Saturday, November 7, 2009

Preview of Washington DC

I say PREVIEW of Washington D.C. because we only had a portion of a day. It is our Stake temple trip so we decided to come a day early and check out D.C. By the time we got to our hotel and took the metro it was 2:30. We didn't have time to do much, but we did what we could and it was NEAT!

We didn't make it to any museums except the Holocaust Museum. Even there Anniston did not find it as interesting as we did so we had to move through the exhibits quickly. We will return without her to take more time there. I think that every person should go to that museum and see the pictures and movies to help remind them what happened. I think what we as a people forget is that Hitler did not come to power overnight and just start the massacre. Hitler SLOWLY over the period of a few years built up his ideas and lulled the people away. I wonder maybe if we are forgetting the lesson that can be learned from that part of history. I wonder if at times we are slowly being lulled into things that a few years ago we would have never imagined accepting, but because of the slow changes over time we are becoming numb to things that would have shocked us only a short time ago.

ENOUGH SAID for NOW about that. Actually NOT ENOUGH said about that, but for now that will have to suffice and we can discuss this face to face sometime.


Our first stop off the metro was the George Washington Monument. We didn't get to go inside to the top, but when we come back we will do that.




Next was the Capital Building.




Of course Anniston is not IN the stroller but walking along side of it...the story of our day.



This is a picture of part of the WWII monument.




Of course THE BEAUTIFUL Stacey, pushing sleepy Anniston. (One of the few times she was IN the stroller)




We thought this was a neat picture looking at the George Washington Monument at night.



We can't forget the Abraham Lincoln Monument.






Stacey's uncle died in Vietnam during the war. She has always wanted to see this memorial and uncle Joe's name. So we stopped to pay tribute to his service and the many others who died in the service of others during that war. I am etching his name on a piece of paper for Dave and Darlene.





If any were wondering from the Cottle's, there were not "Cottle" names on the wall.


And our last stop before jumping back on the metro was the White House.


We both thought it was very neat to be here and we cannot wait to find another weekend to come back down!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween Pictures! Sorry I am not going to comment much...too busy in school but atleast here are some pictures.
Anniston the Duck!




Ghosts in our house!






BOO!


Tuesday, October 27, 2009

"I am so happy when Grandpa comes (grandma too)..."

"It's always fun when grandpa comes, when grandpa comes, HURRAY!"
(grandma too, but that is just how the song goes)
Grandma and Grandpa came to visit a couple of weeks ago. We picked them up at the Rochester Airport and saw some of the church history sites. After we spent a few days in Lock Haven before they headed out.


Hill Cumorah
This is looking from the top of the hill.


Stacey and I in front of the memorial

Anniston in the visitor's center, getting ready to be a missionary already!




Sacred Grove
Stacey took a few pictures here. It has been said that this is one of the most sacred places on earth and I must admit that there truly is a sacred feeling in this grove of trees. It was such a neat experience to be in a place where Heavenly Father and His Son appeared in this dispensation. I am grateful to know of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I do have a testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel. I know that the Church that Jesus Christ established when Christ was on the earth has been restored in its fullness in our days.
That restoration began here in this sacred grove of trees...









Smith Family Farms
I don't really have any pictures of any of the farm houses, but just of us on the farm.








This picture doesn't do justice, but there was a beautiful view of the temple through the fall colored trees.


Anniston with Grandpa's glasses


If you look close enough you can see that we are infront of the welcome sign at the Palmyra temple.



We were able to go to a session at the temple before touring the sites.


Grandma and Anniston in their hoods


Anniston was driving this horse. She would hold on and was pulling hard on the reigns (Grandpa's hair!). After, Grandpa thought he had for sure lost the rest of his hair.


Stacey, Adam, and Anniston in front of the Palmyra temple.
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for coming to visit!
Anniston misses you tons. She still will go around saying "Gwam-pa, Gwam-pa."


Monday, October 26, 2009

Falling into Fall Leaves....and..."pun-pun" carvings

Our neighbors grandaughter, Allison, took Anniston to play in the leaves.

At first Anniston was not too fond of the leaves.


But with a little help she started to LOVE the leaves.

Allison had fun throwing Anniston into the leaves...


...and Anniston loved it too!

As promised here are some picture of our Jack-O-Lanterns this year!
The middle one was so sick he was green, so of course he had to be the puking pumpkin.


Friday, October 23, 2009

Pick'n Pumpkins from the Patch

The first few days of October found us looking for pumpkins to start off our Halloween celebrations for the month of October. Some of our friends took us to a great pumpkin farm. We wish we would have taken more pictures of all the different types of pumpkins...it seemed like there were more types of pumpkins than drugs on my pharmocology test (more than I care to count).
Anniston was pretty excited, she was off running to get the best pumpkin.
Anniston really did like all the pumpkins. She even started learning to say "pumpkin" it sounds something like "pun-pun"


The Big "pun-pun"


Out of all the "pun-puns" Anniston's favorites were the Baby Boo (little white pumpkins), and of course she had to have one for each hand.


Our little family!


The kids playing on the spider.


We thought the spider and cat were quite creative.


Here is a picture of a FEW of the pumpkin types they had.


Oh yea, don't forget the Maize.
Stay tuned later this month to see the "pun-pun" carvings!