We pulled out of Durham Thursday, June 27th headed for Hershey, Pennsylvania. We left around 9:45 in two vehicles. The girls: Me, Sophie, Lydia, Audrey, Grammy, Aunt Rhonda, and Tricia Lynn in the BIG van and the boys: Randy, Andrew, Jackson, Uncle Barry, and Tyler in the Thompson's car. We met for lunch in Ashland, Va at O'Banks Cafe. Then hit the road again for Hershey, PA. After lunch we rode in families. My family in the big van and Rhonda's family plus Grammy in the Thompson's car. We met for dinner at Finicci's. I had salmon with a house made brochette and roasted vegetables and new potatoes. It was so good. While dinner was the highlight for me. Andrew and Tyler's highlight was meeting the restaurant owner. He was a World Record holder for riding the most roller coasters in a day! The boy's loved meeting him.
After dinner we checked into our hotel and took the kids for a quick swim before bed.
Day 2
I woke up really early to run. I'm finishing up my 10K training and was scheduled for a 9 miler. So I ran 9 miles on the treadmill. Whew. Then we had breakfast at the hotel and header to Hershey Park.
It was fun! I enjoyed riding rides I wouldn't have fit in a year ago:
And I did indulge in peanut butter pie!
I mean I did run 9 miles....and walk around an amusement park all day. I shared it with Sophie. It was GOOD!
When we got back to the hotel we let the kids swim and did baths and went to bed.
Day 3
I took the day off from exercise and we had breakfast at the hotel. Lydia had Comedian bacon for the first time (aka Canadian bacon)
Then we were off to Hershey's Chocolate World!
We went on a trolley ride around Pennsylvania and learned all about Milton Hershey. What an amazing and generous man he was! I really enjoyed the history.
Then we went to a Chocolate Tasting class. It was very interesting. We watched a movie about chocolate, the kids "wrapped" chocolate kisses.
Then we all made our own chocolate bar and designed our own wrapper.
We had checked out of our hotel that morning and we made the drive to Lancaster County. We stopped on the way at Julius Sturgis Pretzel factory.
We learned how pretzels were made and toured the first hard pretzel making factory in the US. Then of course we ate pretzels! Our pastor's wife told us about this little stop. Neat experience!
Then we checked into a farm house our home for the next few days.
It was awesome! Audrey was happy to meet the farm dog Sheba.
After we spent a few minutes getting settled in and relaxing it was time to head to dinner.
We had dinner at Good and Plenty.
I had the roasted turkey with the creamiest mashed potatoes I have ever eaten and fresh garden peas that tasted like they had been picked that morning. It was fabulous!
Then we went to Noah's sight and sound play. It was great. The animals and puppets and costumes and props were amazing! By the end of the day....needless to say we were all worn out!
Randy wasn't done yet though....he had a one and half hour drive to pickup Pepaw. He was flying in to join us from his mission work in Guatemala!
What a Long yet Fun Day!
I woke up early and went for a short run. I only ran 2 miles. Then we went to breakfast and headed over to the Amish village. I really enjoyed the village. We had a tour of the area
followed by a chance to tour an Amish house and school room. I want a schoolhouse!!!
It was so interesting to me. I have been reading Donald . Kraybill's book, The Amish Way Patient Faith in a Perilous World. It is so interesting!
It was neat to see first hand this intriguing way of life. After vising the village we had some down time at the farm house and Randy, Tyler, and I went for a walk and then Randy and I did some weights, sit ups, and push ups. It felt good to move!
That evening we had dinner with some of Ruth's friends from her nursing school days. We ate at Plain and Fancy. It was nice meeting her friends.
Day 5
We were all scheduled to spend the day at Gettysburg, but Randy and I had an idea. We thought the little ones needed a more restful day from all the coming and going and Randy and Andrew and Bob were REALLY anxious to spend the day at Gettysburg. So we suggested just those three go and enjoy and the rest of us stay at the farm and have a more relaxed day. We did and it was a good day. It did start out a bit unsettling for me. I went for a run and missed a turn and got really lost. My 3 mile run turned into a 4 and half mile run and included a somewhat panicked call to Randy. Fortunately he has a tracker on my phone and was able to locate me and give me directions home. He was already on the road headed to Gettysburg! Whew. The landscape was breathtaking!
We did venture out with our crew and go for a buggy ride and we did a little window shopping and the kids had a pony ride but most of the day was just low keyed and relaxed.
They played at the farm. Watched some movie. Had pizza in their PJ's. It was a nice day of rest.
The guys said over and over again how happy they were with the decision. They thoroughly enjoyed their day at Gettysburg and learned so much. They didn't get home until after 11:00 and they both said it was the highlight of their trip. Glad the guys got this special time together.
Day 6
I got up early and ran. I had to run....we were eating a lot of good food! After my run I got cleaned up. We packed and hit the road heading North. My family and Bob and Tyler were in the big van. Rhonda's family and her mom had left earlier that morning to stop off in Buffalo, NY to pick up Ryan and his boys. I can not even begin to describe the frustration of this leg of the trip. What should have been a 6-7 hour trip turned into a 10 hour trip. It included closed highways, detours, scary mountain men and their brothers, good directions, whining, about a million questions, road work, lots of fast food.....and a few nervous moments crossing the border....but we made it! Once we arrived in Canada we let the kids have a late night swim to burn off some energy from all their car sitting. They were thrilled to see their Texas cousins! We all got settled and got some much needed sleep!
Day 7
I rode a stationary bike for about 35 minutes to give my knees a break from running! We had breakfast and headed over to the falls. We watched a cute movie about the falls, which terrified Audrey and then walked behind the falls. Which left me a bit awe struck at our Creator! (see the rainbow)
It left Audrey terrified.....but no permanent harm was done!
Day 8, July 4
I rode the bike again for 35 minutes. We ate breakfast at the hotel and headed back to the falls. We did a river walk along the rapids and then rode on the Maid of the Mist. Take a raincoat! It was really neat to see the falls so close! That night some of the guys: Randy, Andrew, Jackson, Ryan, Geer, and Booth got to go to the Toronto Jays baseball game. They had great seats and enjoyed the time together. While they were gone the rest of us went up in the sky tower and did some kiddie attractions: ie) maze/fun house/shopping. Then we headed back to the hotel and ordered room service and watched the fireworks over the falls! My girls loved that. The boys got in after midnight.
Day 9
We slept in. No exercise. We were worn out. We had breakfast at the hotel and packed to head to Pittsburgh. We made good time and didn't run into in troubles heading home! Our first stop in Pittsburgh was the Incline. It was the inspiration for Mr. Rogers incline! We rode it to the top. Once again....Audrey was scared....but ended up enjoying it!
When we got to the top we went on a short tour of the museum and then walked around a bit. We found a great spot to take photos of the Pittsburgh skyline. Only problem was we couldn't all manage to look at the camera!
While we were checking things out Sophie was thrilled to spot all the Taylor Swift tour trucks at Heinz Field and we could even hear them doing a sound check.
VERY EXCITING!
We went into the city and had dinner at Primanti Brothers. They guys loved it.
Then we checked into our last hotel.
Went for our last hotel swim and hit the hay!
Day 10
Woke up early. I went for a run on the treadmill. Had breakfast at Eatin Park and bid farewell to the Thompson crew. They were heading back to Durham so Barry would be back for church on Sunday. Then the rest of us headed over to the Carnegie Science Center. We spent most of the day in the sports center. The kids loved it. So did I! We bounced.
Soared to new heights!
Look at Pepaw!
Balanced.
Climbed.
Played Hockey.....Geer was a BEAST he broke the record for the museum!
Rode Unicycles
By afternoon we were worn out.
We headed back to the hotel to rest and regroup before the concert.
Grammy, Pepaw, Ryan, Andrew, Jackson, Lydia, Audrey and Booth went shopping, to dinner, and a movie.
Randy, Sophie, Geer, and I headed to the Taylor Swift concert.
Daddy was all decked out in red for the event!
Sweet man.
Sophie and Geer were very excited!
Randy was excited to be on Heinz field with 57,000 others!
We had great seats! THANK YOU Grammy and Pepaw! What an thoughtful and GENEROUS gift!
You know your granddaughter well!
Definitely the highlight for Sophie.
Day 11
We woke up early to head home.
Ryan took a taxi to the airport.
We met Geer and Booth's other grandparents on the way home to drop off the boys to visit with their mom's family.
We finally made it home close to 8:00.
There was lots of whining. Everyone was exhausted. After unpacking, going to the grocery store, starting the laundry, sorting the mail, checking messages, scrapping together a dinner, and brushing teeth we all crashed.
It was an amazing, fun, exhausting vacation. It went amazingly well having 4 families converge and share every waking moment for 10 days, traveling to 2 countries via van. It is a miracle but we all came home still on speaking terms! Yes there were a few spats and squabbles....but we made it! Lots of memories were made. Lots of wonderful life opportunities. Very thankful for family. Thankful to Bob and Ruth for planning and providing such a spectacular trip for my family.
WE ARE SO BLESSED!
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