Winter in Palmyra 1-2-09

On our last full day together we headed off to Palmyra since Derek had never been there before and it's always a good place to visit with the whole family anyway. This was our first time there around Christmastime. Now we've been there in every season. :)

As I pulled up to the Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center I sat in the car staring at this nativity display. I was so confused. All I could think was, "Since when did we start believing in unicorns?!" It took me a few minutes to realize that it was a donkey, I was just at the wrong angle to see both ears. :)

We made a quick stop in the Visitor's Center and Jackson spotted the Christus and ran in the room. The rest of the kids followed. I love that they are attracted to that room and that they wanted to make sure we took a picture of them there.

We headed over to the Smith Family Farm and Sacred Grove. The best part about not visiting the church sites in the summer is that you get more detailed tours and more opportunity to take pictures. Here's the family entering the log home. While it is a replica of the original, it stands exactly in the same spot as the original. I'm so glad our kids get to walk into these places where some of the most sacred events in history took place.

As you walk from the log home to the larger frame house, you can see the Palmyra Temple up on the hill to your left, looking out over the Sacred Grove.

The frame home is the original home that the Smith's built and lived in. I thought it was great to see it decorated for Christmas. Nothing big and spectacular, but simple, humble, and sweet.

{I thought this was such a cute ornament hanging in the window.}

{The hearth in the frame home where Joseph once hid the plates.}

{The kitchen}

{Love the high chair} :)

{The kids listening to the tour in the kitchen/dining area}

{Derek walking from the frame house}

{Hyrum stops for a picture on his walk to the Sacred Grove. By the way, isn't that the cutest hat Holly made for him out of a sweater?! I vote that Holly does a tutorial on her blog about hat making!!}

As we walked toward the Sacred Grove, Jackson decided he didn't want to walk anymore. I carried him for a while to try to catch up with the rest of the group. He's a good 45 lbs, then add snow coats, boots, and walking on a snow- covered dirt path... exhausting!

Once we finally caught up, my dad offered to take over. Poor Papa carried Jackson on his back through the Sacred Grove.

Sunny, Hyrum, Derek

It's even beautiful there in the middle of the winter!

We made one more stop in Palmyra- at the Grandin Building.

Jackson and Hyrum had had about enough as we went through this tour. We spent some time away from the group getting some pictures while the rest learned about how the Book of Mormon was printed.

It was nice to share the day here with the family and especially nice that Derek could finally be in these sacred places (and the rest of us too!)

The next morning they all packed up to return to Michigan- while making a stop in Kirtland on the way- to return in time for Sunny, Derek and Hyrum to catch their plane home to Utah.

I should add that before they all left, my dad took time to replace a GFI outlet in the garage for me. It had been tripping off with all of the Christmas lights and garage fridge plugged in until it finally died. Dad just can't be here without fixing something that he knows needs fixing. One of the many things I love about my dad. :)

I love all of my family and was SO glad to have them ALL here for a little visit. (Wish Nathan could've been here too- always seems like someone is missing!)

Thanks for making the trip!

We LOVED having you here!