My birthday weekend

Lots of things to tell about!  And lots of pictures to share.

Here's a cute picture of Austin.  He stayed with me on Saturday while Dick was helping Anthony with a barn project and Lori was raking leaves.  Can you even imagine what a job that is??

Sunday was my 64th birthday.  We went to our two church services, then left immediately for Lancaster County.  My sister Barb and her husband John were in from Idaho, so we had a mini sibling gathering.  First order of business was pictures, of course.  

Mary Ellen, Grandma Mary, Dick and Nancy, Dick and I, Barb and John, Doris and Dale. 

Five of eight siblings in age order.  If the others had been there, Janet, the first born, would be on Dick's right, and Betty and Rose would be on Barb's left.  Mary Ellen, Doris, and I are the short ones in the family.  Barb's husband joked that those must have been the lean years, hahaha!

The men spent time outside while the women sat and did some catching up in Nancy's spacious living room. 

I was busy buttering rye bread and prepping for grilled cheese sandwiches - my contribution to the meal.  

Nancy set a lovely table.  We had cream of tomato soup, potato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, a meat and cheese platter for other sandwiches, rice krispie treats, pumpkin bars, apple pie, pumpkin pie, two flavors of ice cream.  And of course, LOTS of talking and laughing!

Before we left I went to my brother's office to check out his trophy display.  He LOVES to compete in tractor pulls and does very, very well.

Here's a great picture of him doing what he loves to do.

From there we went to Sam and Jenn's.  Sam's birthday is the day after mine, so I was hoping we could go out to celebrate our birthdays together.  But he was suffering from a sinus cold and I was STUFFED and sleepy from my big day, so we just hung out at their place. 

Sammy couldn't wait to take me to the basement to show me his Halloween decorations.  He just LOVES decorations!

The kids played and entertained! This little Miss B is turning into quite a personality!  She is just so cute and funny and energetic!

Sammy got behind the bar and took our orders!

For some reason Bianca loves to stand on this frisbee, as though it were home base or something!

Unfortunately, Dick had to work Monday, so he needed to say his goodbyes and drive back to State College.  I had business to take care of on Monday, so I didn't go back home with him. 

Monday morning was the usual hustle and bustle for Sam and Jenn.  I took this picture of the kids ready to leave for daycare and happened to also get this hilarious shot of Sam and Jenn hurrying!!  

These kids just melt my heart into a puddle!

The business I had to take care of was the purchase of this minivan.  

I have had "minivan on the brain" ever since my sisters were here this summer.  Until we realized that my sister Betty was coming in her minivan, we thought that we were going to have to do all our gadding about in two separate vehicles, which would have been TERRIBLE!!  I could not stand the thought of missing out on the conversations in the other car, hahaha!!

And then when Sam and Jenn were here for a weekend in October I realized that even they and us cannot travel together to Anthony and Lori's place, because all our vehicles have just five seat belts.  

In September my friend Lisa Miller in Lititz started advertising their Toyota Sienna minivan on Facebook.  I thought, "Wow, that would be nice."  Later that month Dick said that he will not be able to put an inspection sticker on my Buick until we get the rust underneath fixed.  Hmmm.

The body and frame shop did not have time to look at my car until the end of October.  So I was driving all over the place with an expired inspection sticker!   Sometime during October I saw that Lisa Miller advertised their minivan again at a lower price.  Dick and I talked about it, but decided to find out how much it would cost to get my car fixed.  

Finally, last Tuesday my car got checked out.  The verdict was that there was so much rust they would not fix it.   I felt discouraged.  What were the chances that the Millers would have the minivan anymore?  I asked Dick if I should check with them,  and he said I should. 

They DID still have it!  In fact, they had just drastically reduced the price!  Dick asked a lot of questions and felt very good about its condition and reliability.  So we told them we would be buying it.  She said they had been totally puzzled as to why they were having trouble selling something in such good condition and could only assume that God had someone in mind for it.  Thank you, Lord, for keeping it for us!!!

On Monday morning Jenn took me to meet Lisa Miller at AAA in Lititz to do the transfer, and then to their place to get my new wheels!  

Later, after eating at Arbys near Ephrata, I came outside and thought,  "Oh great, I am going to have to remember what car I am now looking for in a parking lot, so I don't crawl into the wrong one with the wrong man, as I have been known to do!"  How many of you remember that story????

I drove to Reading first to spend some time with Destiny after school.  I took her and her boyfriend Jonathan to McDonalds.  We had a fun time together, as we always do.  

And then I drove the three hours home.  I LOVE this minivan!!  Not a bad birthday gift, is it??