~Knoebels~

Friends of ours invited us to join them at Knoebels last Monday.  The weather was perfect and the park wasn't too busy. We had a great day... for the most part :-)

One of the earliest rides we road, was the Statosphere.  Bad decision on my part!  It looked simple. You go up, you go down.  I don't really like heights but I thought the way I was sitting it would be fine. You don't have to look down.  It was beautiful from the top!

Well, 148 feet is a lot higher than I thought it was.  The drop down was a lot faster than I though it would be.  Most of us were shaking when we got off the ride.  Some of the kids liked it... crazy.  I have never been so scared in my life!  I can't believe Nathan and Eric liked it!

I enjoyed watching the kids on a lot of the rides.  Aaron and Josiah spun 23 times in a row... thinking they did really well, they found out the record was over 180!

Jordan and Jared got stuck upside down on this one for awhile.

Some rides the big kids did for the little kids enjoyment

Nathan and Kiersten loved riding with Miss Erin and her family.  Fun is so much better when shared with others ☺

Their own little coaster!

They road this after they had ridden the Phoenix about 8 times.  You literally had to hold Kiersten on the Phoenix... she would have flown right out!

They had their hands raised on the coasters and waved at all the people.  Silly kids.

Kiersten went on the flume several times with dad. Most of the time, I sat in front of her and blocked the splash.

I didn't go the last time...  

We enjoyed a picnic lunch and a pizza supper.  It started raining around 8:30.  We ended up spending an hour at the bumper cars.  One of three rides still running... in a thunderstorm... with an electric roof... and a metal floor!  Makes sense to me.  We had a great time!  No one was leaving, it was raining too hard.  They just got out and ran around to get on again.  We were all friends by the time they kicked us out.

On our way back to the car... boys will be boys...

Josiah spotted and caught this frog.  Aaron wanted to bring him home for dinner.

It was a great day!  Thankful for friends and fun days!

~Church Fellowship~

Friday night was a church fellowship.  There was something for everyone... I was overjoyed to just sit around taking pictures :-)

The kids played big ball volley ball

while the teens played their beloved frisbee football

The kids enjoyed a few really good rounds of tug a war

While the teens played frisbee football

the kids played kickball until the boys reached 56 runs!

and it was way past dark until the teens were done playing frisbee football :-)

There were indoor board/card games for some of the adults and other adults just sat and visited.  There were also plenty of snacks.  It was a beautiful evening!

~DC Trip~

I enjoy helping out with our church youth group.  I don't get to do everything with them because of my own families needs, but when I can... I do!

They enjoy a senior trip every spring.  It is for the 16-18 year olds.  Most of our kids are home schooled and most grades are flexible so we go by age.  This year they voted to go to DC for the day. They also chose the Library of Congress, The Holocaust Museum and the Zoo.

We got up around 4:30 and left around 5:30.  We drove down to the metro station in Maryland and road in on the train.  Our first stop was the Library.  I really wish we could have gone in the actual library, but we could only view it.  It was a beautiful building !

The back side of the capital was across the street from the library.

The teens and one adult in front of the library.  Several teens couldn't make it... I think we have ten total in this age group.  That thought makes me sad... they will be gone before I know it :-(  But the ratio six kids to four adults was pretty fun for this trip.

Our view of the library.

While we were walking around the library, our fearless leader went ahead to the Holocaust Museum to get our tickets.  We had tickets to get in between 10 and 11... I left a half hour to get from one place to the other... and we barely made it!  

The building was very busy.  There was a lot of reading, several videos and other listening stations.  I think we were there for 2 hours, but I could have stayed longer.  It was a little overwhelming and a bit depressing.  I really wish we could have taken pictures inside, but that was not allowed.

We saw the Washington Monument on our way back to the train station.  Look at that beautiful sky!

Lunch break!!!

Our next stop was the zoo.  The whole reason I lugged my big camera down there.  I am so glad I had it  :-)

We stayed later than we planned and had a long metro ride back to our van.  (those all day metro passes were great!) 

We drove half way home and stopped at Cracker Barrel for supper.  Most of us ended up eating breakfast.. it was so yummy! We didn't get back to church until 11:30.  That was a really long day!  The teens were dragging and the adults were still going strong... how did that happen!?!?!

I had a lot of fun on my mini vacation.

~19 years~

It is hard to believe I have been married for 19 years. It didn't seem like we were going to fit anything "special" into our schedule so I made some plans.  Last Friday night, Jordan and Jared were at youth group and I put the rest of the kids in the living room with a movie.  I made a pretty spot out back for Gregg and I to enjoy our meal.  I found some Christmas lights and hung them with lanterns. Kiersten was upset at first that she couldn't eat with us, but when I told her she could help decorate that made it all better.

The kids enjoyed their movie and we got to eat dinner without interruptions ☺

I even made a strawberry rhubarb pie for the occasion.

~First Swim~

May 13... a beautifully sunny day and the kids want to swim.  

Um... guys, do you know it is only 70 degrees in the pool!??!?!?!

 

They were not in for too long, but they loved it!