We got to go in the SKY!

When we filed our taxes back in January we decided part of the refund would fund a trip to see Sean's family out East. His brother Jason and his wife Melissa, and three children live in Maryland. I have only been able to spend time with them a few times due to the distance. They came to our wedding, then to see Melissa's family and we joined them and they also came for a visit for Christmas a few years ago. Other than that its been a lot of emails, facebook and phone calls. We are so grateful for technology and the blessing it has been with family connections. Sean's sister Ondalynn also lives out east near them. She is in New York. She moved there about 6 months ago. I have missed her so so much! Its tough when your sister in law becomes one of your closest friends and then moves across country.  It was so great to see her again and meet her boyfriend Jeff. He is a funny guy. Also Rebekah is in love with him haha. It was so cute seeing her get all excited when he picked her up.
We got to stay with family for an entire week! We left Monday the 14th and came back Monday 21st. They kids were surprisingly good for almost all of the flights. We had to catch connection flights both to Maryland and back to Phoenix. Each time the kids had a little adjusting to being on the plane and then were pretty much chill. Noah played with the ipad a little and enjoyed looking out the window. For the most part though he slept. Bekah was a little more difficult and fussed for awhile until Sean got her to sleep as well.

Tuesday we just hung out at the house with everyone. Onda and Jeff were still in New York at this time. Rachel is such a smart imaginative girl. Noah just loved her. She had fun reading him stories and telling him what to do haha. Little girls seem to like to do that with Noah. I love the way Rachel talks. Just the way she expresses herself is so grownup and like a child at the same time. Alden is a little ball of energy and so handsome. Alden wasn't as interested to play with Noah much but he did play with Rebekah a lot. He says some pretty funny things as well. Ellie is a smiley girl and just so happy. I loved cuddling her. It was crazy seeing Bekah next to her. She looked so big next to Ellie. I really enjoyed getting to spend more time with Melissa and getting to know her more. She is such a good example to me. Sean and Jason are so much a like. It was nice seeing them together and having a good time. Wednesday was our day in DC. Melissa stayed home with Ellie because it was too cold to take her out. She had a nice break away from the kids and got to just relax with her littlest one. Every mom needs that once in a while for sure! Noah loves Melissa. He was quite concerned when she didn't go with us to DC.  Jason, Sean, Me and the rest of the kids had an adventure all day. Noah and Rebekah loved being on the Metro Train. Noah kept saying the walls were moving haha. Bekah loved staring out the window. While in DC we saw the Natural History Museum, Air and Space Museum, all the war memorials, the Washington Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial (Sean's favorite). We had lunch from one of the food trucks and it was delicious. There was so much more we wanted to see as well but we just didn't have to time or energy. So. MUCH. WALKING. The kids of course loved the Museums the best. Actually when we got back to the house and Melissa asked them all what their favorite part of the day was they all said "riding on the metro" haha. Silly kids.

Sean's favorite president 

Thursday we went to an Amish Market. They are so talented! Someday when I have a house and enough money we will own an Amish made dinning room table set. Those things are beautifully made. We bought some candy, pretzels and fruit while there as well.

Friday morning Jason took us and our kids to the bus so we could go to visit Onda in the big city. It was a four hour drive but went pretty quick. Thank goodness for sleepy children and smart phones to keep us occupied haha. Onda met us at the bus and we first went for some pizza for lunch.We walked around the city for a couple hours and saw the Statue of Liberty. Jeff met up with us around mid afternoon. We decided we really like him and he can keep dating our Onda. (because we obviously get to make the decision right? haha) We basically just walked around the city the rest of Friday and had dinner. It was pretty cool to see all the big stores they have there. Then around 6:30pm Onda and Jeff took the kids to her house in Queens while Sean and I went to a show. I was nervous to have Noah go with them but Onda said he actually did ok without us. He cried for awhile but then she got him distracted enough to be happy again. Bekah was totally content and happy with Jeff. Sean and I had a nice date night. We saw "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder". It was a great play with awesome music and story. After the show we got on the subway, found out we got on the wrong train, got off, got on the right one and headed to Onda's house. We were so proud of ourselves for getting there with nothing but directions of which train to take and the address to her apartment. GO us :)

P

Saturday morning we woke up early and headed back to Manhattan. We went to the Rockefeller Plaza to the "Top of the Rock" observation deck. Its 69 stories tall! I actually liked it better than the Empire State Building. I had been there before for my senior trip in high school. This was much better. Sean went to the top with us and then promptly turned right back around on the escalator and down to the bottom floor. He has a huge fear of heights. Sean had Rebekah with him so it was just Me, Noah and Onda. We stayed up there for awhile and got some awesome pictures. I loved being able to see so much of the city. Its looks pretty fantastic from so high up. After that we went down to the bottom floor and had lunch with Sean. Then we took the kids to the M&M store. That is an awesome store! 2 stories high filled with every kind of M&M! We of course got 2lbs of them haha.  I have decided that New York is not a place to live if you have children. Its kinda dirty there and everyone moves so quickly and bumps into you and just keeps walking. It was a nice visit but I wouldn't ever live there. There is so much to see and do if you don't have kids though. Noah and Rebekah weren't very impressed it seemed. Noah did like the big buildings, subway and the M&M store. After the store we got ready to go. Jeff met us at the bus station and we all road the bus back to Maryland. 

This was the ceiling in the elevator. So cool

We spent Easter Sunday all together. The kids had an easter egg hunt after church. Then Monday afternoon we left to the airport for our travels home.

It was such a great trip! I loved seeing the kids play together and see their personalities. It was so wonderful to see my Tiny Onda again. Sean and I loved talking and spending time with Jason and Melissa.

Celebrating Onda's birthday while we we there. 

Jeff and Onda