1st week of summer vacation

I love summer vacation!!  Love the freedom, the slower pace, and just everything!!  The kids had a half day of school Friday.  Jacob had a friend over for the day for his b-day celebration (happy 11th b-day Jacob).  We went to the pool Friday night.  Saturday Jack took the boys to play paintball for Jacob's birthday and then we went to a graduation.  Sunday was Golden Coral's company picnic....always fun....a ton of food, bingo, bouncy houses, free snow cones, cotton candy and popcorn.  Monday we headed to the pool, Wednesday we went for a 3 mile bike ride on the greenway, spent the afternoon with friends, and headed back to the pool.  Thursday we sent Joshua off on the youth mission trip helping get a camp ready and today we went for our free donuts at National Donut Day!!  A girl could get used to this. 

Middle School Banquet

It's been awhile since I have been able to blog.  Things have been crazy.  Last Thursday night the middle school had an awards banquet.  It was another chance to see Josh dressed up.  It was nice to have the entire family dress up and go to dinner.

mother's day

We've been very busy at the Miss Jen child care.  We started working last Friday on our mother's day gifts.  I started a little early because I only have Kara three times a week and I need everything to dry before we take them home Friday.  We made a flower pot out of their hands and fingers, we made a tile with their handprint and we also made flower bags using their handprints.  I also hope to do one more Friday if we get the chance where I make a semi-circle and use their feet for the rays and say "You are my sunshine".  I'm a little tired after today, so we will have to see how it goes.

Formal

7th graders

Saturday was the teen formal at church.  Josh didn't want to go, but I convinced him to come and honor the seniors .  I think he cleaned up pretty well!!  I know he was uncomfortable, but I think he looked so adorable.  Thank you Monica for helping us find the jacket!!

Last day

As much as I enjoyed the Hershey amusement park and making our own candy bar, I think the last day was my favorite.  After we slept in a little and ate breakfast, we headed up to Lancaster, PA.  We took a horse and buggy ride over to see some Amish farms and then we stopped on an Amish farm.  They had a little store set up.  I loved everything inside.  I wish i carried more cash.  I loved their quilts and hand made items.  For some reason, I loved the little Amish boy/girl dolls, but they were $10 each (remember, I didn't have much cash).  I loved all the home made goods they had.....apple butter, jellies etc.  I did buy a small candle and Jenna got an Amish outfit for her American girl doll.  I know we are not supposed to take pictures of the Amish, but I got one from the Amish children on the farm selling the things they had made and then I walked away and set my zoom and "snuck" one of the Amish boys.  I don't know what it is about them, but I am fascinated by their lifestyle.  I wouldn't want to live like that, but I am so curious about them.  I guess they are curious about us as well.  We had about an hour left after our tour, so about 2 miles down the road was an outlet mall so we looked around.  Right across from the buggy tour was Sight and Sound theater.  We somehow got tickets to Moses (It was all of God).  I was blown away by the production and would love to go back.  I knew they had live animals, but I didn't realize they would ride the animals down the isles!!  They had camels, sheep, horses, and even a bull.  The scenes and special effects were just amazing.  I looked over at Josh and he was so into it.  I thought maybe the kids would be bored, but he loved it.  He also had the isle seat, so he got a close up of some of the actors and animals.  I really hope to go back and see another production.   My pictures of Sight and Sound were few and they are on my cell phone, so I hope to get those unloaded and posted soon. We headed straight home after the play and got home at 12:45.  Just enough sleep to get up and celebrate Easter.  Thankful for a safe trip.  Thankful for more memories with my children.

PA, Day 2

Day 2 started with making our own candy bars at 9 am (and the glasses from the last picture were for a 4d show).  We immediately headed over to Hershey Park for a day full of roller coasters.  I LOVE roller coasters and was surprised that Hershey had some great coasters.  In fact, the big yellow one was probably one of the best coasters I have ever been on.....scary, scary and great!!  It was so chilly, especially on the coasters, but I would rather have that then the extreme heat of summer, especially waiting for the rides.  We didn't get to ride everything, but we so enjoyed the day we had.

Hershy, PA Trip

The last few years we have gone somewhere for spring break.  Sometimes it isn't a big trip, but other times it is a bigger trip.  One year we went to Grandfather Mountain, last year was our big trip to Disney and this year we went to Hershey, PA.  Loved it!!  Love making memories with my family.  We woke up early Thursday morning and drove to Hershey, PA.  Some of the things we wanted to do at the chocolate factory were already sold out, but we were able to do those events on Friday morning.  We did a couple of things at the factory, checked into our hotel and then ate a nice family dinner and used the pool.  Friday morning we did the other events and then went to Hershey amusement park and on Saturday we went to Lancaster and went to an Amish Farm and to Sight and Sound theater.  I will break these up little by little.  I will say my favorite parts were by far Sight and Sound theater, the Amish farm and making our own candy bar.  So for today I will post some highlights of us at the Hershey Chocolate Factory.  I loved making our candy bar.  You had to wear hair nets and then pick up to three things you wanted in your candy bar as well as if you wanted regular chocolate, white chocolate or dark chocolate.  Then you watched your candy bar being made down the assembly line.  You went into another booth and made your own wrapper and then you got your candy bar in a tin.  It was pretty cool.