A Beautiful Weekend & Awesome Company

Our dear friends Emily & Brett (and adorable daughter Abby) drove the 7 hours from D.C. to come and visit us for the weekend. It was so good to see them and finally meet Abby in person. Em & I go way back to high school, and I count her as a sister. Brett and I had many adventures together at Utah State, and I was the one who introduced him to Em ... and as they say, the rest is history. We had one awesome weekend together!!

We went to Niagara Falls on Friday and it was gorgeous! The fall colors in contrast with the aqua-blue water and the mist from the falls was just beautiful. We took tons of pictures (of course) so here are just a few:

We went on the Maid of the Mist - to be that close to the falls is one cool feeling.

We also did the Cave of the Winds, which is where you walk right next to and under part of the American Falls. Yeah, we got soaked. I looked like I had stepped into a swimming pool that came to mid-thigh. Nevertheless, we had a blast. It was so loud down there, Em & I were yelling at each other and I still couldn't hear her.

Cory & I are so blessed to live here in the Cradle of the Restoration ... so of course, we had to go and see all the church sites in this area.

Em & Brett did sealings while I watched Abby ... it was tough, given that she slept practically the entire time :)

We went to the Grandin Building, where the Book of Mormon was published and sold.

We went to the Smith family home(s) and the Sacred Grove. It's so pretty there in the fall! No matter how many times I walk through the Grove (and it's been a few) I am always struck by the feeling that's there. It's a very reverent and peaceful place.

And we went to the Hill Cumorah - again, very pretty.

We finished off the day by going to a pumpkin walk in a somewhat nearby town (if you call 45 minutes away "nearby").

Notice that Cory is only in the pumpkin walk picture - he had nutrition this weekend, so he had to spend all day Friday studying for the tests he had in class on Saturday and Sunday. Consequently, he didn't get to do much fun stuff with us, which was sad for me.

We went to church on Sunday and since our ward is held next to the Peter Whitmer Farm, we did the tour there after church. The Peter Whitmer Farm is where the church was officially re-organized on April 6, 1830.

And ... I know she's not mine ... but she's just so cute that I had to put this video of Abby up:

We had such a great time with Em & Brett, and I was so sad when they left. We're so blessed to have such good friends!! Thanks guys, for a great time! And if anyone wants to see more pictures, Em has some on her blog here.