July 11, 2015
We headed out of D.C. and on to Palmyra, NY. The drive through Pennsylvania and New York was gorgeous! The mountains and farms we passed were picturesque. I can totally see myself living in that area. If only it didn't get so cold in the winter. :)
Driving through the mountains.
We stayed in a hotel in southern Rochester. Once we got there we made all the kids take a nap.
We got two adjoining rooms. Dad, Mom and Josh slept in this one....
Nathan, Eliza, Daniel and Bradley slept in this one.
We just left the door between the rooms open. It was nice to have more space and spread out.
After taking naps we headed over to the Hill Cumorah to have dinner and watch the pageant.
Hunter and Josh
Hunter about to kiss the baby.
Aunt Melissa and Holden
Holden
Clover
Guard
Aunt Melissa and Josh
Hunter is a Nephite warrior and Aunt Melissa is a resident of Jerusalem.
Mom, Josh, Aunt Melissa, Aunt Amber, Josh (Amber's brother) and Uncle Levi
Eliza and Verin
The stage was really neat!
Cannon is as tall as his favorite Uncle Andy now.
Grandma, Grandpa and our Mitchell cousins saved us some really good seats.
Aunt Lily and Grandma brought bubbles to help entertain the kids until the pageant started.
Before the pageant started all the cast members mingled with the crowd.
Josh and Eliza
(Josh is 7 weeks)
Josh and Verin
Zora and Alina
Uncle Daniel was one of the wise men.
Uncle Daniel said it took them about 30 minutes to put on his beard, mustache and hair.
Dad and Uncle Daniel
Daniel and Uncle Daniel
Nathan sneaked into the picture.
Calais, Aunt Melissa, Uncle Daniel, Atlas, and Hunter -back row
Clover, Holden and Guard- front row
They spent a couple weeks camping at Zion's Camp at the base of the Hill Cumorah while they practiced for pageant.
Grandma getting attacked by bubbles.
Grandpa with the baby.
The bubbles worked great to entertain the kids.
The view of the stage and hill from our seats.
A family picture before the pageant.
Josh, Mom, Eliza and Dad
Nathan, Daniel and Bradley
The start of pageant.
The pageant was very well done. Nathan was memorized the whole time.
During the scene when Christ comes down to the Nephites, Eliza asked if that was really him. :)
On the 12th we went to church in Canandaigua, NY and then met back at the Hill Cumorah where he was blessed. We also got family pictures. The whole Shirley family was there, minus one brother and one brother-in-law.
Back row- Levi, Amber, Daniel, Melissa, Hunter, Atlas, Grandma, Grandpa, Ruth, Quincy, Macy, Brylee, Vickie, Cannon, Andy, Josh and Karrie
Middle row- Xane, Zora, Holden, Calais, Sander, Kael, Finley, Clover, Alina, Lily, Peirce, and Linden
Front row- Daniel, Eliza, Guard, Bradley, Locke, Nathan, and Verin
The Crazy Shirley Clan!
After the group shot we got ready for a family photo.
Getting arranged is a juggling act!
Dad, Mom, Josh and Daniel
Bradley, Eliza and Nathan
Uncle Levi and Aunt Amber designed our Shirley Family Reunion shirts. They did a great job.
Shirley Family Reunion 2015
All the Shirley Grand Kids
Grandma and Grandpa Shirley with all their grand kids (24).
Andy with his parents and siblings, oldest to youngest, minus one brother (Zeke) just older than Andy
Quincy, Levi, Melissa, Carla (G-Ma), Alpheaus (G-Pa), Andy and Lily
Get the Grandpa belly!
Nathan chillin' on the grass.
Uncle Levi and Joshua
