Update and Happy Anniversary

OK, so it has been awhile since we posted anything, sorry. We have kept ourselves pretty busy. Alyssa started second grade this month, and Ambrey started Pre-K (for those of you who are not familiar with the Pre-K program, it is something that New York does to help prepare kids for kindergarten). Both seem to be doing fairly well so far.

Anna is just getting over her first ear infection, which means that we got very little sleep last week. Fortunately we have all recovered. She is not yet crawling, but she scoots around a lot, and is starting to dance to music (hopefully I will get it on video because it is kind of cute).

Janna is enjoying her time with Anna while the girls are at school. She also got called to work in the nursery at church, which she is excited about.

Not much has changed for me. I am still in school (and wondering if I will ever be able to say anything else), and currently doing my third rotation, which incidentally ends this week, at a hospital near by.

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Since I will likely not have the time to put up extra posts, we would like to wish Jeremy and Shannon a Happy Anniversary. We would also like to wish Tyler and Apryl a very "Happy Anniversary" as well. We hope that you guys are all able take some time to have fun, and reflect on the good times that you have had together.

The Zoo

For those who check this blog on a regular basis, I am sorry that we have not posted anything for awhile. We do have some exciting news that we would like to share, we have less than 16 months left here!

We went to the Buffalo Zoo on Saturday. It is about half the size of the Hogle Zoo, but we were pleasantly surprised with the variety of animals that we were able to see. It also seemed like we were able to get closer to the animals (specifically the lions, tigers, and bears), which was pretty cool. The zoo has a polar bear that we visited just after arriving (probably around 11:00). When we first saw it we watched it swim laps for about 10-15 minutes before moving on to the next attraction. On our way back out (around 3:00) we stopped back by and found that it was still doing the same thing. What an exciting life.OK, so the train is not as big or as cool as the one in Utah, but at least they have one. The track is laid out in an area that is about as wide as our old back yard in Utah was, and twice as deep. At least the kids seemed to enjoy it.

Check out the bite on this lion.

Happy 7th Birthday

Happy Birthday

Alyssa D. Vincent

Happy Birthday Luu Luu, we love you sooooo much! WOW! You're 7 years old. Man, mom and dad are old! J/K We hope you have a great Birthday. Love Mom, Dad, Ambrey and Anna.

Missing Elders

Somehow I missed posterizing two of the missionaries that Janna and I have had over for dinner and games. The tradition of having dinner with the elders, and then playing games with them, actually started with Elder Thomas (from Utah), shown in the picture below. Elder Thomas returned to Utah shortly after this picture was taken. We have traditionally played Scotland Yard with them during their first visit, which is a fun four to six player game in which one of the players takes on everyone else as Mr. X, a criminal trying to escape from Scotland Yard.

This is a picture of Elder Durrant (from Arizona). Elder Durrant currently holds the record for the quickest game. He lasted three turns. Both of these pictures were taken in 2007.

Happy Birthday Tyler and Farah, Plus Pictures from Richard and Ashley's Visit

We would like to wish both Tyler and Farah a very happy birthday. Tyler's birthday is on the 27th, Farah's birthday is today.

Richard and Ashley came out to visit us this month. They were with us from July 15th through July 21st. We saw the Hill Cummorah Pageant on Friday the 18th, went to Niagara Falls on the 19th, and took them to the Eternal Flame Falls on the 20th. They were also able to visit The Sacred Grove, the Palmyra temple, E.B. Grandin Publishing (the place where the Book of Mormon was first printed), Kirtland, Ohio, Wegman's (a really cool grocery store, unlike anything you might find in Utah County), and the Walden Galleria Mall.

These are some of the images from our visit to Niagara Falls, just prior to our very wet voyage on the Maid of the Mist (a really cool boat trip that takes passengers close to the base of Horse Shoe Falls).

This last video is kind of fun. After the girls finished singing "Happy Birthday," Anna decided she wanted in on the act. Here she is playing peekaboo with Janna.

Our Anniversary, The Eternal Flame, and Games With the Elders

Janna and I celebrated our ten year anniversary on Friday July 11th, and Saturday July 12th. I had to work at the Hospital on Friday, so Friday night we stayed home, ate Pizza from Wegman's, and watched Hellboy (believe it or not this movie was not chosen by me). On Saturday we went to the Eternal Flame Falls, which is a small waterfall that is about 20 feet in height. Behind the waterfall is a small cave that leaks natural gas. Every year in the spring the first hikers that travel to the water fall reach behind the water and light the gas (it is much safer than it sounds). The hike is quite enjoyable. A well marked and shaded path leads the way through some beautiful scenery. It is an easy hike that is about 1 1/2 miles round trip, and only 30 minutes from our home (another reason to come and see us).

After the falls we went out to eat at La Tolteca, which is easily the best Mexican food that we have found in this area. We had a great anniversary, and look forward to many, many more.

As a side note, Elder Wilson from Arizona (companion of the ever boastful Elder Di Iulio, our previous victim) was the latest Scotland Yard victim. The game did not last very long, so we followed Scotland Yard up by beating them both at a game of Settlers of Catan. Better luck next time!

Anniversary

Happy Anniversary

10 years

July 11, 1998

Happy Anniversary to my sweet husband!

Love you and thank you for 10 wonderful years!

Love Me, Janna

To my Dear and Loving Husband

If ever two were one, then surely we.

If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;

If ever wife was happy in a man, Compare with me, ye women if you can.

I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold

Or all the riches that the East doth hold.

My love is such that rivers connot quench,

Nor ought but love from thee,give recompense.

Thy love is such I can no way repay,

The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.

Then while we live, in love let's so persevere

That when we live no more, we may live ever.

by, Anne Bradstreet(1612?-1672)

Wanted: A Child in Need of a Loving Family

The purpose of this blog post is to help some friends get the word out that they are looking to adopt. We met Jeremy and Rachel Richards shortly after we moved here. Jeremy is attending law school at present, and Rachel stays home to care for their three children, Grant, Monte, and Lillian. If anyone reading this knows someone who is considering giving their infant up for adoption, I can tell you that the child would be very fortunate to be able to call the Richards home, their home. If you are interested in learning more about this family, click here.