Christmas Time in New York

I've always wanted to go to New York during the Christmas Season. I wanted to see the big Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza.

So this year, Craig took me! It was so fun!

I liked looking in the windows in the stores to see their Christmas displays.

Yes, we even went for a ride through central park. If it hadn't been so cold I wouldn't have used the blanket in the carriage...you know... germs and all....but it was cold so we did use it!

This building would play Christmas music and the snowflakes would flash in time with the music. I loved it!

Hunter's Robotics Competition

Hunter is in a robotics group at school. This is the first time they went to a big robotics tournament.

The team had to program the robots and set them on a course to rack up points. Each task requires a different program.

These are other kids from his robotics team....I know the pictures aren't very good but that is what I have to work with!

Zane's Marathon

Zane ran in the Las Vegas kids marathon. He is such a good and fast runner it was awesome and so exciting to watch him!

The Secret Garden

When the cousins came for Thanksgiving, we went to the Secret Garden. It is a fun little place to visit!

We like the underground viewing area to see the dolphins

There are animals to see....but I thought these three animals were cuter!

Zane's and Hunter's Soccer Teams

I love watchig the boys play soccer! It is so fun to see them play and how good they are doing.

Zane's soccer team

Hunter getting his award at the end of the season. I can't find any of his pictures! Sorry Hunter!

Family

My Family

While everyone was here for Thanksgiving we had our family pictues taken. I don't know if they want their names all over my blog so I'll keep it super vauge!

My momma and papa

My sister and her family

My sister and her family

Of course my little family!

My brother and his family

My brother (if you have a cute girl for him to date let me know!)

My brother and his baby. His cute wife couldn't make it this year. We missed you Laura!

I love this picture of me and my brothers and sisters!

Thanksgiving

I love having Thanksgiving at my home. Every year my sister and I switch off and take turns. This year was my year. When I was little my mom was the Thanksgiving host. Sometimes my Grandma and Grandpa Williams would come and Uncle Al and Aunt Debbie and my cousins Brett Brock and Brandon. Now my Grandparents and my Uncle Al have passed away but my cousins still try to make it. Also, my family trys to gather on this one holiday. This year we had a great group and I love seeing them all.....my dad even came all the way from Africa, my brother and his cute boy from Mississippi, my sister and her family from Maryland, my brother and his family from Utah, my brother from Oregon, mom from Utah, sister and her family from Vegas, 2 of my 3 cousins, and some friends from Craig's work......LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! I didn't get too many pictures, but here are a couple including the annual turkey bowl!

I usually can get one nutty picture of my brother Aaron...


Our annual Turkey Bowl.....Craig was sore for a couple of days! (Granted he had played earlier with the young men from our ward!)

Annual Trip to Washington D.C.

I love our fall trips to Maryland. I love the cool air, the fall leaves, seeing my sister and her family, seeing my kids playing in piles of leaves, riding the metro into the city...okay okay, I love it all!

This year we were out there for Halloween. We were able to trick or treat with cousins. They had a great time and made a huge haul of Halloween candy!

We went to this fun park place that had a carousel and a spooky train through the forest. It was so much fun. You would think that the kids would be scared of the guys with chain saws and masks, but they would just mock them the whole time!

We made a trip to Lurray Caverns in Virgina. They are sooooo cool. It was enormous and had so many formations! They even had an organ hooked up to the stalagmites that would play different notes...it was amazing!

We stayed with our friends the Beverleys who moved to Virgina a couple years back. We went on a walk thorough some civil war areas.

Craig picked up this little walking stick friend.

I love the sight of leaves falling like rain. We love to run and try to catch the leaves as they fall. It is trickier than you might think....those leaves can be quite wily.

The kids played in the woods by the Beverleys house and caught critters in the stream. Look at that crawdad! My kids could get lost out there forever...and of course I would worry forever that they are picking up deer ticks.

Civil War fields

This is a church near Valley Forge

There was beautiful stained glass everywhere. I loved the depiction of Washington praying

These were cabins at Valley Forge

One of our favorite places to visit is the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. There is a koi pond with hundreds of koi fish.

The Bonsai tress are so interesting and old. There are some that are hundreds of years old!

Of course the National Zoo is a must see. We were so sad that "Happy" , the enormous hippo has been moved to a different zoo. He was one of our favorite animals! They are doing some remodeling and I think he was off to find some new lady friends.

Taking a rest at the Native American museum.


Jefferson Memorial is Craig's favorite memorial.

I loved this holly tree so we had to get a picture with it

Hunter's favorite memorial is the Lincoln memorial.

I love family vacations!