Ashton Family Reunion in New York

This July my family ventured to New York to visit my brother Spencer where he is completing his medical residency.We spent a week in a beach house in Sodus Day along Lake Ontario where we were able to visit Niagara Falls, Palmyra, and other surrounding areas. We were all able to make it except for Joe, Ashton, and Abby. All together there were 21 of us there!

Julie, Mom, Sam, Ben, Kenzie, Blakely, Ellie, Haley, Niki, Henry, AnneMerie, Matt, Annie Kate at Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls far exceeded my expectations. We paid extra to take the Cave of the Winds tour and take a ride on Maid of the Mist and they were both awesome!

Pre- Cave of the Winds Tour sporting our complimentary ponchos and sandals. 

At the bottom of hurricane deck, when we were still dry!

Post Hurricane Deck: Soaked! The ponchos didn't really help.

On board the Maid of the Mist after we left the foot of the falls. I couldn't open my eyes because there was so much mist! Crazy awesome

Luke was asleep the entire time.

We went to Palmyra to see all of the Church history sites including the Parlmyra Temple, the Sacred Grove, the Smith Farm, the printing press where the Book of Mormon was published, Hill Cumorah, and the Peter Whitmer Farm where the Church was organized. 

 In the Sacred Grove

Smith Farm

View of the Sacred Grove

Palmyra Temple

Inside the printing press

We went to an awesome children's museum in Rochester

Where we went to 123 ABC St

and were able to visit Big Bird!

and Papa Bernstein Bear!

We took a ride in Cinderella's carriage,

met an old woman who lived in a shoe had lots of kids :),

and witnessed a superhero save 3 children from falling off a high rise building!

Before the majority of the group left for home we celebrated my mom's retirement from teaching and her official graduation from school!

At the end of our trip we were able to take a beautiful hikewith Spencer's Family to Taughanock Falls and view the Ithaca Gorges. 

I am so glad we were able to spend such a great week with my nieces and nephews and siblings before we left for Texas. I will surely miss them all!