Our trip to Rochester started with a stop in Kirtland. (See Happenings 5/20 - 6/14 for details of the trip) It was a nice stop. In one of the museums, they had clothes to dress up in and once Claire saw that, there was no stopping her. Rachel on the other hand is always too busy running around seeing what else there is to do.
After showing a movie about the history of Kirtland and the RLDS (I know it isn't called that anymore, but I can't remember their name), the movie screen rises up and through the huge window is this view of the temple. It is quite a "tah-dah!" moment.
Claire has taken a liking to holding tour guides hands while they are working, but this woman, while nice, was not offering up her hand, so Claire just kept real close.
Rachel gets a little distracted and keeps everyone on their toes.
PLEASE, not another picture!!
The LDS church owns a few buildings and create a little "town" of old Kirtland. The tour was great. The sister missionaries, understanding we had two busy girls, directed it toward them and did a consise, good job.
Claire practicing her "superstar" pose -(for you old Saturday Night Live fans)
..and "we're number 1!!"
When we went to visit another site, they had some cool logs carved into chairs. We found one little gnome.....
...then two little gnomes....
...and then three!
Once we arrived in Rochester, we went to park for a picnic dinner and fed the fish at the hatchery.
The baby geese were very cute following their mama all around.
We spent one day at the park for the lilac fesitival. We were at the tail end of the blooming season, but it was still beautiful and when the wind blew just right, it smelled wonderful. Claire liked finding places to climb more than anything.
"This way to fun, guys!"
J.J., Maggie, Rachel, Mel, Claire, Illene and Paul
Rachel "reading" the sign to her cousins while Landon looks on.
There was a beautiful picture made of pansies also. Rachel wanted to get a close up view.
This was UNDER a tree in the park. It was really cool. Like another little world there.
I love it when the girls pick flowers for me.
Rachel and Chloe picking only the very best.
I thought this was a crazy tree. It made me think it was fall.
Back at the Ruder house, Claire and Rachel enjoyed "new" toys.
And Maggie Grace perfected some of her smiles and giggles.
At night, with 6 kids it can turn into a free for all. Luckily Paul was the one on the floor with them.
The grandkids love Grandma Walker's stories. This trip Casper the Friendly Ghost was the character of choice.
We went to the beach at Lake Ontario where everyone rode on the carousel and then played on the beach.
It was a much nicer day than expected so the adults weren't prepared with beach gear for ourselves, but the kids had a great time.
Claire and Aunt Janalyn digging holes for sand castles.
Paul and Rachel checking out the water.
Claire practicing her poses AGAIN, and from the looks of it, we are back in 1976.
One night, the adults went out to dinner and then took a relaxing walk along the Erie Canal and enjoyed the beautiful views.
On Memorial Day, we got to enjoy the parade. Just before going, the kids all made hats with the help of the moms. They were pretty impressive if I say so myself.
Chloe and Rachel rode in the stroller.
Landon and Claire rode in the bike trailer, while Nate pulled them and Kaelen rode his own bike along with them.
There is never a picture taking moment with out one of Claire's poses.
The whole gang at the parade.
Chloe and Rachel
Firetrucks are a hit at any parade.
We took a tour of the Joseph Smith log home and frame home. The tour guide was great with the kids and of course Claire had to help out by holding his hand.
Grandpa got to be the Maggie carrier for the tour.
Grandpa and allthe cousins - Maggie Grace, Chloe, Claire, Landon, Kaelen, and Rachel
I guess being in a barn inspired Rachel and Claire to have a hoe down.
This is the back view of the Joseph Smith Log Home.
We then went to the Hill Cumorah, which the kids loved climbing up and rolling down.
The fam. It looks like Rachel has just about had enough of pictures.
And sweet Maggie Grace conked out in the car.
Behind the Ruder's house are some woods that are a kids dream. There are trails and lots of fun places to play. Claire has on one of her winning outfits once again. I love her creative independent style. (I gave up long ago)
Maggie's position of choice.
A girl has got to check out what's going on.
The kids loved playing Billy Goats Gruff on this bridge.
We went to Mendon Park one night for a picnic and while the women and girls - save for Claire - went home after eating due to the rain, the boys - plus Claire - went for a hike to the Devil's bathtub and a hidden bog. On their hike, they saw these cool pitcher plants.
We didn't have a hat for Claire, so her very clever mother fashioned one out of a Target sack. It was the best looking bonnet!
Paul and Claire on the bog.
Along the hike, Claire found lots of caterpillars to play with. She is not afraid of any bugs, creatures, slimy things, etc. I try to be very brave so that she doesn't become afraid, but inside, I am squirming and running away.
Nighttime with Grandma and Grandpa Walker. This is a very rare photo in that Grandpa is both looking at the camera and smiling!
Maggie was all smiles too!
Starting the reading young.
Claire will get everyone she can to read to her. Here Uncle Nate is the lucky one.
Rachel likes books, but loves to move even more.
If she can't move much, the books will do.
All the girls are good car riders - hopefully I didn't jinx myself by saying that. This is one of my favorite positions for them in the car.
We stayed the night at a campground in West Virginia on the way home. We took a short hike in the morning to look at these falls, which were pretty cool.
These were some stairs leading to some more hiking trails. They reminded me of some of the trails in Vietnam. I wish we would have had more time to explore.
We went to Nashville on our way home so we could attend a wedding and pick up Uncle Gordon at the airport. Before picking him up, we visited Hermitage - the home of Andrew Jackson. It was really interesting. Claire loves touring old homes and we took a wagon ride pulled by horses which was an added bonus for Claire. Once again, I wish we would have had more time to explore, but with Rachel, we were there long enough.
Claire loved listening to the headphones which were self-guided tours. Rachel just like wearing the headphones.
I hope they always love each other like this!
It was a great trip! We arrived home worn out, but happy!
Of course it wasn't all strict ballet.
Our neighbor Katey even came over to join in the fun.
This was a position I would find Paul and Maggie Grace in every Sunday afternoon.
Who says you can't protect your eyes and be fashionable at the same time?
Cold yogurt on a hot day sure is good.
And when you need a break from the water, you can always just kick back on the lounge chairs.
That water can really wipe a girl out.
When it's time to go home, who needs clothes?
Ahh! This is much better!
After showing a movie about the history of Kirtland and the RLDS (I know it isn't called that anymore, but I can't remember their name), the movie screen rises up and through the huge window is this view of the temple. It is quite a "tah-dah!" moment.
Claire has taken a liking to holding tour guides hands while they are working, but this woman, while nice, was not offering up her hand, so Claire just kept real close.
Rachel gets a little distracted and keeps everyone on their toes.
PLEASE, not another picture!!
The LDS church owns a few buildings and create a little "town" of old Kirtland. The tour was great. The sister missionaries, understanding we had two busy girls, directed it toward them and did a consise, good job.
Claire practicing her "superstar" pose -(for you old Saturday Night Live fans)
..and "we're number 1!!"
When we went to visit another site, they had some cool logs carved into chairs. We found one little gnome.....
...then two little gnomes....
...and then three!
Once we arrived in Rochester, we went to park for a picnic dinner and fed the fish at the hatchery.
The baby geese were very cute following their mama all around.
We spent one day at the park for the lilac fesitival. We were at the tail end of the blooming season, but it was still beautiful and when the wind blew just right, it smelled wonderful. Claire liked finding places to climb more than anything.
"This way to fun, guys!"
J.J., Maggie, Rachel, Mel, Claire, Illene and Paul
Rachel "reading" the sign to her cousins while Landon looks on.
There was a beautiful picture made of pansies also. Rachel wanted to get a close up view.
This was UNDER a tree in the park. It was really cool. Like another little world there.
I love it when the girls pick flowers for me.
Rachel and Chloe picking only the very best.
I thought this was a crazy tree. It made me think it was fall.
Back at the Ruder house, Claire and Rachel enjoyed "new" toys.
And Maggie Grace perfected some of her smiles and giggles.
At night, with 6 kids it can turn into a free for all. Luckily Paul was the one on the floor with them.
The grandkids love Grandma Walker's stories. This trip Casper the Friendly Ghost was the character of choice.
We went to the beach at Lake Ontario where everyone rode on the carousel and then played on the beach. 
It was a much nicer day than expected so the adults weren't prepared with beach gear for ourselves, but the kids had a great time.
Claire and Aunt Janalyn digging holes for sand castles.
Paul and Rachel checking out the water.
Claire practicing her poses AGAIN, and from the looks of it, we are back in 1976.
One night, the adults went out to dinner and then took a relaxing walk along the Erie Canal and enjoyed the beautiful views.
On Memorial Day, we got to enjoy the parade. Just before going, the kids all made hats with the help of the moms. They were pretty impressive if I say so myself.
Landon and Claire rode in the bike trailer, while Nate pulled them and Kaelen rode his own bike along with them.
There is never a picture taking moment with out one of Claire's poses.
The whole gang at the parade.
Chloe and Rachel
Firetrucks are a hit at any parade.
We took a tour of the Joseph Smith log home and frame home. The tour guide was great with the kids and of course Claire had to help out by holding his hand.
Grandpa got to be the Maggie carrier for the tour.
Grandpa and allthe cousins - Maggie Grace, Chloe, Claire, Landon, Kaelen, and Rachel
I guess being in a barn inspired Rachel and Claire to have a hoe down.
This is the back view of the Joseph Smith Log Home.
We then went to the Hill Cumorah, which the kids loved climbing up and rolling down.
The fam. It looks like Rachel has just about had enough of pictures.
And sweet Maggie Grace conked out in the car.
Behind the Ruder's house are some woods that are a kids dream. There are trails and lots of fun places to play. Claire has on one of her winning outfits once again. I love her creative independent style. (I gave up long ago)
Maggie's position of choice.
A girl has got to check out what's going on.
The kids loved playing Billy Goats Gruff on this bridge.
We went to Mendon Park one night for a picnic and while the women and girls - save for Claire - went home after eating due to the rain, the boys - plus Claire - went for a hike to the Devil's bathtub and a hidden bog. On their hike, they saw these cool pitcher plants.
We didn't have a hat for Claire, so her very clever mother fashioned one out of a Target sack. It was the best looking bonnet!
Paul and Claire on the bog.
Along the hike, Claire found lots of caterpillars to play with. She is not afraid of any bugs, creatures, slimy things, etc. I try to be very brave so that she doesn't become afraid, but inside, I am squirming and running away.
Nighttime with Grandma and Grandpa Walker. This is a very rare photo in that Grandpa is both looking at the camera and smiling!
Maggie was all smiles too!
Starting the reading young.
Claire will get everyone she can to read to her. Here Uncle Nate is the lucky one.
Rachel likes books, but loves to move even more. 
If she can't move much, the books will do. 
We stayed the night at a campground in West Virginia on the way home. We took a short hike in the morning to look at these falls, which were pretty cool.
These were some stairs leading to some more hiking trails. They reminded me of some of the trails in Vietnam. I wish we would have had more time to explore.
We went to Nashville on our way home so we could attend a wedding and pick up Uncle Gordon at the airport. Before picking him up, we visited Hermitage - the home of Andrew Jackson. It was really interesting. Claire loves touring old homes and we took a wagon ride pulled by horses which was an added bonus for Claire. Once again, I wish we would have had more time to explore, but with Rachel, we were there long enough.
Claire loved listening to the headphones which were self-guided tours. Rachel just like wearing the headphones.
It was a great trip! We arrived home worn out, but happy!
