On Wednesday I made our favorite chicken noodle soup and then got some crusty bread and a birthday cake and ice cream at Wegmans. Dick's birthday would be on Thursday, but since we would have choir practice that evening we were having his cake the evening before. I picked up Hunter from daycare and headed over to their place. Dick came right after work. Lori had a meeting after work, so we had some time to relax while we waited for her. Dick took Hunter for a walk outside, and when I looked out the window I saw this.
Anthony decided to follow them and take some pictures for me.
He was having so much fun putting pine cones into the holes in this tree!
When Lori arrived, Hunter got into the car with her and "helped" her to drive up the hill.
Meanwhile Austin could not be lured away from this detailed Lego project.
Then we had dinner and Dick's birthday cake and ice cream. Dick's favorite ice cream has always been black cherry, so I try to always get that for his birthday.
So Thursday was Dick's 68th birthday. He was gone before I woke up, off to the Y to play basketball before work. I went to my Bible study at Calvary. On my way home I called him at work and asked if he'd like to go to Sowers Harvest Cafe for lunch. They have their delicious burgers on Thursdays only. So I picked him up and took him out for lunch! The cafe was very busy, but those burgers were worth the wait. He got the Sowers BBQ Burger, I got the Bleu Moon Burger - both of them delicious and filling.
Of course he had Happy Birthday sung to him at choir practice that evening.
On Friday evening Anthony and Lori wanted to take him out for his birthday, so since the Blue and White game meant that restaurants in State College would be packed, we decided we would go over the mountain to Doan's Bones BBQ.
When I arrived at their place Anthony and Austin were outside, so I decided to walk around and do a picture tour to welcome Spring.
Austin seldom takes in the "big picture." He's too busy looking intently for precious stones!
His attention to detail is just unbelievable. When we went into the house he pulled out a big tote and began to show me his recent origami creations.
And here is the end result of the Lego project he had begun just two days prior!
Finally we all piled into our van for the trip over the mountain. It's just a ten minute drive, five minutes up one side and five minutes down the other side, haha!
Ahhhh. Surely a sign of spring when we go to Doan's Bones. We were all so happy to be there again, and we had a wonderful time. They had their portable outdoor pizza oven going.
Austin was immediately occupied by this peg game. And he did not want Anthony to teach him any tricks or strategies. He wanted to figure them out for himself.
Hunter says, "Bring me some FOOD!"
I get the same thing every time - the Dam Fish Sandwich and fries. Now I'm hungry just looking at this picture!
Dick got the "Doanyard" - a bed of fresh cut fries smothered in Doan's BBQ baked beans and topped with pulled pork. Huge portions! We each got a take-home box and enjoyed some of it the next day.
We had one more treat. Driving up their private road we saw these deer. They stood there and grazed for the longest time even with our headlights on them. They are not easily spooked at all.
Austin came home with us overnight because he found out that we have some peg games at our house too. I'm not sure how he's gotten to be 9 years old before we thought of getting them out for him.
I didn't take any pictures on Saturday I guess (aren't you glad?) Austin was here with me until mid afternoon when he and Dick went over to hike in the woods with Anthony.
On Sunday morning I took a couple of pictures at church. There was a baby dedication.
The pastor's story for the children involved a monopoly board. That was so cute.
Our choir did a new (to us) song - Aaron Shust's My Savior, My God, featuring the pastor's wife Trina as soloist, and complete with piano, bass, guitar, and flute. Such a good song, and they did a good job too.
From there we went to the service at Calvary and brought the boys home with us afterward. It was a BEAUTIFUL day. Even my daffodils and the first tulip were happy about it.
Hunter had already taken a nap all the way through the church service, so he was raring to go after lunch. He's getting to be a force to reckon with when the boys tussle on the floor. So far Austin loves it.
Way too much energy for indoors, so to airport park we went.
Hunter took off on a walking path as soon as we got out of the car, so Dick went with him. Austin noticed a mound of stones near the parking lot, so he needed to go up and examine that first.
Just as we started walking to the park we heard someone calling. We looked back and there were Hunter and Grandpa!
Everything was new and fun for Hunter, but I think Austin started to realize that he might be outgrowing the thrill of this park. There really isn't anything that challenges him anymore.
Hunter was delighted to climb the steps to the "air traffic control tower."
But Austin had to find a more challenging way to get up there, so he scaled the pole.
They both enjoyed this swing.
From there we were planning to go hiking on a trail, but Hunter seemed to be getting tired, so we instead went to a parking lot along the trail and had some creek fun. See the tiny beginnings of green in the trees? Woohoo!!!
Hunter is still pretty sweet and docile, but he's beginning to show more and more signs of being a two-year-old, haha! Like deciding to walk a different way.....
...or maybe not walk at all! We weren't sure if he was tired or doing business, hahaha!!
Hunting for treasure.
Some of Austin's creek finds.
I love the sound of rushing water.
We went back to our house then for Hunter's nap and Austin's dessert. I told him he was wearing camouflage!
After Hunter's nap we took the boys home. Their small group was still in session so we hung out at the pond for a while. Austin is always trying to catch frogs. Dick got a fish in the net. Hunter just threw a lot of little stones into the stream.
Austin showed off his swinging skills.
And now we're into our weekday work routine and rainy, cooler weather. And if you stayed with me through all these pics, have a good week!!
