Homeward bound

We are in the car on our way to the airport. This trip has been an adventure for sure, and I'm ready to go home to rest.

We bowled yesterday, and that was a lot of fun. So here are pictures of that.

Delaware

In addition to family and friends, Delaware means food!!! Today included Cheesecake Factory and Dairy Palace!!!

I'm told it isn't improper etiquette to photograph the buggy.

One more

Good news first.

The good news is that the kids and I had an adventure filled day. We drove to Pennsylvania to go to the Herr's factory tour. We were ridiculously early, so we ate lunch in Oxford. We had tons of time, so as we headed to the tour in Nottingham for our 1:00 tour, we were very relaxed. Then on the only road to take, we were hindered by traffic. So we were actually late to our tour. Thank goodness for cell phones. We were able to call the factory, and they put us in the 1:20 tour. We had a lot of fun with it - free samples of hot, fresh chips that had been whole potatoes just 6 minutes before - and a chance to learn a lot about the company and its products.

Then, our guest had wanted to see Amish country, so we set off for Lancaster. We ended up in downtown Lancaster, although we really wanted to be in a more tourist driven area.
After some failed attempts due to construction detours that our GPS was unable to account for, we decided to head home.

It turned out to be beneficial. On the way home, we drove right through Amish country and saw many Amish people and buggies and farms. It was really neat and such a great adventure even with a few missteps.

So that was the good news of the day. The not-so-good news was that my mom became quite ill this morning and is spending the night in the hospital for observation. My dear friend, Shannon, took me to the hospital, and we visited her. She seemed much better than she was this morning, but she still wasn't quite herself. They haven't determined an exact cause, but they're expecting a reaction to a new medicine that she started yesterday.

Cheesesteak - whiz - with.

(That's how I order.)

We ate at Geno's tonight. We had a great dinner and a great time. It was really fun!

Hello, Philadelphia!!!

My brother and I took the "big" kids to Philly tonight. We ate cheesesteaks and water ice, and just walked all around. Here are some pictures!

I drove, and that was a very big deal for me. I'm not a frequent city driver by any means, and I did get separated from my brother on the way home, and it's even possible I may have gone down a closed road and had to go back down it the wrong way....but we made it back to my parents' safe and sound.

Tomorrow we go to the Herr's potato chip factory for a tour. That should be fun. After that, I don't think we will go too far from here. We need rest. I'm going to lunch with Shannon on Wednesday, and I'll have crabs with my sister in law on Thursday. We go home on Friday. There is just never enough time.

My beautiful niece, the graduate.

More pictures

The fun continues.

Today was "Separation Day." It's a Delaware specific holiday complete with a parade, games, rides and fireworks. My mom and I took T. Willy to the parade then walked around. It was a great time! This area has a great Colonial history, and the festivities were held in the historic area of town. What fun!
Later in the day, my mom and I toured some model homes: one of our favorite things to do together. Then I took the big kids to the mall. Another great day in Delaware!
Pictures!

Delaware is so fun!

We had a great day to start off our trip here. My dear friend, Shannon, stopped by with her girls. T. Willy was so sad when they left, because he had so much fun with them. I had my favorite, Capriotti's, for lunch, and I swam with T. Willy. Then I took the kids to a park. We've played games, watched a movie; my dad made his famous spaghetti. I just don't want this week to go too fast. It's too much fun!

Delaware - here we come!!!

We are on our way for a week with my family! I'm sitting on the plane with my two and one of MK's friends. We should be taking off soon. Here are pics of us on the plane.

No excuses.

I just haven't felt like posting. So much for my New Year's resolution. Oh well, I'm back and will try to do better.

School is out, MK is in Driver's Ed., and we've pretty much been playing in the pool. It has been really hot here. I realize that sounds funny since it's June in Florida, but it has been warmer than usual. We rarely see temps of 100 even in August, and we have neared that several days. My niece graduated from high school, and we're heading to Delaware next week to celebrate with her. I was "downsized" at my job, and there have been big changes at the school, but I'm not giving up hope. I'm just going to enjoy my summer and keep looking. I think you're caught up - now pictures!

School's out!

We're so glad that school is out, but we haven't really slowed down. I stopped working on Wednesday, and MK started driver's ed on Thursday. We made our reservations to fly to Delaware in June, so we will stay busy!

At this point, I don't have a job for next year, so I'm just going to enjoy the summer and keep looking.

Here is a picture showing how T. Willy spends his days - swimming and playing his DS.

How we do.

We're still here!

It's been hectic. School ended yesterday, and tonight was graduation. Things should slow down now. I finish working on Wednesday (for real, because at this time there is no position for me,) but it's all good. Things will work out. I'm going to enjoy the summer and being home.

Posing

I took the kids to lunch today (scheduled around driving lessons,) and they were cooperative about letting me take pictures.

I like the mundane.

I really do. I don't need big milestone moments very often. It's just too much. In the past month, T. Willy has turned seven, MK has turned 16, we said goodbye to the seniors in our classes (though graduation isn't till next week,) and today....sigh....today MK got her permit and operated a motor vehicle for the first time. Oh my. It's too much at once. I look forward to next week. School will be out, and I'll be able to stay home with the kids all summer... in theory at least.

The pictures are of MK and her permit and MK behind the wheel of the car for the first time. She didn't get on the road; that will come soon enough. She drove around our church parking lot just to get the feel for it.

Sleep

School is out a week from today. I really hope it means there is more sleep in my future!!! I work a few more days, then my summer vacation begins too!

Read that

MK has had color guard after school this week, so T. Willy and I have been hanging out. He had a dentist appointment after school, so we went to the library afterwards. He wanted non-fiction books about space, and we found those easily. Then his teacher told him about an author, so we spent time searching and found a book by that author, so he was very pleased by what we found. I also found several books, so it was a great trip to the library. Here is T. reading one of his books while I searched.

It's chemistry!

MK's chemistry teacher has his classes do the same project each year. They tie-dye shirts, and they all wore them to school today for a class photo. I enjoyed walking the halls and seeing all of the great designs. Here is MK's!

In honor...

For Mother's Day, I thought I'd share a couple of pictures of my mom and myself. You'll realize they were taken awhile ago. While my mom's fashions look a bit out of style for today, my mom has always been very stylish, so be assured that her look was very in for the time.

The first picture was taken in my grandparents' front yard in Charleston, West Virginia in 1970. The second was taken while we lived in Australia probably about 1974. I cropped it from a family favorite of our whole family.

The party's over...again.

MK's party is over. I had fun, and I hope the kids did too. It was a crazy mix of kids, but it seemed to work. Here are a few pictures of the decorations. One highlight: some guys brought a sofa. It was hilarious.

Feeling a little sentimental today.

Here is MK around 5 months old. Happy birthday, sweet 16!!!

15 and 364 days.

Tomorrow MK will be 16!!! Although it feels that I was 16 yesterday, I'm having fun watching MK experience it. Whew. It's so cliche, but it's the truth: it goes too fast!

My era is the 40s.

I have new shoes to prove it. I also wish hats were more acceptable. I would get this one!!! Perhaps I just need to attend the Kentucky Derby or a royal wedding.

MK and her friend at a dodgeball tournament.

I am in the back - concentrating very hard.

An actual text conversation between MK and me

Compelling stuff.

Words can't express.