Middle-of-the-week fun - Elizabethtown Fair, Hershey Park, El Rodeo

On Tuesday, after my blogging fail (see previous post - I did fix it today, by the way!) I got my stuff packed up and hit the road for Destiny's place.  When I arrived around 5:30 Destiny said she was hoping we could go to the Elizabethtown Fair.  She has good memories of going to the Manheim Farmshow with us when she was younger, and the Elizabethtown Fair is like a smaller version of that.  

So we headed there and met up with our friend Linda Roser.  It was hot! Elizer loved the sheep, goats, and alpacas.  

There were lots of food choices.  I had to get my usual fair food - funnel cake.  One stand offered pumpkin funnel cake, but I wasn't sure I would like that, so I stuck with the traditional.  I can't remember what Linda and Destiny got.  I took this sweet picture of Elizer while we were waiting for Destiny's food.  One leg tucked up I guess!  

Before we left for home we walked by the bounce house which had no line, so Destiny got in there with Elizer.  He LOVED it!!  They were allowed to stay in as long as they wanted since there was no one waiting.  Before they got out he had figured out pretty well how to jump up and down without falling!

On Wednesday morning we left for Hershey Park around 11:00.  It was a REALLY hot day!!  Destiny had a big Hershey Park cup from two years ago which we took along, and after we got there she bought another one.  I used the old one and was able to have it filled for $1.00 as many times as I wanted.  The new one could be scanned at one of the many "filling stations" around the park and could be filled as many times as they wanted for free!  What a great way to stay hydrated on such a hot day!

We were disappointed that there were not many rides that an adult and a child as young as Elizer could be on together.  I had hoped to do that while Destiny and Alex went on the wilder rides.  We did enjoy getting wet, especially at the wave pool.  But I have no pictures of that since I was in the water. 

I took Elizer on the train while Destiny and Alex went on a ride, then Destiny joined us for another trip around the track.  It was so relaxing and cooler.  

We got a really delicious meal at a BBQ place which had a pavilion with overhead fans.  That was a great respite from the heat, but again no pictures!

Then Destiny and Alex went on a really crazy ride while Elizer and I found a shady spot to sit and watch. 

Last of all we went on the carousel.  Elizer LOVED it!!  Especially seeing himself in the mirror!  I think he liked the music too!

There were a few unbelievable snafus, but thankfully they all worked out much better than we had feared.  At one point we realized we no longer had the diaper bag!  So we walked all the way to the lost and found security office at the front gate.  Destiny and Alex described it in very accurate detail.  There was one possible place we had left it - at the wave pool at the way back part of the park!  I had changed Elizer's diaper there and possibly forgot to put it back onto the stroller.  Alex thought we had had it since then.  The security guy called someone back at the wave pool, described the bag, and in no time at all they found it!  Someone would bring it to the office via golf cart.  So although we waited a long time, at least we were in air conditioning.  However, we had no food for Elizer, because his snacks were in the diaper bag.  We did have drinks on the stroller, thankfully.  Just as he was getting pretty fussy, a lady arrived with the diaper bag!

The other snafu was when we started eating our BBQ in the pavilion later.  Destiny and Alex realized that they did not have their cell phones!  They used my phone to call Destiny's phone (I come up as "Grandma") and a guy answered!  He did indeed have both their phones!  Alex took off with my phone to go meet up with him.  While he was gone I said to Destiny, "Here we sit with no phone at all.  If something happens to Alex we can't even call anyone."  Horrible thought.  So we were really relieved when Alex came back with all three phones, haha!  The guy had found theirs on the bench where Alex had been sitting with Elizer while Destiny and I were ordering the BBQ!  

We decided at that point that we'd had enough adventures and headed for the exit!   The park would close at 7 pm anyway.  I got this picture as we were leaving.  

We had a long, hot walk to the car.  My air conditioned van never felt so good!  Destiny's shoulders were really sunburned, so we stopped at CVS in Elizabethtown to get aloe vera gel on the way home.   Showers felt really good after we got to their house!  I felt like I should have lost ten pounds from walking and sweating!

On Thursday we hung out and got some things done around their place.  I got this cute picture.  I love seeing Alex on the floor playing with Elizer. 

  

He's learning new things all the time and it's so fun.  He waves goodbye, says "hi" and waves, nods his head yes at appropriate times, so we know that he knows what it means.  Just adorable!  And of course "Dada" and "Mama."

Destiny works five days a week, and these were her two days off, so we decided to go somewhere to eat before I left for home.  They agreed on Mexican food.  We had a really nice time.  Elizer sat in a high chair most of the meal and was flirting with the server, always turning around to see where she was.  

At the end I wanted a picture of them and got so many good ones!

This was my favorite.  I forgot to mention that Alex's birthday was on Tuesday, so I guess this was our birthday meal for him!

We both needed gas, so we went to a nearby gas station to fill up.  We said our goodbyes there and I headed for home.  

I'm always fascinated by the cloud formations as I drive.  I caught a few "point and shoot" pictures on the way home.  

I have been catching up around here these two days since I'm back home.  Much needed after being away so much!

'Til next time!

Camping at Bellefonte KOA - pictures AND stories

Ok.  I'm going to try to remember all the things I had written on Tuesday before I lost it all.  Here's what I wrote about that on Tuesday:

"I just had something happen for the first time in years - all the stories I had added to this post were apparently not saved.  What???  I do not have time to do it again right now, because I'm going to be going down to Destiny's place later this afternoon.  We're going to Hershey Park tomorrow!  So later this week I'll add all my camping stories to these pictures.  As you'll see from the pictures we had FUN!!!"

The week before we left for camping I was busy getting things ready.  Cookies too.  I made Peanut Blossoms, this time with mini Reece's Peanut Butter cups on top instead of Hershey Kisses.  

On Friday I went to pick up Sammy and Bianca.  I met Sam about half way between our places.  He had other plans and didn't come along this year.  I was always glad for him to be with us, because he's so fun and energetic with the kids.  But they're older now and can do more things on their own, so it was ok.  

When we got back to my house we checked out the sunflowers.  They are spreading and blooming!  I just love them!

We were so intrigued by the water I had frozen in a glass container to put into our big jug.  Isn't it cool?

When everything was loaded into the van we headed over to the Bellefonte KOA, about 20 minutes from here.  As always, the first thing the kids wanted to do was the jumping pillow!  But about ten minutes later we heard thunder, and sure enough, a storm was coming!

So we hurried to the cabin.  Yes, cabin, not camper.  This summer Lori has been having fun reburbishing our pop-up camper.  She's a Pinterest girl!  But because her sister was visiting from Atlanta, and because rain each day that week was preventing her from being able to open up the windows for ventilation when she was applying the ceiling and floor tiles, she just couldn't get it finished in time.  So she told us to sleep in the cabin reserved for them, and they would sleep at home each night.  I told her we still have a tent we could use, but she insisted we use the cabin.  I did not argue.  The last time Dick and I and some grandchildren slept on air mattresses on the floor of our tent it was wall-to-wall mattresses with our heads toward the door.  Getting up without losing our balance was no easy task!  I was afraid we would need to put out an SOS, "Help!  I have fallen on my grandchildren and I can't get up!!"  

So all weekend we and Sammy and Bianca had ongoing jokes about the hardship of camping with air conditioning and TV and kitchen and bathrooms!  It was really, really nice!

Anthony and the kids came over for the evening while Lori spent one last evening with her sister.  We had the pizza and wings that the campground offers on Friday evenings.  We also had the craziest game of LIFE!  Austin and Bianca were a PAIR!  Sammy and I just tried to keep order, haha!  

Of course there had to be more jumping pillow that evening.  Hunter was not too sure about it at first until Anthony got on it with him.  Then he lost all fear!  

After they left for home Dick and I and the kids tried to get our stuff organized in the cabin.  We also set up our canopy over the table on the deck.  It was quite late when we all settled in.

In the morning Dick started a fire.  He made bacon while I made eggs and English muffins in the cabin.  We ate our breakfast around the fire and played some games.  The kids said that we each should name three friends for each letter of the alphabet.  How crazy that became!!  Names you've never heard of, let me tell you!!  

Here are some pictures I took as we walked by the office that morning.  So beautiful!!

The bubble machine was much anticipated!  Half an hour of bubbles, using a gallon of Palmolive dish detergent!

Austin's main interest when they arrived was panning for gems.  In the office they sell bags of sand with shells, stones, and gems.

Then there was slime-making in the pavilion.  I have never made slime before.  It was so fun!  Each child picked the color they wanted and what kind of glittery stuff they wanted in it.  Then they had to knead and stretch it till it became manageable.  The staff kept coming around adding more of something to it, but I'm not sure what.  Glue?  The finished product was really beautiful!

Bianca's slime bracelet!

We spent hours and hours in the pool.  So much fun and so refreshing on such a hot day!

The four stooges!

This door to one of the rest rooms in the pavilion (adjacent to the pool) caused quite a story.  At some point Sammy had told me that he went to the bathroom and was afraid he couldn't get out because the door stuck so hard.  I had that in mind when I went to use it while we were at the pool.  But I really had to go and didn't feel like walking back to the cabin.  

WELL!!  It stuck alright!  When I was finished I pushed on the door and it did not even budge.  So I banged on it pretty hard a few times, but still it did not budge. I considered calling Dick (I did have my phone with me), but first I decided to try again, this time heaving all my weight against it. It went flying open and I flew right along with it, losing my balance and banging my cheek bone against the door.  Thankfully I didn't fall, but there was a boy, probably about 12 years old, standing there with such a look on his face!  He said, "Are you alright??  I was going to ask if you need me to go get someone!"  We both got a good laugh out of it.  I'll never forget his surprised look when I came flying out.  I'm glad I didn't knock him over!

Eventually we got hungry.  Dick started the fire again. He and Lori made hamburgers and hot dogs.  I set up a side table of condiments, lettuce, tomatoes, chips, grapes, cookies, and drinks.  The kids ate at the table on the deck while we adults ate around the fire pit. 

Later we headed down to the pavilion for another one of our favorite things - ice cream!  Berkey Creamery ice cream and toppings!  We just love the pavilion.  It's so airy and comfortable and we have established a few years of memories here.  We adults were reminiscing our weekends here since 2017.

We also had to check the heights of these growing boys!  Austin (12) is officially taller than me now - I'm 5 feet.  Sammy (soon 10) is not far behind!

On Sunday morning the camp offers breakfast.  It used to be served in the pavilion, which we prefer, but this year it was delivered instead.  We had ordered a combination of pancakes, sausage, bacon, and eggs.  All very good too.  

I got this beautiful picture of Sammy and Bianca outside the pool fence that morning. 

The kids had to have one last chance on the jumping pillow!

We had to check out by 12 noon, so for our last meal we went over to Anthony and Lori's place and set up on the new deck on the lower level of the barn. We had Mexican Pile-up.  There was a pleasant breeze and was really, really nice.  Except when the smoke from Anthony's brush fire came our direction, ha!

Dick and I took Sammy and Bianca part way home.  Jenn met us to pick them up.  They had their first day of school the next day!!  Jenn told me to look for the first day of school pics, and I was not disappointed!  Second grade and fourth grade!

Then Tuesday was Austin's first day of middle school - 7th grade!!  I just can't believe it!

And Wednesday was Hunter's first day of kindergarten!  Anthony said that he told him, "You look super cute for your first day of kindergarten." Hunter said, "Yes, I already knew that."  Hahaha!

One more pic.  After I was home I found some artwork from the weekend.  Bianca had continued coloring the page she had started a few weeks prior.  Austin had asked for paper to draw on one evening when we were on the deck, which I gave him, but I was too busy to notice what he drew until I found this dinosaur!  

So now I have this post finished, but there's another one to work on right away,  I had a few fun days with Destiny this week!

Birthday party, church picnic

So many pictures to share just since my last post on Friday!  Saturday was Elizer's first birthday party!

Dick and I left home around 8 am and arrived at Destiny and Alex's place about 10:15.  

Destiny was at work.  Dick and I had fun with Elizer, giving him breakfast and playing with him.  Dick and Alex carried all the party stuff out to the van.

I left to pick up Destiny from work.  She had permission to leave at 12 noon.  We then went to the nearby Giant supermarket to pick up the cakes - a little cake for Elizer to "smash",  cupcakes for all the party guests, and a surprise cake for her maternal grandma, who was turning 60 that day.

I took her home to get herself and Elizer ready.  Dick and I left to buy a helium tank at Walmart near Lancaster.  They were out of them (even though I was told on the phone that they had them in stock.) 

So we went to Target, which was not far down the road, but TRAFFIC!!!!!  Lord!  We are not used to that kind of traffic congestion.  My nerves were really on edge until I found the box with a helium tank and balloons at Target.  But finding a checkout (out of the 18!!) that did not have a LONG line was was another frustration.  When I found one that looked short, the lady ahead of me was ready to check out about 500 pieces of clothes.  UGH!!  

I was never so glad to be in the car and on the way to our destination.  The thing was, I had made the arrangements for the venue - Teen Central in Manheim where her baby shower had been last summer, and I had asked them to have it open at 2:00 to set up.  I was so afraid they would not want to unlock it and just leave if no one was there yet. As we drove the 20 minutes to Manheim I was able to reach the contact person by email to assure her that we were on our way.  She replied that it was no problem.  And then I could breathe!

My friend Linda Roser, who has been such an angel these past few months, providing Destiny with rides home from work sometimes, rides to the grocery store, etc because she lives near Destiny's job, was already at Teen Central when we arrived.  Here she is holding up the piñata!  And those are the cupcakes we had picked up.  Destiny added the sprinkles and decorations when she arrived.

I thought she and Elizer looked adorable when they got there. 

The tables and chairs had already been set up, so we put table cloths and centerpieces on them.  Destiny hung up banners.  Dick put helium in balloons, I knotted them, Alex cut string and helped me tie it to all the balloons.  

Here's Grandpa Frank with Elizer!

All the aunties were excited to see him!

Here's Frank and Lauren's family - all except J'von who was not able to be there.  

We were exclaiming how much Jada is starting to look like Destiny!  She's having her 9th birthday today!

The youngest little auntie - precious V'anni!  She'll have her second birthday next week!

Destiny's maternal grandparents, Abraham and Agnes, were there.  Some of you may remember that he had a very long, hard fight against COVID in February, but he recovered!  Destiny's aunt Perla (red dress) was there too, and her adult children and their little ones.  Her daughter (the one in yellow) is near Destiny's age.  Also Destiny's sister Keshila was there with her little guy - she's the one in the white shirt.  

Destiny's grandparents prepared all the food for the party!!  It was the BEST!!  Good Puerto Rican food!

Sam and the kids were there too!  I was disappointed afterward that we did not think to get a picture of Dick and me together with Frank's and Sam's families.  

The kids spent most of their time in the rec room.  They had so much fun.

I wanted a picture of Sam and Frank together.   These were our two "Reading boys" back in the day.  That's pronounced "redding" and is the city in which they each were born and lived until they came to our home in rural Manheim in 1994 when they were teens.  We have stories!!  I'm pretty sure they were reminiscing about something when I took this picture.  (No, they are not biological brothers.)

Frank's Jada and Sam's Sammy are both 4th graders this year, even though they are almost a year apart in age.  September 1 is the cutoff date in most school districts in PA, so Jada's August birthday makes her one of the youngest 4th graders and Sammy's September birthday makes him one of the oldest 4th graders.  

Alex's family, except his mother who lives in Florda, were there.  Here are his sister with her little guy, his step brother, his dad in the middle holding Elizer, and his little brother.  Looks like Elizer was pulling Ozias's long, curly hair!

After we ate the scrumptious food it was cake time!

How cute is he with that dab of frosting on his nose??

Agnes was completely surprised by the cake for her.  Destiny thinks of everything!

Then it was piñata time in the rec room.   Destiny told the kids to line up in order of age, youngest to oldest.  The most hilarious part of this video is when it was Bianca's turn!

Next was gift-opening time.  Elizer was not into pulling wrapping paper off the gifts.  He was just interested in playing with some of the things they had unwrapped!

The last thing was Elizer's "smash cake"!  We had forgotten to bring his high chair, so we put a tablecloth on the floor.  Someone thought to wrap his cast in foil!   Alaya was so excited to see what he would do. (By the way, please notice my cute Crocs, haha!  I got them on FB Marketplace last week.)

Here's the short video of him trying the frosting.  He was getting pretty tired by then and didn't really get into the cake itself.  

A few more adorable pictures of Destiny, Alex, and Elizer.  

Destiny worked that morning and then ran that party like a pro!  She had thought of it all.  What a girl!

Lots of people stayed to help us clean up.  I had been told that a church meets there on Sunday mornings and that no one would be there to clean in between.  So we really tried to leave everything the way we had found it.  What a wonderful location for a party!  I'm really impressed with it and their ministry to teens in Manheim.  

Both of us were tired!

Afterward we went to Destiny and Alex's place to unload some food and gifts.  We left for home at 8 pm and were home before 10:30.  Bed felt good!

On Sunday after church we had a potluck/hot dog roast at the parsonage.  The weather, after the extreme heat and humidity we had had last week, was PERFECT!!  Very low humidity and temps in the low 80's.  We had a really great time.  

I enjoyed becoming better acquainted with a woman who lives here in our community. Last summer she and her husband had walked past our place when Dick and I were outside.  They asked about our blue salvia, and we ended up talking for at least an hour!  Recently she started coming to church.  

This is the stage my hand is at!  Stitches that are hanging on "by a thread" but haven't fallen out yet.  And they hurt if I pull, so I don't.  Yesterday I was making meatballs and decided I'd better wear a glove.  We wouldn't want to find a piece of stitch in a meatball, hahahaha!!  

I don't want to end on such a gross note, so here's a good laugh.  Pastor Lynn has such a great sense of humor and is very self-deprecating and humble, in a funny way.  Last Sunday she did an impromptu solo in the middle of her sermon, which cracked me up!!  (As you'll hear in the video.)  I'm such a loud laugher - it just bursts out.  

Lots to do now - we're going camping this weekend for the first time in two years!