity joined the school chorus here in Palmyra. Both of the girls were in chorus in Utah, but here they only allow fourth and fifth graders to join. This week they had their final spring concert ever at Palmyra Elementary. Next year all the third, fourth, and fifth grades from Palmyra and Macedon(the little town just west of us) will go to school together in what WAS Macedon Elementary and will now be called Macedon Intermediate School. All the kindergartens, first, and second grades with be here and called, Palmyra Primary School.

I captured some of the concert on my camera as video. I couldn't zoom in any further so sorry it is kinda hard to see Serenity. I tried to keep her in the center of the screen, but admittedly hard to pick her out. The audio quality isn't wonderful either, but it isn't from a nice camcorder.

I am pleased with the little young lady she is becoming and how at least during performances she isn't fidgety like a lot of kids are. We enjoyed it despite the heat and we hope you will too.