Savannah, Georgia

We got up Monday morning, December 21, and packed up for our Christmas trip south. The van was doing some interesting chugging on our way home from Washington DC so Neil changed the fuel filter before we left and it worked great for our trip. We drove as far as Savannah, Georgia.  We did pizza for dinner and some of the kids played in the motel swimming pool in the evening.  There was something in the water that really made your eyes burn so we discouraged anyone from putting their faces in the water.  They had fun swimming and then watched some tv in the motel rooms.

We got up Tuesday morning and did a little sight seeing around Savannah.  It was a beautiful city. We were even able to find parking for the van.  We went down to Factor's walk and saw where the cotton ships used to come in.  We also saw several monuments, and a Revolutionary War Cemetery.  I love this sign about the historic steps.  I am sure if Bethany had been with us she would have take a picture of it, so I took it for her.  

We must be in hurricane country

Washington DC Temple Christmas lights

The Christmas lights at the Washington DC temple are so amazing!!  We took the family up to Washington DC after church on December 20th.  It was perfect weather. It was not too cold and there was no snow to deal with.  It was absolutely beautiful!  I loved all the lights at the temple.  I am so glad we had the opportunity to see the lights at the temple while we are here.

Another beautiful day at the Washington DC temple

While Rebecca was here for Christmas we had the wonderful opportunity to take her to the Washington DC temple to go through for herself.  It was a beautiful day at the temple.  We had to get up early and head out to make it there by 10:30 in the morning.  It was worth the effort!  It was so wonderful to be there with Rebecca and see her joy at attending the temple. She has always loved temples.  At one time she made power points of every operating temple in the world.  She has worked hard to prepare to go and she has changed her life.  I was so glad to be her escort.  I love that the Washington DC temple doesn't have an aisle down the middle of the room.  Rebecca got to sit right between me and Neil.  What a perfect spot for someone going through for the first time.  I hope she will keep her love of the temple and attend at least once a month.  I love you, Rebecca!!

Introducing Rebecca to Virgina

Rebecca flew to Virginia for Christmas on December 15th.  We didn't have a lot of time to show her our home for a year, but we did show her a few things.  She absolutely loved Virginia!! I think she is planning on moving to the East Coast if she can figure out how to make it work.  We went to Lexington.  She loved Washington and Lee University and the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery.  We also went to Staunton and took her to the Shakespeare Theater.  She really wants to see a show there someday.  We also went to Washington DC.  I think Washington DC was her favorite.  We only had one afternoon to see the monuments and we didn't even go in a museum, but I think she will be back someday.  We had a wonderful visit with her.  I really needed to have her home.  I love that she loved the area we are living in.  I am so glad we got to share it with her, even if there wasn't enough time to see everything.

Here is a link to what she wrote on her blog.  You can tell she loved being here.
Link to Rebecca's Blog Post.

Boxerwood

We went to Boxerwood in Lexington Saturday afternoon.  Dallin had been there for school, but none of the rest of us had gone.  It is a great place that has lots of habitat area and a great play area for kids.  Joshua and Lydia loved the mud kitchen.  It had a kitchen area with all kinds of pots and pans and a bathtub filled with mud to play in.  Lydia loved making chocolate muffins.  Joshua and Lydia came home with mud on them and smiles on their faces.  Dallin loved showing us the way to the wetlands.  Neil, Emma, Matthew and I followed Dallin to find the wetlands. There was a fun teamwork tightrope.  Matthew and David worked at it and finally got across it.   It was a fun family afternoon.

No snow day, but a day off anyway

The kids have been waiting and waiting for a snow day off of school.  We haven't had any snow yet, but the kids got Monday off of school for a different reason.  There was a felon that shot at a police officer in Buena Vista during a traffic stop on Friday night.  He ran away and was hiding out somewhere near Enderly Heights Elementary.  The school district didn't feel good about having the kids go to school on Monday because he still hadn't been found on Sunday night.  He was finally found in a church attic Monday afternoon.  The kids enjoyed the day off. They are still waiting for snow to come.  We understand that there were 19 snow days last year.  We have hardly ever had a snow day in Wyoming so the kids are excited to miss a few days of school this year.

The National Zoo

We decided to go to Washington DC the day after Thanksgiving and see the National Zoo.  It was the perfect day to see a zoo.  The weather was perfect and we didn't even need our jackets.  We really enjoyed seeing the zoo.  It is so nice that the zoo is free. Neil dropped the kids and I off at the zoo and then went to find a parking place.  He rode his bike back to the zoo.  There was a baby panda born in August and it was really neat to see it.  I am so glad that we were able to see the zoo while we are here.  Joshua was so excited to see an anteater.  Here are some pictures from our day at the zoo.