First Day of School 2015

School started today.  We made it through the summer.  I was worried that the summer would be completely crazy trying to keep the big kids entertained while maintaining a schedule for the babies.  It was crazy, but better than I thought it would be.  The big kids went back to school today.  They were a little excited and nervous all at the same time.

Rebecah is in Kindergarten.  There are only 14 kids in her class.  I love the small class size.  In the Kindergarten grade this year there are a lot more boys than girls so in Rebecah's class there are 5 girls and 9 boys.  One of her good friends, a boy from preschool, is in her class.  She came home with a lot to say and excited to go back tomorrow.  She didn't get to finish her lunch so she'll need to learn to eat faster!

Kimball is in 3rd grade.  Where did the time go with him?  He is so grown up.  Kimball is in the class with peanut allergies which he wasn't too excited about.  He can still take peanut butter, but kids with allergies have to sit at a special table.  He is really excited to have a planner this year to write his assignments.  He also intends to write down his plans too and not just the assignments from his teacher.  He wasn't as forthcoming with school news as was Rebecah, but I managed to get a good report about his day.

I think the kids will have a great year.

        

 

Priesthood Restoration Site

Yesterday we took advantage of our last day of Summer vacation to take a trip to Oakland, Pennsylvania to visit the recently finished Priesthood Restoration Site.  The buildings opened a week ago for public tours and it will be dedicated by President Russell M. Nelson on September 19.  We have been to the Susquehanna area a few other times, but it has changed a lot with the new visitor's center and the Hale and Smith homes.

The Visitor's Center is really nice with interactive things for kids to do and see.  There was also a nice video explaining the historical and sacred events that happened in this area.

Here Kimball is doing an interactive game spinning the wagon
wheel to move the horse and carriage on its way.

This is the sugar maple grove where John the Baptism visited Joseph and Oliver.

Issac Hale home.

Dining Room

Parlor--the rooms were very "busy" with all of the decor, but it was true to the time period.

Desk in the Parlor

Lincoln by the fireplace.

Kitchen

If you look closely you see a little tunnel which has a walking path under the road
so visitors can safely get from the visitor's center to the houses.

Joseph and Emma Smith home.
The rock wall was made with rocks from the original foundation.

Translation table.

Susquehanna River.  We have had a really dry summer so
the river was a lot lower than it usually is.

Kimball and Rebecah at the Hale's graves.

Operation Walk Guatemala

Joseph participated in Operation Walk--Guatemala this year.  You may recall that he went to Panama 2 years ago for the same purpose.  Operation Walk provides free hip and knee replacements in Third World countries.  Joseph was gone 9 days.  It was a really long time to have him gone from our family.  We hope he doesn't go on another trip like this for a long time!  The kids just need their dad on a daily basis.  Here are just a few of the pictures Joseph took while he was gone.  The "work" pictures are mixed in with the sight seeing pictures.

The Op Walk Team.  Joseph is in the black sun visor on the left of the picture.

Sisters!  Both of these ladies had both hips replaced.

These next few pictures are monastery ruins from the 1600's.

Joseph heard this man whistling a hymn from our church hymnal and after chatting with him discovered that he was a member of our Church.

These last few pictures are from the Volcano hike that Joseph did on the "free" day. Mount Pacaya is an active volcano that is constantly spewing steam from it's top.  Guides take tour groups to the top and let them roast marshmallows in the steam vents.

Bathroom anyone?

Joseph enjoyed his trip especially being able to talk and interact with the Guatemalan people.