~California Trip, Post 1~

This vacation is probably a once in a life time trip for our family.  We used Gregg's frequent flyer miles so our flights were basically free.  We used a time share type deal to get a really good rate on our resort stay.  Packing up eight people to fly across country is exhausting... but we had a good time. I'm not planning on doing this again again time soon though!

This was Kiersten's first time flying.  We left our house about 4:30 am Saturday morning.

We finally got some breakfast in Chicago... although most of us ate lunch items!

Kiersten was very relaxed on our flight from Chicago to San Francisco.  We only had an hour layover but things went very well in our traveling.  We landed with bright sunshine!

Our first stop was Fisherman's Wharf for some clam chowder in sour dough bread bowls.

It was chilly and windy outside, but I was determined to be out in the sun.

We hit Pier 39 to see the Sea Lions and did a very little bit of window shopping.

Alcatraz

We saw a few street performers but were not impressed with most of them... kinda creepy.

Our next stop was the Golden Gate Bridge.

They often have bad weather roll in and Saturday night was no exception.  It got very cloudy and cold as evening approached.

We made it about 1/3 the way walking across the bridge and turned back.  We headed to our hotel and crashed... still on east coast time!

I think we fit a lot into our first day.  There were several things we didn't get to do in San Francisco... but we had seen enough. Us country folk were ready to get out into nature!

~30 Hour Date~

Gregg and I haven't been away together since our 10th Anniversary.  Since we are nearing our 20th... I thought it was about time to get away again!

Nathan and Kiersten were especially excited!  They really were anxious to spend the night at Grammy and Grandpa's house.  They had a lot of fun and can't wait to stay there again!

Our first stop, after dropping the kids off,  was for fuel.  It was way to tempting to be at a Sheetz and not grab a coffee, so I splurged and ran inside.  Gregg's favorite drink is a Throwback Mountain Dew, I decided to treat him as well.

Gregg has been to Mutschlers' before, but I wasn't with him.  I love visiting greenhouses this time of year.  They are warm, bright and alive!  This place was just beautiful!  A was a mini "Longwood Gardens" :-)

I use Agave as a sweetener... look kinda like aloe!

Just lovely!

many different kinds of bonsai too!

We decided to do a little shopping, then headed to a new to us restaurant. The Olive Tree Greek Grill was delicious!  Everything was bursting with taste.

These were our appetizers!  We got lots of food so we didn't have to cook Saturday lunch.  I enjoyed everything but the stuffed grape leaves.

Gregg had an assortment of grilled meats and I had monk fish. My dish was very good but I did enjoy the grilled meats more!

We even splurged on dessert.

After dinner, we headed to Wegmans.  That grocery store is so much fun to visit.  Gregg wanted to see the famously expensive mushrooms called "truffles."  We found these black blobs in the cheese case.  Since they were in a truffle dish I assumed that is what they were.

A very nice employee came over and we asked him about them.  They grow underground by tree roots and pigs find them and dig them out.  They are very strong in flavor and are mostly used in pasta and cheese dishes.  He gave us a taste of oil infused with the truffles on some Parmesan.  It was very good... but at $1000 a pound, I don't think we will be buying any.  He did explain that each mushroom is only $10 -  $20 because of their weight.

We spent the night and most of the next day at a very nice cabin in the woods.  We will not be waiting another ten years to go away ☺It was so relaxing to be in a very clean and very quite cabin!

~Bucket List - Zip Lining~

I have been wanting to go ziplining for a few years now.  I am not a big fan of heights but it looked like so much fun!  Last year for Christmas I gave my parents a zip line trip.  We finally got a date in November that worked.  It was cold but very fun!

We were getting suited up.  Jordan went along with us.

All ready to go!

The lines were really long!  It may sound funny but it was relaxing.  You are only holding on to keep yourself straight and upright.  All your weight is on the harness seat.

You can see two other tree stand in this photo.  They have a zip line with seven lines and they also have a challenge course with rope climbing.

I think it would look really neat in the summer.

We all had a great time.  The first jump off was the hardest... after that it was all fun.

I went off backwards on one and Jordan and I went upside down on one.  Upside down was definitely fun!  I can't wait to go again!

~Haycreek Festival~

I don't always go to the Haycreek Festival... but I wanted to go again this year.  Kiersten and Nathan are at such good ages for this!  A friend of mine went along which was a great big help!  The boys brought a friend along too so it was an all day party.  The boys had a great time going off by themselves this year.

Kiersten was finally old enough to make a rope!  Next year, we will not be standing in the hour long line!!!

Everyone needs a friend like Kristi :-)  We are collecting crazy photos of us as we are out and about.  We both work with the youth group and the single mom kids. In general, we enjoy the same types of things.  It takes both of us to equal one "responsible adult" and we like it that way.

The whole gang.  You have to look hard to find Aaron in the front bush and the photo bomber in the back is actually Josiah... he was with us.

~Knoebels - Part Two~

We splurged and took the kids to Knoebels in June.  I thought that was it for the summer but we were invited by friends to go again the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.  I thought it would be way to crowded and Gregg already made plans to go to a race.

Well, I ended up taking the kids with the understanding they had to help pay for the tickets.  It was crowded but wasn't as bad as I was expecting.

I spent a few hours riding with Kiersten (she is a few inches too short for the big rides) but a few rides I couldn't do... like the spinning ones.  Jordan road this one with her☺

We had about a dozen riders and filled the whole Skloosh boat.  The rest of the group road it several times and got soaked.  I only road once but I was still damp the rest of the day.  

I didn't ride very many things and was very content to watch everyone else.

We packed a picnic lunch and bought some pizzas for supper.  It was so crowded that even at 8pm there were few seats available. Twelve of us tried to fit at a table for 8... haha!  Two of us moved and the kids squished.

Our last ride before the 2+ hour drive home.  Arrived home a little after 1 am... long day for this mama!  I am thankful Gregg normally does the driving.

~Mexico Missions Trip - The End~

Friday was rough... you say goodbye at the mission, you say goodbye at the airport and you travel All. Day. Long.  Seriously.  I think we left the mission around 5 am and didn't get back to the church until 9:30 pm.  That was a long day.  

We did have a lovely sunrise :-)

We had good flights and all our baggage made it through.  The three hours back to church was about to push us over the edge.  Thankfully, we stopped for some cold drinks... that helped.

The challenge at the beginning of the week was "NOW." God has you here on this trip now for a reason.  Monday's message was along the same lines.  "This is the day the Lord has made." If God made this day and I am here on this day, He has a plan for me... am I doing it!?!?  I was delighted to find this at our local Farmer's Market after my trip...

Isn't that just perfect!  What a great reminder!

Here are the treasures I brought home for my family...

Jared and Aaron got pocket knives... stilettos

Eric and Nathan got whips... ouch!

Kiersten got some cool clay dishes

Of course, Jordan and I picked up a few t-shirts from our journey.