Pennsylvania, JULY 14-19

We left for Pennsylvania the following week. Grammy and Papa joined me and the kids on this journey. The kids and I went to visit my best friend Kristin and her family back in my old home town, while my parents visited several of their friends in the area. It was fun to be back and is was so much fun hanging with her. Just like old times... except we now have 5 kids between the two of us! It was the first time the kids have gotten together and they just had a ball. We always talk about Aunt Kristin, Uncle Bob, Lorelai and April, but now the kids can put a name with a face. Here they all are playing in the pool!

Oh, I almost forgot. This is so worth mentioning because it just makes me giggle every time I think about it. They had a pool cleaner, you know the kind that just wonders along the bottom and up and down the sides. Well, it was black which kind of made it look like a manta ray or something of that sort. Well, Ryan did not like it. He did not want to be near the thing. So, the one day we were sitting at the table, watching the kids, and I noticed that the cleaner was getting close to Ryan, but he was still going about his business. So I waited (nice mom, I know). You should have seen that boy's eyes when he realized what was beneath his feet. He shot out of that pool so fast. I'm laughing now as I type this. Priceless. Sorry Ry! Anyway, thanks so much for having us. The boys keep asking when we can go back. I told them when Uncle Bob jacks up the air conditioning :)

Maybe I should mention that this was a record setting week. It was nothing short of HOT, HOT, and HOT. You know the kind of weather you just sweat standing still.

After spending a few days with Kristin and her family, we headed up to Lancaster to visit with my Grandmother. We met up with my Aunt and Uncle, my two cousins Jenny and Chris and Jenny's daughter Natalie. Natalie and Kyle get along like two peas in a pod.



We all had brunch at Grandmas and then hit the pool.



Believe it or not, Kyle kind of had a break-through in his swimming while on vacation. He was able go down the slide and swim across to the ladder all on his own, over and over again. So proud of him.



One of the days Grammy, Great-Grandma and I took the kids for a ride on the Strasburg Railroad. It was a pretty ride through all of the farm fields. Ryan thought the whistle was a little too loud, but he loved looking out the back and watching the engine hook up to the train. Katie loved it too!









After a few days at Great-Grandma's we went to spend our last day at my Aunt and Uncle's farm. I grew up coming here, so it was nice to come back and visit with the kids. The boys got their fill of tractors. Uncle Richard even let them drive one up and down the road! Can we say two happy little boys!





The boys also got to pick their own corn out of the fields. Unfortunately, it's feed corn so they couldn't eat it, but they still thought it was pretty cool!



Unfortunately, the cows were out in the pond cooling off, so they didn't get to see them up close. It's funny the things you remember as a kid. I remember letting a cow lick my hand and discovering that their tongues are as rough as sand paper. I was hoping they'd get the chance. Maybe next time :) Did I mention it was hot? Even the cows were seeking refuge in the pond. Staying at the farm means no air conditioning. However, the kids and I lucked out. We got the one room with a window air conditioner. At least we were able to sleep comfortably.

The next day we headed for home. Thanks to my Aunt and Uncle for having us. We all had such a great time on this trip. It was so much fun seeing old friends and family that we don't get to see as often as we'd like. Hopefully we'll get to do it again next year!