We simply could not make up our minds on what or where to go?.? We thought about going to the shore because we did not do that as a family this summer. (I guess the two weeks of the beautiful Florida beaches in February was enough for our family this year. Nothing beats breaking up a hard winter with the sunny south!!!) We thought about going to a resort with a water park. We considered going to the mountains. But nothing seemed to be "just perfect". Mike kept saying, "Let's just do something here at home with Matt's." So that's what we did!!!
Friday we had Hunter for the day. Him and Ashlyn played so well together! When Mike came home from work, we took a vote as of where to go for supper. Red Robin won! Matthew loves burgers so it was easy for him to chose off the menu. Mike was still on his "no bread, no sugar" diet - in hopes it would help his allergies. He ordered a burger wrapped in lettuce. The girls & I ate salad and chicken. The meal was good and on the way back home, we swung by red box for a movie. The two options we picked were not the greatest ... so we found out. We did have Finding Nemo in our own family library and because that seems to be a family favorite, we all snuggled together for a fun show! I can't believe it but the few times I sat down to watch this movie, I never seem to be able to watch the whole thing! Else the kids started the movie awhile and then I joined them not knowing the beginning or like Friday night, I finally watched the beginning but feel asleep for the ending! Oh well.
Saturday came and Hadassah and I decided to go looking for yard sales in the morning. We seen a few advertised in Blue Ball but we had no clue it was going to be tons and tons of people and yard sales everywhere! We found out that it was "Blue Ball Days". Perfect! We shopped but only bought a few items. No big finds for us. However, our favorite egg roll lady was in town, so we grabbed a box of hot egg rolls and rice and called it breakfast and lunch! :) (There is a lady and her husband that go to developments around our area and sell egg rolls when there are yard sales. We love that she always wears a hat, because we know that she makes the best!!! Look for the egg roll lady that wears a hat if your a yard saler! She makes the best!) When we got back home, Mike, Matthew and Ashlyn all grabbed for the egg rolls and rice too!!! Mike played a round of golf that afternoon. The kids did a terrific job at washing the Yukon inside and out!!! At 5 PM, we picked up Matt, Lena & Hunter and went over to Lititz for supper. We hoped to walk around the town and explore but our dinner got late. The food was good and we enjoyed some fresh brewed root beer! We came back here and played Rummy O. Hadassah loves this game but was really tired and opted to sleep instead. The games lasted till midnight! What a blast!
Sunday, we went to church and ended up in the parking lot talking about what to do on the warm afternoon?. Shall we swim? Take naps? Sit in the hammock? We decided to first grab some lunch at home and then make a group text. An hour later, storm clouds rolled in and gave us some rain. The grass drank it up in a hurry! There went the ideas of doing something outside. Meanwhile, we decided to stick to our original plans and go to Matt's for chicken and homemade ice cream! We took a walk down to the neighboring pond and around the elderly retirement homes when we got blasted with another rain storm. We went running back to the house. Pushing strollers. The children else were crying or laughing. We got soaked to the bone! Everyone got dry and changed clothes. We then settled in for more games in the basement. I was glad for our afternoon naps because it was past midnight again till we got to bed!!!
We've been wanting to go biking with the kids for awhile now and planned to do that on Monday. Again, Matt's joined us! We loaded up the bikes behind the trucks and drove (which seemed like forever) to Manor Township to ride the rail trails. (We know now how the best route is to get to this place!!!) We packed a picnic lunch to eat along the way. The weather was warm and humid. Hunter and Ashlyn loved the baby seats behind their daddy's bikes! We biked a 1 1/2 miles and stopped to eat our lunch. Then we biked the rest of the 5 mile rail trail. We looked at the river beside us. We laughed. We peddled. Our butts and legs were sore. :) We took a little break before riding the 5 mile trail back again. Ashlyn even feel asleep on the way back! We were just loading the bikes back on the trucks when it started to rain. Perfect timing except now Mike started to sneeze! Stopping for some ice cream seemed to fit the mood and so we all went to Strasburg Creamery for ice cream cones and hot fudge sundays! The rain had stopped and the sun shone warm again! Making one more stop at the Adidas tent sale was enough to make us all ready for showers and home! Thanks Matt and Lena & Hunter for making fun memories with us this weekend! It really did seem like a vacation right here at home. Except that we didn't need to pay for our lodging!!! Again, perfect!!! Our family all sat down for one more game of Rummy O before we had devotions and early to bed! The kids were all tucked in bed before 8:30 and a long nights rest was energizing for all of us this morning. Now the kids are back to school. Mike is back to work. Ashlyn and I are back to grocery shopping and folding laundry!!!
This little man is ready for his bike ride! :)
Matthew couldn't wait to use his new bike on this rail trail! He loved it!
Eating veggie chips on the way ... :).
We went 1/2 mile and stopped to see a trail car.
Here we go again.
Water coming down from the steep rocks was neat. Mike and I had such a blast!!!
When we went the first 5 miles, we viewed the river.
Then headed back again.
She loved the ride and even fell asleep on the way back.
We ended the day with an ice cream treat!!! Summer time is the best!!!
This Labor Day Weekend here at home was super fun!!! Thank you God for all our friends, family and blessings!!! We are so blessed!!!
