NEW YORK

Over Thanksgiving Shane, me and Makena joined my parents and traveled to New York to spend the holiday with Jake and Whitney and Mandi and Cole since they are all back there going to school. We started out by heading up to Buffalo, New York where Jake and Whitney live. It was so fun to see their darling apartmen and the University of Buffalo where Jake is going to Dental School and to just get an idea of their life in Buffalo. We went to Niagra Falls one day, and then to Palmyra another day to see the Sacred Grove, Hill Camorah, and the Grandin Press. Our time in upstate New York with Jake and Whitney was so much fun. I really loved going back to the church history sites and having Shane and Makena with me this time, there is such a special feeling there. Here are some pics of the first leg of our journey.

The beginning of our amazing trip. Makena was very excited to get on the plane and had fun watching them out the window until we took off.



When we arrived in Buffalo we went to Jake and Whitney's apartment which is so cute! They had a delicious dinner of "real" Buffalo Wings for us. It was great to be with them in their home.

Niagra Falls. This was a very cold and wet day and Makena wasn't thrilled with being all bundled up. Luckily it was the only day that had bad weather.

The boys looking at the falls.

We toured Jake's school, it was cool to see all he is doing to become a dentist.

The Visitors Center at Hill Cumorah.

Walking up to the top of Hill Cumorah.



Visiting the Smith Log Home near the Sacred Grove.

Our little family on the Smith Farm by the Sacred Grove.

Walking through the Sacred Grove, it was so peaceful. It was a cool day but clear and so beautiful.

Fun times just hanging out in the hotel, Grandpa loved giving Makena a bath.

Room Service for our princess! One night when we got home we didn't want to run out to a restaurant to get Makena something to eat so we order her a Peanut Butter sandwhich through room service and it came up on this fancy try, she thought it was pretty cool!

On Thanksgiving morning all 7 of us boarded another plane and headed to Manhattan to spend the rest of the trip with Mandi and Cole. They met us at the airport and then we went to their little apartment for a yummy bruch and to freshen up before our special Thanksgiving dinner at Times Square! It was a wonderful Thanksgiving being all together in New York and the banquet dinner we went to was awesome! While in the city we did A LOT of site seeing! We went to the Museum of Natural History, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Phantom of the Opera, Central Park, FAO Swartz Toy Store, Washington Square and so so much more. We rode the metro to get around most of the time we were there and Makena loved this, I think it was one of her favorite things we did. We also saw where Mandi goes to school and we went to church with Mandi and Cole. I really loved just seeing their apartment and how they live in New York City, it is just so different than life in Utah. Its busy, exciting and crowded with lots to do. Here are more pics of the highlights from our trip to New York. It was a trip of a lifetime and we loved every minute of it!

Brunch at Mandi and Cole's. Their apartment is super small but they have it set up so cute. I was surprised we all fit so well.

Times Square on Thanksgiving Day!

At our Thanksgiving dinner. Yummy!



Watching the iceskaters at Rockerfeller Center.

Riding the Metro. Makena loved this!



Jake and Makena checking out the Elephants at The Natural History Museum.



Eating hot dogs from a street vendor outside of Central Park! They were really good. This was so fun!

Ney York Stock Exchange on Wall Street.

The Bull on Wall Street...you may recoginize this from "Hitch".

Riding the ferry out to see the Statue of Liberty. It was very windy and cold on the water but a fun thing to do.

Statue of Liberty

We did a ton of walking through the streets of New York!

Washington Square - this is kind of the central place of NYU where Mandi and Cole go to School.

A guy playing the piano at Washington Square.

We went to a really cute Christmas Market one day and this Farmer's Market was right next to it. These were so neat and things that the locals do so it was cool to experience.

Me and Shane in our seats at Phantom...it was amazing and so fun!

!Going to Phanton of the Opera...you can't really see Shane and I very good but I think the view of the street and all the Broadway Play signs is neat.

Mandi and Cole's chuch

Hanging out in Mandi and Cole's apartment, giving our legs a little break.

Playing on the piano at the toy store...this is the one in the movie "Big"

Central Park...my FAVORITE place in NY

Blowing bubbles and having fun in the park.

More fun in Central Park

Pape and Makena enjoying the nice day! What a great trip. It was so fun to be together as a family!