Stauffer Camping 2014 - Part One

Last week was filled with a lot of work at my jobs and much preparation for the next big family event.  On Wednesday evening, while I was at praise team practice at Houserville, Dick was at home frying a LOT of breakfast sausages for our Saturday camping breakfast.  We've found it to be easier to do the sausages ahead of time and freeze them.  Then at camp we just throw all of them into a big cast iron pot that heats over the fire while Dick makes pancakes on two cast iron griddles.  Here's a pic of the sausages at home, but I did not get a picture of the pancake making this year.

Because Miki, Ingo, and Bjorn were in Lancaster County with my car, it took some careful planning to get packed up.  On Thursday evening Dick packed the tent, carpets, tarps, chairs, cast iron kettles, etc into the truck.  We were both so tired that evening, I was feeling like camping isn't worth all the hard work.  

On Friday morning I took him to work, ran some errands, then came home to make granola, blueberry sauce, and melon mix for our Saturday breakfast.  THEN I, by myself, packed everything else into the truck.  Just as the sun was beating down directly on it.  Bedding and towels for five people, cooking equipment,  food, guitar, coffee maker …..  I felt like superwoman, hahahaha!!  Because I knew I could not carry a loaded cooler chest by myself, I put the chest in the truck, then carried all the food out bit by bit to fill it!  I had already showered before I ever left the house in the morning, but I felt like I needed another one after all that.  But, alas, it was time to leave and pick Dick up at work.

We got a drive-up meal at McDonalds and headed for Camp Hebron near Harrisburg.   There were many Stauffers there already when we arrived, and the good times began.  There were a total of 38 this year, with about that many missing!   Here's our official group shot.

And the official silly shot.

Sitting around the campfire, just talking and laughing, even throwing a football back and forth, were some of the best times.

Austin liked standing in the smoke.

The fire at night.

Many fun hours were spent at the pool on Saturday.

Dick still likes to do his famous can opener off the diving board.  

Laura's seven-month-old Connor looked so cute in this floating device next to his grandpa Fred.

Austin had fun with a nerf water gun.

He also jumped off the diving board for the first time ever!

Sand volleyball was a good diversion for the energetic ones.

Ingo had fun in the water, then was sitting bare-chested in the sun without sunscreen.  He said he wants to go back to Sweden with a tan.  I said he'll go back to Sweden with a BURN.  Later I saw him like this, and he said he listened to mama!  He's so much fun!

Horseshoes was another favorite activity for the guys.  Later on Saturday Ray arrived and joined in the fun.

Gotta run now.  More pics on part two.

Our day in New York City

I am really glad this is now and not 24 hours ago.   I was probably about to go on the wildest ride of my life.  But let me start at the beginning.

Miki and I boarded the Megabus at our local Walmart just before 9 AM.  We knew we could have left on the 1:30 bus and still made JFK on time, but since it was the first trip to the airport for both of us, we felt better giving ourselves plenty of time.  We were armed with Lori's very well-written, very specific instructions.

The trip to New York City from  here is about five hours, which includes a one-half hour stop at a truck stop.  Miki and I couldn't get seats together, but I was right behind her.  The AC was really jacked up, so Miki figured out a way to take care of hers.  She rigged up a shield with paper and zip ties.  It really worked!  We realized later in the day that she had forgotten to take it down when we got off the bus!

The bus let us off just a block or so from Penn Station, where we needed to catch a train.  We had plenty of time to get some pizza at the food court.

We figured out how to get our tickets out of a machine, and we were off on the train to Jamaica Station.   From there we got the AirTrain that took us right to Terminal 1 at the JFK airport.  It really was quite easy.  Of course, Lori's written instructions were very helpful and so were other people.  

Once we were at the airport we settled in at a table at a little cafe.  I read my new book (which I will be telling you about before long) and Miki was doing all kinds of puzzles in a magazine she bought.  Occasionally we took little walks.  This was our view.

We expected Bjorn to arrive at 8:00, so at 7:30 we made our way down to the lower level where he would enter.  We were happy to see on the board that his flight was even expected a few minutes early.  But alas, the board soon said that his flight was waiting for a gate.  It continued to wait and wait and wait.  I kept looking at the clock and going over and over in my mind the connections we needed to make in order to get back to the Megabus, which was scheduled to leave at 11:05.  In my mind I was imagining missing the bus, and needing to spend the night in Penn Station.  That was not a happy thought.

Around 9:00 I texted Lori to tell her our situation and to ask for prayer.  She suggested we check how much it would cost to get a taxi all the way from the airport to the Megabus stop.  Miki did that, and was told it would cost $58 (plus tip, of course).  At that point, even $100 would have sounded better than missing the bus.  As it turned out, Bjorn did not come in until after 9:30.  We could not have made it back to the bus stop in time if we had taken the trains.  So we piled into a taxi and we were off on the ride of our lives.  Seriously.  I was not at all sure we would make it out alive!  One time we almost hit a biker, and our driver got out of the taxi to yell at the biker!  I tried to keep busy on my phone, but sometimes I covered my eyes!  

I forgot to say that when Bjorn greeted me he said, "You're littler than I remembered!"  I thought that was so funny.  He was only 12 the last time we saw each other.  Now he's a big, strapping 18-year-old.  

Our taxi driver got us to our bus stop in good time.   We got in line, then I guarded all Bjorn's luggage while he and Miki went to a nearby McDonald's.  The big boy was HUNGRY!

Then we were finally on the bus for home.  GREAT BIG SIGH OF RELIEF!!

I was able to sleep on both stretches of the trip.  We had the half hour stop in the middle again.  At 3:45 AM we pulled into the Walmart parking lot, and shortly after 4:00 we were home.  No socializing this time.  I made a bed for Bjorn on the sofa, and Miki and I were off to bed.  My alarm ringing at 7:30 was not a welcome sound!

Amazingly, I didn't feel too bad at work today.  Miki, Ingo, and Bjorn left today for Lancaster County. There is testing and appointments for Bjorn this week.  

This coming weekend is our annual Stauffer Camping at Camp Hebron near Harrisburg.  They will join us there.  Then next Monday Miki and Ingo return to Sweden.  That is going to be a sad day.  But there's too much to do to dwell on that, and more good times to be had!

Our weekend; Bjorn arrives today

Today Miki and I will be going to NYC by Megabus, then by train to JFK to meet her son Bjorn.  I'm a bit nervous, but Lori has written out very specific instructions for us on how to make all the connections.  Here's a picture of Bjorn taken by his dad at the airport in Sweden a few hours ago.   I'm so eager to see this big boy again after six years.

We had a fun weekend.  On Saturday morning we went to IHOP with Anthony and Lori for brunch.  Miki's face demonstrates how full we all were feeling by the end of the meal!

From there we went to see Anthony's studio.  Upstairs they had a nerf dart battle going on between the two lofts.  It was hilarious and Austin was in his glory!

I took Miki and Ingo to Bellefonte so they could experience the extreme roller coaster hills and the lovely park.

When we came home Miki and I mowed the yard while Ingo vacuumed the house.  (Dick missed all these things since he worked in the morning, then helped out at the Mommy Shoppe and mowed the grass at church.)  I was mowing and Miki was giving me a sip of water every time I passed her!

We had a cookout and ate on the side porch that evening.  The weather was just perfect, but I didn't get any pictures.

On Sunday morning we went to both churches.  I thought Miki and Ingo looked so nice and wanted to take a picture of them before we left.  Getting a normal picture of them is harder than getting one of a child, haha!  They just MUST be goofy!

Finally!!

At both churches Miki and Ingo sang the song Hungry with me and did some of it in Swedish.  Here's the video Dick took at Houserville.  It looks a bit drunken at first until he found the right place to stand.

We took good Sunday afternoon naps then spent the evening at Anthony's by the camp fire.  Again, no pictures.

And now I need to run to catch a bus.  Prayers for us today will be most appreciated!

Life after the family reunion

Saturday morning already!  Yes, there has been life after the family reunion, ha!  Dick and I came home Sunday evening, because we had jobs to return to.  Miki and Ingo stayed in Lancaster County for three days at Dick's brother Fred's place.  Miki had a good friend to catch up with and wanted to show Ingo her "roots".  The other really important item of business was preparing things for Bjorn's arrival.

Yes, Bjorn is moving from Sweden to Manheim, PA for his senior year of high school!  As some of you long-time readers may remember, he's a great lover of American football and has come to the States a couple of times to international football camps.  He will be living with Fred and Deb Stauffer and attending Manheim Central High School and, hopefully, playing some football with their traditionally winning team.  Both Frank and Ray played football for Manheim Central in the 1990's, so we have fond memories and an undying support for that team.   Our huge regret is that we do not live there anymore.  But we will do everything we can to stay in close touch with him, get to games, have him up here when possible.   Of course, he could have lived with us in this little house,  but unfortunately, our house is in the  Bellefonte School District, and their football team loses almost every game.  I'm sorry to have to say that out loud, haha!

On Wednesday, Miki and Ingo returned here.  They went along with us to praise team practice at Houserville in the evening, and afterward we introduced them to Penn State's Berkey Creamery.  I have never seen it so uncrowded.  Summer athletic camps have not yet begun, I suppose.  The weather was just PERFECT for sitting outside.

On Thursday afternoon, for the second week in a row, I dropped Miki off at Michael's while I taught piano lessons.  Apparently craft stores in Sweden do not quite compare!  She's like a kid in a candy store.  This past weekend Sophie introduced her to "looming", the latest fad craft with tiny, colorful rubber bands.  So Miki got herself some looming paraphernalia on Thursday, and as soon as dinner was over, she was engrossed in her new passion.

Her first creation - a very colorful turtle!

Last evening they wanted to take us out to eat, and Texas Roadhouse was our choice.  Their warm, soft rolls with cinnamon butter are the most comforting of comfort foods I can think of!  The fun, Western atmosphere is also very enjoyable.  Miki and Ingo were thinking how much fun it would have been to have their Western-themed wedding party at a location like this.  When we left I said, "I just love this place, even better than Outhouse."  Ooooops!!!  I guess it's OutBACK and RoadHOUSE, not the other way around, hahahahaha!!  Of all things, our sweet little waitress said she is 80% Swedish!  So Ingo gave her some Swedish money as a tip.  Don't worry, we also tipped her with American money!

Afteward we stopped in at Anthony and Lori's.  Anthony and Austin were in the process of doing "the most Redneck thing I've ever done" - Anthony's words.  There was a bee's nest at the roofline of the house, just above where we do the campfire.  He lit a fire so the smoke would rise to the nest, then was using a soft pellet pistol to try to knock the next apart.  Austin was cheering as pieces of the nest fell down.  Hilarious!

We hung out for a little while, but my cell phone pictures turned out horrible.  

Gotta run!  Lots more fun stuff to do today!

Dick and Jean Stauffer Family Reunion - part three

On Sunday we had our second family day at Sam and Jenn's place.  Destiny and J'von were not able to be there, but all the rest of us were there.  We had leftovers from the day before and ordered some pizzas.  I also made some of my peanut butter rice krispie treats since the cookies had gotten pretty well demolished on Saturday.  We really did not have any agenda except to relax and be together.  Sam and Jenn's place was the perfect place for that, and we had a wonderful time.

I'm saving two pictures for last.  And they have a back story that I must tell first.  And before I even tell the back story, let me say that I am well aware that there are many differences among my readers, family, and friends regarding the use of alcohol.  I have no issue with any of them.  I personally have no desire to drink alcohol.  

Twelve plus years ago Jeremy won a weekend for two at a hotel at the beach, complete with meals and complimentary champagne.  He gave that weekend to Dick and me.  When we arrived at the hotel the champagne was waiting for us.  I honestly did not know if it was an alcoholic beverage or not!  So we called Jeremy to ask him.  He told us it indeed was.   So we did not open it.  Well, it totally cracked him up that we had to call and ask, and he immediately called Lisa and Anthony to tell them.  They thought it was such a hoot and said he should have told us it was not alcoholic.  

We told them afterward that we were going to save that bottle of champagne for a real celebration.  We would not open it until we had all seven children together!  I remember the evening before my dad's funeral in 2009 when everyone except Miki was at our Lititz house.   We mentioned that bottle of champagne, and Frank said,  "Call Miki!  How long do you think it would take her to get here?"  

So now in 2014 when Miki told us that she and Ingo would be coming over here for their honeymoon, Lisa called to figure out when would be the best weekend for them to come up over that time, and we started working on our plans.  And we DID bring that 12-year-old bottle of champagne!  

Oh the laughter and jokes as we got it out and uncorked it.  There was almost no fizz and it tasted absolutely sour and horrible!  It was the thought that counted, haha!  And the wonderful reality that we were ALL together.  

Around 3:00 Thyda and Ray needed to leave.  She had to drive back to Virginia Beach, and before they left we had prayer together, thanking the Lord that we had all been able to be together, that we had all had traveling safety to get there, and asking Him for the same as we again went our separate ways.  

  Lisa and George's wedding in July 1998 was the last time we were all together!  I do hope and pray we will not need to wait another sixteen years!