Long Time...No Post = LONG POST!

So, it's been awhile since our last post, & I thought I'd get back into the swing of things. Summer has been so wonderful! It's sad it's almost over. I start school again on July 26th. Too soon for comfort. We had a wonderful visit from my family (Mom, Dad, & Katelyn) in mid-July & we did just about everything. We drove up to NYC to pickup my family from the airport. (the plan was for them to flying to JFK & the fly out of Richmond, allowing us to spend time in both places for cheaper!) We had so much fun.

Syd & I embarked on our journey around 11pm on the night before our visitors arrived in NYC. (They were flying a red-eye & their plane landed at 5:10 am.) It was an awesome drive & we pulled up right as they were getting ready to call us.

Not being able to check into our hotel until 3pm, we started touring NY only to find that there isn't much open at 7:0am. Either way, we walked around & saw a few things. Don't forget Strawberry Fields, John Lennon.

Then the drama began. Our hotel decided to play secret police & noticed that we had 5 travellers (max in a room is of course 4). After a lot of drama, I had to pretend that I was going to go stay in another hotel so that they would allow my dad to check in.


The beginning of a long day in an empty Times Square


I believe I love this picture.


We went for a freezing cold swim at the pool at our apartment, since they wouldn't let us check in, but they would let us swim.

Underwater cameras are awesome!



Then it was back on the streets to see Mary Poppins on Broadway! It was so much fun!






Then we went back to the Hotel to sleep! (All 5 of us. Sh...don't tell). The next morning we got up & headed to see the Statue of Liberty & visit Chinatown & such!


For those lucky enough to cram into the back seat, my ingenuity paid rich dividends. I created a beautiful entertainment center for them to enjoy watching movies on. Please revel in my "redneck-ness."



After a day in New York, we headed on out to Washington D.C., where we stayed from free in a sketchy Motel 6, with a free voucher from when Kaylene & Jim (Sydney's parent's) came and visited. There was a mouse in that room, so they rewarded us with a free night's stay. No mice this time.

After all that driving, we just wanted to get something to eat & go to bed. I thought this would be easy, but I was wrong and ended up driving around for almost another hour just looking for somewhere suitable. We finally found Moroni & Brother Pizza Restaurant. We are doing the Book of Mormon Stories dance if you can't tell. The pizza was good too!


The next day we toured all the D.C. monuments & such. It was a lot of fun, but pretty toasty!




Then we finally made it back to Richmond. Our little pup found a new best friend in Katie!

We went to the branch on Sunday & then headed right back out to Virginia Beach for a few days. The weather was wonderful & we all got pretty burned, but it was a blast!






After a jam packed few days, my dad had to go back home for work, we just sat around and took it easy. We ate some good good food. We had a picnic on the James River for Katelyn's birthday (which we somehow forgot to take pictures of). We went to the Virginia State Capital. What didn't we do? It was so much fun. Thanks to my family for coming & visiting & being awesome & fun! It was a great vacation for us. Even though it was ultra hot!

Sorry for the long post, but it's been awhile, & there's nothing like pictures to tell about a vacation.