NY State Museum

After living in New York for a year, (can you believe it's been a year already? Sometimes it feels like we've been here forever since so much has happened over the past year.) we finally made it to the State Museum.  It was free and very neat, so if you come to visit . . . guess where we'll be going?  

Newport Mansions

Oh, hello.  I've been MIA from the blog for a while, but for good reason.  My mom has been here for the past two weeks : )  It's been wonderful!  I haven't touched my laundry in two weeks, it's just magically been done for me.  And if that reason isn't enough alone, I've been in charge of our Ward's Relief Society Christmas Activity and our Ward Christmas Party, both of which took place while my mom was here.  Having her help was priceless!  Thanks Mom!  

Anyway, rewind to the first week of her trip and on Friday night my mom watched our kids so John and I could go out on a date to celebrate his birthday.  We saw the movie Lincoln.  It was funny because a couple of weeks earlier we saw the new Twilight movie and after looking around the theatre I turned to John and said, "This is weird, we are the oldest people in the theatre."  Fast forward to Lincoln, and as I looked around the theater we were seriously the youngest people in the theater. Weird.  Anyway, that's off the subject, Saturday was John's actual birthday, but since it was the only day my mom and I would be able to do anything kid free while she was in town John was super awesome and watched Gabe and Porter while my mom and I went out and had some fun.  Is he awesome or what?  You rock birthday boy!

My mom and I drove to Rhode Island and toured two of the Newport Mansions or what the Vanderbilt family called their "summer cottage."  The houses remind me of life in Downton Abbey and it made me crave Season 3!  

"Cottage" 1: 

The Breakers

This is not only a cottage, but it's a beach cottage!  The house is called The Breakers because of the way the waves break against the rock cliffs in the backyard!  

"Cottage" 2: 

Marble House

View from the backyard

This Chinese Tea House was also in the backyard.  When I go on vacation I usually bring home a Christmas ornament, but when you're a Vanderbilt I guess you bring home something like this : )

I should have been a Vanderbilt . . . the hats suit me.

And to end our day, dinner at local restaurant called Yesterdays.  Shrimp Fajitas and Scallops.  Yum!

Since we weren't allowed to take pictures inside, here's some I found online.  Ya, I can totally see myself living in one of these houses.  Ha!

Turkey Day 2012

Let the cooking begin!  

My kids are such wienies about getting their hands dirty, you'd think they were girls!  It was still fun having them in the kitchen helping me cook.  We made turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey balls, and sweet potato casserole.  Then it was over the river and through the woods to pick up the sister missionaries and head to the Cluff's house.  For the rest of the day we enjoyed lots and lots of yummy food, good company, and fun games.

Here's all the kids ready to dig into their Thanksgiving dinner!

 Gabe found his match made in heaven ... a girl who plays chess!

   

 Porter seriously spent all day playing with this train.  I think we might have to get one for our tree.  

I think even the missionaries had fun : )

 Porter and Ryder watch a little Charlie Brown after a long day of playing.

The big kids played games until it was time to go home.

Thanks Nelson and Valerie for having us over!  We had a great Thanksgiving!  Gobble. Gobble.