Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Friday

Yes,  I know today is Tuesday and Tuesday is almost history! I wanted to write a post about the family week end long before this, but time slipped away.

Friday - 

Mary Ellen invited the Witmer siblings, their spouses and the kids still living at home, to her home for dinner. We gathered around her table...




Almost all of us.......

Mary Ellen, the cook, ate at the counter!
We could have made room for her but she said she was fine back there =)


After dinner, we moved outdoors to her lovely backyard where we tried to take some pictures - 

How shall we stand?
Hurry up - my stomach muscles are getting tired!!
Gales of laughter =)
Our poor brother!!

Still working on the pose...


Not bad!
L - R - 
Betty, me, Jean, Mary Ellen, Dick
(Youngest - Oldest, of those able to attend)

We give it a try with the spouses - 

 Betty and Scott, Me and Dale, Mary Ellen,
Jean and Dick, Nancy and Dick
(oh no, what was bothering Jean???)


 Chatting.



Cousins - 
our Ellen and Betty's kids, Isaiah and Merida


It was such a fun evening. How we missed Barb in ID and Rose in GA. They were with us in thought, for sure. All too soon it was time to head home because Saturday was full of planned activity. More on that tomorrow!

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Hershey, the Sweetest Place on Earth

We went to Hershey, PA today. Aidan and Zoe love Hershey's Chocolate World. My sister Betty and her family (from NH) were going to Hershey Park today. I had hoped we could join them for some Hershey Park fun, but too many of my kids couldn't take the day off. So, I suggested meeting up at Chocolate World. Marcy, Scott, Paityn and Brinley joined us, Gina had the day off too. It ended up being quite a group!

First ride through Chocolate World...we always go more than once! (it's free, plus another perk which you will get a glimpse of later) -
Marcy and Scott hadn't arrived yet; Betty and Scott were in the park, so we decided to go on the ride till they all got to Chocolate World.

Ready to Roll =)

Ellen loves this place too!

 Zoe was excited to see the cow tails!
She loves cows.


There's a kitty sleeping in the window.


 I bet you didn't know cows can sing...
they do at Hershey's Chocolate World!


It does not matter that Aidan and Zoe have been to 
this place many, many times.
They love it as though it's the first time ever =)


Mmmmm, Kit Kats!


Second Ride -
Betty, Scott, Merida and Isaiah arrived soon after our first ride ended. We chatted, Scott went to fill their water bottle and I got a text from Marcy - they had arrived. We waited for them to get into the building then it was time to go again!


Paityn and Aidan are soooo very excited!


 Betty and Merida in front
Scott and Isaiah in back.

 Paityn and Aidan are into the scenery!


 Three little heads =)


 Look at that...
No, look at that!!


 Hi, Nana!


 I LOVE this place!


Marcy, Scott and Brinley were on a car behind us. 
There is a ramp on the car which
allows her to roll right on it. 
So cool!

 This may have something to do with why we 
 ride more than once.
You get a piece of candy - 
every time =)


Zoe says, 
I love chocolate!

Next, we went to my car to get the cooler I had packed with food. I knew Betty and her family would need something to eat, and my family would be happy to partake as well. We found a spot under a tree to sit and chow.






I guess I was busy because these are the only pictures I took! We had several kinds of sandwiches, potato chips, fruit, whoopie pies and Oreo's. I shopped at Hilltop Acres (a local market with yummy food) where I bought the whoopie pies. Ellen always wants me to get some when I shop there. I don't always get them but thought today was a good day for a special treat. I also shopped at Amelia's (local discount store) where they had Oreo's. Now that is my favorite cookie. I don't always give in to my weakness, but this time I did. Double Stuff Oreo's are the best!

All too soon it was time to say goodbye to Betty and her family. They needed to head back to the park to ride more rides. We will see them more throughout the week end before they head back home again.

Of course we took a third ride, yes we did!
This time we got to experience how Marcy gets on the ride. We were escorted by a Hershey employee to an area behind the stairs where we usually enter the ride.

 Not a clear pic, sorry - 
Marcy, Scott, Paityn and Aidan were in one car.


 Gina and Brinley....

 Ellen...


                                                                   Zoe and I were in another.


 Scott is having a blast!


Time to say goodbye.

You have three hours of free parking for Chocolate World.
After the 3 hours are up, it's $12.00!
We were getting close and it was time to move it, move it.
Such a fun day!

Thanks to Christy, our dinner was cooking while we were away. She prepared some yummy ham, potatoes and carrots in her slow cooker. Corey picked it up on his way home from work and brought it to our house. Thank you, Christy! It was so good!

That was a lot of pictures.... but I know some little ones that will be thrilled to see each and every one of them! 

It's late and I know of a comfy bed upstairs that happens to be calling my name...Goodnight!

An Evening at the Ballpark

Greta sent me a text one day last week asking if I would be interested in some free tickets to a Lancaster Barnstormer's (our local minor league team) game. I asked her if she really didn't want them....I was told that Lynn finds baseball to be boring. Ok...we will take them =)

Tuesday evening was a lovely evening to spend at the ballpark. It was also a 'Burger for 2 bucks' night. Dale ate one, Ellen ate ice cream and I had a bottle of water.

 Batter up!


 Clipper Stadium is a beautiful park.
I was sad to see it so empty on Tuesday evening.


 Watching the game


 This fella causes many a giggle!

Ellen was thrilled to have him come our way!

************************************************************************

We are blessed to have some cooler weather. I have the windows open this morning! 

Today will be another fun day. I'll let you know about it tomorrow =)

Our Witmer Retreat was to be this week end. It all changed several weeks ago. My sister Rose, from GA, told us they would not be able to come. She is starting her first teaching job and has orientation this week. Her hubby had considered coming with 3 of their children but decided against it. We were all so sad about them not coming but understood. Then my sister Barb, from ID, decided she wouldn't come either. They are farmers and this is a busy time for them. Again, so sad but understood.

 Soooo, what to do? We decided to cancel our gathering at the school where we usually meet and just do some local activities. My sister Betty, from NH, is coming with her family. We siblings, along with our spouses and young children, will meet tomorrow evening for dinner. Then on Saturday all the Witmer's who can come, will spend time together at a lake and have dinner together in the neat little grove at our church. We will have our worship service on Sunday at the Community Hall where our precious Grandma Mary lives. After lunch at the hall, Betty and her family will head back to NH, and the rest of us from PA and DC will mosey back to our dwellings. It will be fun even though it's not how we had planned. We will desperately miss the ones that can't make it!!

Blessings to you today!


Monday, July 22, 2013

Happy Birthday, Kim!

38 years ago, I was holding our newborn daughter, the first of 5 daughters I would have (not that I knew that was to be on this particular day!). I surely was smiling from ear to ear. She was the cutest baby in the world....that I was sure of! She made me wait 2 weeks past her due date to enter this world. It was hot, I was miserable, I felt like I was going to be pregnant FOREVER!! So many good memories of being a new Mom. Nervous, of course, but totally delighted as well.

Pictures from the past - 

 Christmas 2005 


 Awww, 31 was good =)


 Long's Park -
playing cards with Laurencia and Andrew



 Kim is a wonderful Aunt -
if there's a baby to be held, she is on it!
Here she is with baby Zoe =)


 Aunt Kimmy (that's what they all call her) with Paityn


Little Paityn with Kim and Andrew




A more recent one - 

Proud Mama with her son, Andrew, and Hubby, Manny


I have so many cute baby pictures of Kim. But they are all up in the attic....

Our Kim is a wonderful Mom, a devoted wife, a fantastic sister and Aunt. She is so loved by all of us! 

Happy Birthday, Kim! We love you!!!

**************************************************************
Guess what - my little computer decided to connect to the Internet, for now anyway. I brought it to the desk where the router is located. Did that help? Who knows!! But I'm loving it because I have most of my pictures stored on this computer. I have lots of stuff to get off it before it decides to not ever work again. Yikes!



Sunday, July 21, 2013

Found Some Pictures

Using a large normal keyboard is STRANGE! I'm so used to my little computer. But, the little one seems to be going kaput. Couldn't connect to the Internet today =(

We had a great day. The family has gone home. I washed some dishes and watched a little TV. Then decided to check email. I have not opened email on this computer for a long time. Whew, it took a long while for all of them to load. Of course I deleted a whole bunch of them. I looked at a few that I had saved from several years ago. I found pictures that Marcy sent me. Precious pictures....

 That's me holding baby Aidan.
That's my Dad next to us!
Love it!!
 This is a typical picture of my Dad with a little one.
He loved to play with them.
I miss my Dad!

Little Paityn with Pop Pop.
That's our cat, Taz, with them!
Taz always liked Dale better than the rest of us =)

It's way too late for me to be up. Night, all!

Saturday, July 20, 2013

What a week!

Seems like  it was Monday and zip....it's Saturday! Ellen had another week of camp which made the week beyond busy. And, it was hot and humid in this part of the world which seemed to make each task so much harder. I don't mind the heat so much, the humidity can be brutal.

Ellen had a wonderful week. She went swimming, swept and planted flowers at a women's shelter, helped at an Alex's Lemon-aide stand where they raised over $600, and washed cars which brought in $200 for charity. Yesterday afternoon they went bowling. It was a surprise activity and she had a wonderful time.

Thursday evening was the family picnic. Oh my, it was a hot evening. We sat under the trees which usually is pleasant on a hot day. But on Thursday the weather was oppressive. We still had a good time.


 The hamburgers made over a charcoal fire are just the best. Everybody brings a drink or side dish to share. The camp provides the awesome cake for dessert. Yummy! Awards were given out, too.



We heard how Ellen was a super helper for the community projects.
She got the Community Helper Award!

Ellen had the most wonderful buddy this year.


Paige is a senior at Millersville U where she is studying Early Elementary Special Education. She and Ellen really bonded. She will stay in touch and will let us know of some activities the University is planning for special needs kids.

Ellen and Paige
After the cake was served it seemed like everyone high-tailed out of there to get home to air conditioned houses!!

Today at noon, Penn Cinema provided a special showing of the movie Monsters University for kids with sensory issues. Ellen does go see movies at times and is sort of ok. Loudness bothers her and the complete darkness can unnerve her. Today they left the lights up a bit and the sound was way down...to a comfortable level! It didn't matter to anyone attending if a kid made noises or talked. Everyone in the room understood! Ellen enjoyed the movie. It won't become a favorite of mine but it did have a good message of perseverance when all seems against you and that complacency is a big negative!

Because of the busy week, way too much needed done today. Laundry, dishes, cleaning....lots in all three areas! Tonight I'm finishing up the laundry, the dishes are done and the cleaning remains to be finished. I must do a quick wipe down in the kitchen and the half bath and sweep the entire downstairs. Should have had an iced coffee this afternoon! Up and at it......

Blessings to you!