New York: Day 3

Our last night at our little cabin went much better. I think we were so exhausted from the previous night that we all just conked out. I woke up early to run my scheduled 9 miles for my training. I loved how pretty it was, but I forgot that when you eat things you are not used to and then run it can cause havoc on your digestive system. Needless to say I was so sick that morning when I got back. I was stuck in the bathroom for most of the morning and it was a public restroom with lots of people in there getting ready. Not my most memorable experience of the vacation. So breakfast was a no go again and Corey just made the kids drink the rest of the milk we brought and some cherries. He said we would grab breakfast in Palmyra since we were going there anyway. Well Palmyra is tiny and has absolutely nothing there. So Corey said we could wait till lunch. I really needed to eat because I hadn't eaten anything and I was beyond grumpy. I tried to warn him, but he didn't think it was that important. So we went to the Visitor Center on the Hill Camorah first.

It was so busy, but well worth the walk through and video. I loved the Christ statue and that we got to take a family picture in front of it.

After we were done with the Visitor Center we drove up to look at the Moroni statue on top of the hill. It was so beautiful that day. The sky was blue, the landscaping was so nice. The actual golden statue is 10 feet 4 inches to symbolize the promise in Moroni 10:4.

Kids at the bottom of the monument.
Picture of the statue on top.

Logan took this for us.

Next we took off and tried to find something to eat down on main street. Of course there was nothing there that took credit cards, so we had to tour the printing shop before we found something else. I tried not to be really grumpy but I was beyond hungry at that point. The building was restored beautifully. It was cool to see where all the first Book of Mormon's were printed. I had no idea that they were so expensive for the people to buy. It was compared to a book being about 150 dollars today. Wow.

Front of the building. We didn't know the tour starts from the back. They had the front door sealed. We looked like idiots trying to get it open.

In front of the sealed door.

The back of the building. They built another building around the original one to preserve it. They had doors on each level and they used a pulley to get the paper up and down the floors. The staircases were too narrow to get it up that way.

After that we found a Subway and got sandwiches and headed over to the Sacred Grove and Smith farm. They had picnic tables there and we were all famished. I don't think I tasted any of my food. It was just so nice to get something in my gut. Corey was worried I would be stuck in the bathroom afterwards, but I was just fine. While we were standing in line to start the tour we were chatting with a one of the workers and come to find out it was my Great Aunt Turner. She is my grandma's youngest sister. We had a good laugh and she asked about my family. First we toured the remake of the Smith's log home. This was not the original one, but it is built on the exact location of where it was. I still can't believe 11 people lived in that house.

Going in to look at the house.

Inside the house, just had to post this cutie.

The backside of the cabin. The little add on is where they put another room to put the new baby that was born to the Smith family before getting the bigger house.

Next we toured the frame house that Alvin started for his new wife. It is 80 percent original and it was so amazing to walk inside it. We even saw where Joseph hid the plates in the fireplace.

Picture of the house from the front.

I loved the story behind this tree. Alvin died before he could finish the house and the family were so sad about his passing they planted this tree to remember him. It still stand today and it is huge.

The cellar of the house.

After the frame house we took the walk through the Sacred Grove. There were so many paths to take, which you had to stay on. We wandered around for awhile. Just feeling the atmosphere and spirit of what took place there. I still can't believe that the Smith's owned 100 acres of land. It was huge.

Sacred Grove

Kids taking a break on a bench

Us in the Sacred Grove.

After we were done walking around it was time to head back home. We stayed later than we thought, but it was so worth it. We drove the 6 hours back without any problems and are safe and sound now. So many wonderful memories to cherish. I hope we get to go back some day when the kids are a little older to understand the importance.