Random -- Before the Grandkids left.

Tanessa and Jake in our front yard by our pretty little tree. (Linda's house in the background).


Addi liked her naps on Grandpa and Grandma's bed. With blankey, binkey, and Ellie.


Jake and Tanessa trying to close the book so they can go home.

Touring the Church History Sites -- Oct 19th 2008

WHITMER FARM, SMITH FARM AND THE SACRED GROVE.

On Sunday we took Tanessa, Jake and Addi to our Ward in Pittsford and then we spent the rest of the day touring the Church History Sites. They had the opportunity to visit the Whitmer Farm in Fayette where the Church was organized on April 6,1830. We also visited the Smith Farm where Joseph Smith's family lived and farmed when Joseph was young. We visited the Log Home and the Frame Home that the Smith's built. We also enjoyed walking in the beautiful Sacred Grove which is part of the original Smith Farm area.


Grandpa, Tanessa, Jake and Addi at the Welcome Center of the Smith Farm, pictured with the beautiful statue of the First Vision called "Face to Face" by Dee Jay Bawden. (Incidentally, we just learned last night [Oct. 25] that this statue is being removed from here and being shipped to Salt Lake City tomorrow) -- we are very sad to see it go! It depicts such a tender and loving Heavenly Father and Christ appearing to the Prophet Joseph Smith.


Jake, Addi and Tanessa in the downstairs of the Smith Log Home. It was from here that Joseph went into the grove to pray.


Tanessa, Jake and Grandpa in the upstairs room of the Smith's Log Home. This is where the Angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith on the night of Sept. 21-22, 1823.


Addi leaving the Frame Home where the Smith's lived when Joseph obtained the Plates. This home is 85% original.


Grandpa, Jake , Tanessa and Addi at the entrance to the Sacred Grove.


Tanessa and Jake at one of the OLDER trees in the Sacred Grove. (see below).


This plaque was placed at the foot of this tree in 1962. This may be one of the very oldest trees.


This is our sweet Addi -- stopping to ponder along the trail in the Sacred Grove. She loved all the leaves!!


GRANDIN PRESS AND THE HILL CUMORAH.

They had the tour at the Grandin Publishing Co. where the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon were published. Then we went to the Hill Cumorah and they hiked up the Hill at sunset and enjoyed seeing the Moroni Monument and looking around the hill. After which we went to the Visitor's Center resource room where everyone could just mill around and enjoy all the touch screen exhibits and videos.

All of us at the top of the Hill Cumorah.

Grandma Hamblin, Addi and Grandpa Hamblin at the Moroni monument, Hill Cumorah.

Sacred experiences in Palmyra, NY

On Sat. morning Tanessa and Jake wanted to go to the Palmyra Temple and our assigned Temple shift was on that morning, so it was fun to have them in the Temple with us. Addi went to Linda's house to play with Cami's kids. Afterward we had our assignment at the Smith Farm, so the kids went with Linda's family and took the trip on the Erie Canal on the Colonial Belle. It takes the ship up through the locks on the canal and is quite an adventure. That night we went down to the Hill Cumorah Visitor's Center and had a "private showing" of the movie, "Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration."

Niagara Falls trip -- FUN, FUN, FUN!!

Tanessa, Jake and Adi arrived to visit us on Thurs. night, Oct. 16th. They flew in on Jet Blue Airlines and said they had a great flight, they really liked Jet Blue. We were so happy to see them and loved having them here for a few days. We planned a trip to Niagara Falls on Friday. We went on the Maid of the Mist cruise up into the Falls, it is so fun to go right up into the middle of the horseshoe shaped falls, with the mist of the falls and the majestic sight of all that water almost completely surrounding you. The sound of all that water falling over those high cliffs is almost overwhelming. We were so glad we went when we did because we found out that the Maid of the Mist cruises were stopping the next week and closing down for the winter.

After the cruise we decided to have lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. None of us had ever been to one and it seemed to be THE place, so we had ribs and sandwiches. Jake loved his mushroom burger! Everything was really good.

This is the Hard Rock Cafe in Niagara Falls where we had lunch. It was quite an experience. Thought we'd hang out with the "Rich and Famous" or at least see how they made their fortunes.

Tess and Jake just "hanging out" at the Hard Rock Cafe.


Addi just enjoyed running around and playing in the rocks along the pathway by the American Falls while we waited for our boat ride up into the Falls. Such a cutie!!! Oh, how we love her.


The American side of Niagara Falls, the water just coming over the brink of the Falls. The sunshine was just over the falls so it was hard to see the camera screen, so most of the shots were "pot luck" -- but this one turned out pretty good for a blind point and click shot.

This is also the American side of Niagara Falls -- with the majestic full falls and the autumn colored leaves and bushes. On the stairs that go up the side of the falls it's fun to feel and see the mist and spray of the Falls.


Jake, Tanessa and Addi boarding the "Maid of the Mist" with their ponchos to keep them dry. Addi loved her little blue poncho and would hardly take it off when we were done with the ride.


Jake, Addi, Tanessa and Grandpa aboard the "Maid of the Mist" for our ride up into the horseshoe falls. What an adventure!!

Autumn in NY

Sunset from the top of the Hill Cumorah

Autumn leaves in forest.







Sunset from the Visitor's Center.








Flowers at sign and gate to the Palmyra Temple.






The Apple Shed where we buy apples. It's up north of Palmyra in beautiful apple country.


The full moon, pink clouds, and colorful leaves in the early morning hours on Oct. 15th, 2008. This shot is looking from our house to the west toward the Sacred Grove.

Flowers, Fall, & Funny Faces

Here is our view of the fall flowers and parking lot at the Welcome Center @ the Smith Farm and Sacred Grove.

Our NY skies are ever changing, especially in the fall. Here is a beginning of the sunset after a rainy day.

This is another autumn, Halloween landscape -- Jack-O-Lanterns amidst the fall colors of the bushes.

Pumpkins have met their Waterloo!

Just thought I'd post a few pictures that I took on our way to the Whitmer Farm last Fri. It seems Waterloo, NY really enjoys Halloween -- pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere! The one is in town and is just a cute little display in the front yard, with lights and decorations in the windows and little "people" peering in the door. The BIG pumpkins were in front of a big dairy farm with a big white barn.