Happy Birthday Addi

So it was Addi's birthday today.  We ran all over Orlando, we woke up, went and had a Birthday party at the park with all of Addi's new friends, went shopping and then headed for some dinner and didn't quite make it to the restaurant before Addi threw up all over in the car. My poor mom was in the back trying to catch it, sorry mom.  Needless to say we were all not up to eating anymore so we headed back home and opened presents while on the webcam with Jake's Family and also my dad.  Addi was pretty pooped by the end of the day and so are we.

Just Addi!

Thought that I would just post some cute pictures of Addi from our vacation just for the Grandparents!  She is growing up so fast and she just loved being outside and playing with the leaves. 

Addi was her boppa's buddy she followed him around everywhere and she loved that boppa went to bed at the same time she did.

She also loved her little buddy Parker and he was so good with her and always watching out for her.
After all the pictures we were always taking she started to be a good little poser.
When we were walking thru the grove she saw someone walking a golden retriever and she got so excited and started calling him Bailey and had to give him a kiss!

Hill Cumorah

We hiked up to the Hill Cumorah right at sunset and the view was beautiful!! I kept asking Jake why they call it a hill because when I saw it it looked pretty tiny, but then we started to go up it and I think it just about killed me, it was literally straight up. I can't believe that they can perform the pageant on that hill without dying.

Sacred Grove!!

So when you are just entering the grove and you turn around you can see the temple from the grove it is the most incredible sight I have ever seen.  The other pictures are just some pretty pictures of the grove.  It is the best feeling to just walk through the grove!

Smith Farm!!!

This is the house that the Joseph lived in as a boy.  For all the kids that they had this house was so tiny.  It makes you thankful for the things that we have now.

This is the house that Alvin Smith built for his mom and he died when it was just about finished and made Joseph and his brothers promise to finish it.  The neat thing about this house is that it is more than 80 percent the actual house.  Where the smaller Smith home and the Whitmer's home are both just replicas.

This is the hearth of the fire place that Joseph Smith hid the Gold plates under for a while.

Peter Whitmer Farm!

This is the Peter Whitmer Farm, one of our favorite sites. It was where the Prophet Joseph Smith translated a lot of the Book of Mormon; and also where the church was organized.


This is the only church house that has been dedicated by a prophet. It is one of the most beautiful LDS churches that I have ever seen.

Niagara Falls!!!

So we arrived in New York late last night and we got up early this morning and headed off to Niagara Falls! It was really awesome and even Addi loved it.

My Husband the goof ball (model)!!



When we got ready to go on the "Maid of the Mist" they gave us some ponchos so we wouldn't get wet. Addi loved her poncho! When we got off of the boat she wouldn't even let us take hers off.


The "Maid of the Mist" was so neat they take you heading into the falls full speed until the boat pretty much stalls out by the power of the falls and then you head back out. Jake took this video when we were right in the middle of the big horseshoe.

Packed and ready to go!!!!

So, for those of you that don't know yet. We get to go on a vacation tomorrow and we are so EXCITED especially me I get to get out of the house for five days. My Grandparents are on a mission in Palmyra, NY at the church history sites and we figured we would never have a better opportunity than this to go visit all the sites. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa! I am excited to see my grandparents, I've been getting pretty homesick even though I won't admit it usually. Anyways Jake bought me the new Ben Folds CD (Which is pretty Amazing) and Addi and I have been cleaning, doing laundry and packing while listening to the CD and dancing the whole way through!! We are pumped to leave tomorrow!! We will make sure to take lots of pictures!!!

My favorite little cook!

Addi loves to play with her dishes and she was getting bored so we went out and bought some cheap play food to go with it. She was so excited she had a death grip on it all the way to the check stand and she refused to let the lady touch it she was so afraid they wouldn't give it back. When we got home she played for hours and she had to wear her apron.

A few words from Jake

Alright. So I saw that Tess hadn't posted anything in a little while, and I thought I'd throw something up on this here blog-thing. Yesterday we went to Publix (a large grocery store chain) to pick up a few things, and we were walking around checking out the bakery (mmmm...flavored breads...) and an elderly gentleman tapped me on the shoulder and said "Young man, you have a very nice-looking family" and I said, "Thank you, sir" and he went on his way.

It reminded me how grateful I am to have my family here with me. I would be lost without Tess and Addi. There is nothing like coming home every evening after a long day of course work to Addi running up to me and saying, "Daddy! Ugs [hugs]!" and wrapping her little arms around my neck! Tess won't tell you this, but she has been getting better as a cook and home-maker every day and makes our home a great place to come home to. I love her so much! Our little family has grown in so many awesome ways since we've been here on our own, and I know it's because we're all we've got.

We also love the ward and the stake here. We got invited over to the Stake President's home (which was beautiful!) for the Sunday Afternoon session of General Conference. Where does that happen? He and his family were so kind to us and we're so lucky to be in a place where members really reach out to you and make you feel at home.

Anyway, I've rambled on for too long. But I'm so grateful to be here at Rollins. The staff/faculty are amazing. I have so many more opportunities to get involved and experience amazing things than I would anywhere else. My family is amazing, and I love them more than ever. And...I think that about does it. Thanks for everything, you guys! Feel free to call anytime if you think we're neglecting you. I promise it's not on purpose!

Love you all,

Jake