Happy Birthday Pops, Hello Vermont!

Pops' birthday is on the 2nd of July. 

We celebrated by day-tripping in Vermont. We hauled the kids out of bed at the crack of dawn to beat the Boston traffic. Little Chief was not thrilled. When Pops tried to coax him saying, "LC, we're going to Vermont! We're going to see an ice cream factory!" LC rolled over and said, "Vermont! I hate that place. Take Dan Dan instead." We did manage to get all the kiddos in the car. We celebrated crossing the city (rarely done by Bay-Staters) by stopping for a flap-jack breakfast at McDonald's. 

First stop, Sharon Vermont, the birth place of Joseph Smith. We haven't been since LC was 3 weeks old, so it was an all-new experience for most of us.

The kids are standing on the hearth-stone that little baby Joseph was likely warmed on during those cold December nights after he was born...

A picture of the "Joes" 

As you can see, LC was thrilled to meet the guy who inspired his name.

That's more like it. Nothing a bribe couldn't cure.

The big kids got a tour of the visitor's center while the littles and I ran through the gardens...

Next we stood on the stone that sat at the front door of the Smith home.

This is the 38.5 foot monument (1 foot for every year of the prophet's life). 

Next we sweet-talked the missionaries into taking us for a joy ride in their 8 passenger golf cart!

Weeeeeee!

We saw Grandpa Mack's home...

Or at least part of the cellar...

We saw an old stone bridge that was on the turnpike between Grandpa Mack's and Grandpa Smith's house...

Next we visited Uncle Daniel's house...

It took a little imagination too..

Then Sandy's for lunch! A treat for me. Mmmmmm, onion rings!