WARNING: Picture overload

We just got back from a trip to upstate New York. It was a lot of fun. I'm going to include a few details that you might not find that exciting, but I want to write them down so I don't forget.

Tuesday morning we flew out of Houston. We got to Buffalo around 6:00 p.m. and took a rental car over to Rochester, NY to stay with some law school friends. Actually we weren't really friends during law school. I don't know why. Turns out Amanda and I have quite a bit in common including hair straighteners, retainers, toothpaste, and hair brushes. And sons who were born 6 days apart. But she was already in NY at that point. (Sam looks like a giant, but they're actually about the same size.)

Wednesday we went to the quaint little town of Palmyra. We saw the Hill Cumorah, the Smith Family log home, the other Smith home, and the Sacred Grove. We also drove through the Palmyra Temple parking lot.

After lunch at DiBellas and a nap for Sam, we headed out again with Amanda and Ethan to see the Whitmer Farm in Fayette. It was cool. The missionaries kept asking us questions and putting us on the spot, which was slightly uncomfortable, so I eventually refused to answer. Amanda took one for the team.

For dinner, the Mudricks whipped up a delicious feast, we played some Bananagrams, and watched So You Think You Can Dance using their awesome DVR. What a blessing to mankind. That third judge guy really bothers me.

Thursday we said farewell to the Mudricks (Thank you SO much for letting us stay!) and went back to Palmyra to see the Grandin Print Shop, where the Book of Mormon was first printed. We ate lunch at Nima's Pizza which took like 3 hours longer than anticipated. Perhaps that's because Dan ordered a calzone which ended up being the size of a real pizza, but folded in half. We saw Alvin Smith's gravestone and then headed down to one of the Finger Lakes - Canandaigua. It was a little early as far as catching the fall colors, but some of the trees were really pretty and close down to the lake it was GORGEOUS! We really enjoyed that drive and are thinking it would be a great trip to do that another time a little bit later in the year when the leaves are peaking.

We stopped at a state park called Stony Brook and thankfully it was a free day. We were some of the only people there and the waterfalls were really pretty. It was perfect weather, too. Sam was a rascal (he wanted to walk by himself) and Dan went crazy. This picture sums up that moment perfectly.

After playing on the playground for a little while, we headed back to Buffalo, where we ate at Charlie the Butcher's Kitchen. Apparently he is famous. But I don't think it's for his cooking. It was not good. In Western New York, "beef on weck" is a local favorite. Dan said he'd rather had Arby's. Me too, and I don't even like Arby's.

Friday we went to Niagara Falls. It was super cold that morning, but warmed up throughout the day. It was really picturesque. Dan had never been there before (nor had Sam) so it was nice to see his reaction to it. We took a ride on the Maid of the Mist down near Horseshoe Falls. Right before our maiden voyage, they rang the stupid boat bell and Sam flipped a lid - ensuring that the rest of the trip was a nightmare. He hated it. Dan and I thought it was pretty cool, though. You can't really see anything since you're being pelted with mist, but it's fun.

Dan climbing close to the Falls after our ride. We ate lunch at Top of Falls on Goat Island. Once again, lunch took forever. After lunch we walked around some more and then went to Old Fort Niagara which is actually quite far from Niagara Falls. As the name implies, it's pretty old.

We spent our last night at the Holiday Inn Express near the airport. We had been assured by reading TripAdvisor reviews that it was quiet and there wasn't any airplane noise. WRONG. It was like planes were taking off right outside the window. At 6 a.m.