Ground Zero

Ground Zero

While we were so close to New York City we decided to take the Metro in to see Ground Zero. When 911 happened we were living in Tennessee. We will never forget that day just like many. It hit our hearts in an amazing way. We had many firefighters, ambulances, and many more from our town who went up to help. We heard many stories and even recorded the news on video tapes. Our hearts went out to them and we longed to do something for them.

So we decided to go see how it looked almost 8 years later. We never imagined how much damage there really was. Talk about a HUGE hole in the ground. We couldn't figure out why it took so long to clean up and then discuss which would take place on the hole. But going there we learned why. It was HUGE. They now are building new buildings and where the twin towers once were. They are putting square waterfall around the base with everyones name. So that will be the memorial. It looks super nice and we will have to head back when finished but it looks like they still have a long way to go.

It is just amazing how much it impacted our nation. Our hearts go out to all the many heroes and all the many lives that were taken. You will all be remember.

Until the memorial is finished they do have a WTC Tribute Center that we went into which was really nice! But our children felt the peace and was so thankful for the gospel. In knowing we can be together forever and will see each other again someday!

Our hearts are with you all and our Nation!

Ground Zero

Let Freedom Ring!
Statue of Liberty
Kallee's favorite part was shopping in the gift shop for her Statue of Liberty bear and doing gymnastics on the grass by the Statue of Liberty. I don't think many girls can say they did a back tuck on the Statue of Liberty grass. Kyle's favorite part was taking pictures with our camera of the Statue and all the boats in the water. Kody and Kamden just loved being there and could feel that there was something special here. Kody and Kamden also loved playing swords with sticks near the Statue of Liberty. We all had a wonderful experience.

Statue of LIberty

WOW! We are at the Statue of Liberty! Dad and Mom have always wanted to go here and we finally made it. We even got to ride on a boat over to the Statue of Liberty Island. The kids loved being on the boat and thought the statue was beautiful! It is so big and there is just a special feeling around her!
Kallee and Kyle on the boat ride to the Island of the Statue of Liberty!

Mom and all of her sweeties.

Mom loved being here because of the special feeling she had here. She felt how blessed she is to live here in America and have her freedom. There is nothing greater than that. What a wonderful country we live in! Thanks to all the men and women who help keep our country free! The Statue of Libery is just BEAUTIFUL!

The City of New York we could see from on the boat ride over to the Statue of Liberty. We couldn't believe how HUGE it is. We also heard it was and thought is was but until you actually see it is WOW! So amazing!

A close up of the Statue of Liberty!

LIghthouse Barnegat

Lighthouse Barnegat

Look to the lighthouse of the Lord, there is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost, but what it's beacon light can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. It calls "This way to safety; this way to home." The lighthouse of the Lord sends forth signals readily recognized and never fails. Thomas S. Monson

Kallee walking up 216 stairs to make it to the top of the lighthouse. But her legs didn't get tired because of all her gymnastics training. Only Kyle and Mom's legs were exhausted by the time we climbed all those stairs but it was so worth it. It was our first time to ever be in a lighthouse. Mom was so excited because she always wanted to be in one.

Kyle loved being at the top of the lighthouse. He was bummed because it was pouring rain so we couldn't go out and walk around the top of the outside of the lighthouse. But we looked out and it was beautiful. We had so much fun and what a neat experience.

Kamden's Hotel Fun

While in the city we also stopped off at this lighthouse. It was beautiful even in the down pour of the rain. Our family loves lighthouses and hopes to go to as many as we can. The boys room is done in lighthouses, sailboats, and beach theme. To have them always remember to look to the lighthouse of the Lord.

Atlantic City Fun

Our family favorite is Sugar and anything sweet. So we couldn't pass by this store without paying a stop. There was nothing but sugar. The kids and I got a metal can and filled it up with any candy we wanted from bins of candy. We had so much fun picking out different kinds of candy. The kids also bought a sugar tube which they could fill up with different kinds of sugar. Lots of yummy candy and sugar. What a cool store!

After we went to sugar the mall had an amazing water show with music and lights. The water even came from the ceiling and danced to the music. We loved it! Dad wanted to speaker system in our house because it was so loud it shook the mall. That way he could turn it on for Kallee when she is groovin to the beat and givin her brother dance lessons.

A picture of our family in front of It's Sugar!

Atlantic City Beach

This is a picture of some of our shells we picked up along the beach shore. After the kids washed them off, they put them on towels in the Trump Hotel to dry. We ended up with about 4 large towels full of shells. The kids have a huge glass container at home they collect beach sand and shells in. So they could hardly wait to get home to put these shells in their collection. By the way it ended up being to small so mom bought another one for them to fill up.

Atlantic City Beach

We drove from Hershey Park to Atlantic City to go to the beach. We stayed in the Trump Marina Hotel. This picture is of all the shells at the beach that we found. We were so excited and the kids couldn't believe all of the shells. We spent a very long time picking out all the shells to take home. The funny part was we did it in the rain. It rained the entire day so we just decided to get wet. It was worth it to have all the shells.
After we had bag fulls of shells they were covered in sand so we decided to give them a wash down in the tub. The kids had a blast getting in the tub to wash all the beach sand off the shells.

Another picture of all the beautiful shells along the shore of the Atlantic City beach in New Jersey!

Atlantic City Beach shells

We still can't believe all the shells at the beach. We found a lot of clam and oysters shells that were in perfect condition. Kyle, Kallee, and Kody even found a couple of Hermit crab shells to take home to their crabs Sparkey, Snap, and Speedy.

Hershey Park

Hershey factory Line!

While at the Hershey Factory they put the kids to work on the line! Of course, they didn't mind working for yummy chocolate!

Kallee could handle this job as long as she could make sure the kisses tasted O.K. every now and then. She just loved working on the Hershey kiss line!

Even Kody thought it was fun putting the Gear under the machine and catching the kisses. Afterwards, watching the shrink wrap around it!

The Sweetest Place on Earth

Hershey Park

Kerestes Family Vacation

This year for our vacation we went to Hershey Park and met Kevin (my brother), Rebecca, Jadeyn, and Jessica (my sister). We decided to stay at their Lodge which was so much fun. Hershey motto is "The sweetest place on Earth." Just like our son Kyle said, "Mom, it really is the sweetest place on Earth." Kallee also agreed. Never in her life did she get to eat chocolate with every meal.

The park was awesome. It had a theme park with rides, waterpark, zoo, museum, huge store, tour of how they make chocolates, and rose garden. We just loved being all together.

The big highlights were we learned where Mom and Jessica complete whimps. We stayed back and let everyone else ride the coasters. Believe it or not Kallee and Kyle went on everyone that they could. We couldn't believe how brave they were. I asked Kyle, "Do you like to be scared?" He said, "Mom I love it and the Comet nearly scared me to death."

We had a wonderful time and can't wait to go back again someday. Not only did we eat chocolate everyday after I unpacked I am still finding Hershey kiss wrappers on my floor. They must of been in pockets of pants, shirts, our luggage, and who know where else but it's a fun reminder of all the fun we had.

Thanks for coming with us Kevin, Rebecca, Jadeyn, and Jessica!