All kinds of fun!

 It's starting to look and feel like Autumn around here.  Thankfully, no temps in the 30's yet!  Not looking forward to that at all!

My roses are still blooming somewhat.  I spied this one yesterday on my Julia Child yellow rose bush.  How about that pink added in there??  This isn't even the rose bush that was supposed to have two-toned roses!  I love it!

Now back to last Monday.  As I said last time, Sammy and Bianca had off school that day, so they got to stay here an extra day.  They were looking forward to a day to do things without Elizer while he was at preschool.  Things like libraries! 

We first of all went to Schlow Public Library in downtown State College and browsed for a while.  Bianca found a book about Billy Joel to show to her mom.  Jenn had been to a Billy Joel concert on Saturday evening.  

Then we drove uptown to campus and parked on the very top floor of the Nittany Deck.  This was the gorgeous view of the campus and the mountains beyond!

Future Penn State students?

We walked to the library.  They remembered that we had gotten something to eat or drink at the Starbucks in the library when they were here in June.  But not this time!!  The place was slammed with business from students.  The line snaked back and forth several times before getting to the counter to order.  Destiny wasn't there working anyway, since she starts at 2:30 on Mondays. So we instead went to a room where they have specialty displays.  This time it was about how dye was originally created.  Actually, very interesting!

We did some more walking around in the humongous library, then realized we were really hungry.  We decided to walk down across campus to College Avenue where lots of food shops are located.  It was a fun, brisk walk.  We played the alphabet game.  There are names on each college building, so plenty of available letters.  When we got down to College Avenue and were about to cross the street, I said, "Kids!!  I don't have my wallet!!"  I knew I had had my wallet when we were in the library, and I suddenly had the sinking realization that I had probably left it in the busy restroom next to Starbucks. NOOO!!!  We were SO hungry!  I could have bought us something to eat and payed with Apple Pay on my phone, but finding my wallet seemed to be more urgent.  

So up across campus we hiked.  This time we saw the front of Old Main. 

Sadly, we could not take the time to enjoy the return walk.  Penn State has such a beautiful campus.

Of course my wallet was not in the restroom stall any longer.  I asked at Starbucks if anyone had handed in a wallet, but nobody had.  I was then directed to the library lost and found.  The person there asked me to describe my wallet.  When I did she said, "Just wait.  I think we might have it."  She went back for a key, opened something, then came to the counter with my wallet.  WHEW!!!!  She said a librarian had found it in the restroom stall.  God BLESS that librarian!!  I wished I could thank her in person!

We decided to go to the car and drive somewhere to get something to eat.  So we walked to the Nittany Deck, went up to the very top floor where we had parked, slowly wound our way down the six levels to the exit, and I scanned my ticket.  The screen said it did not recognize my ticket.  So I pressed the help button.  After a while help arrived.  He said he would scan my ticket, but he got the same result.  He looked at my ticket and said, "This says Schlow Library.  Do you have any other tickets in there?"  Of course I did!  And the right ticket worked just fine.  Seriously??  Will these kids trust going out with me again???

We ended up at Hoss's for the lunch salad bar.  I didn't realize that Sammy pretty much dislikes all vegetables.  But he found French Onion Soup and mac and cheese.  And then the dessert bar of course, haha!

We went home to pack up all their stuff, went to pick up Elizer from preschool, then drove about an hour to the Thompsontown exit to meet Sam and Steph.  They would be taking Sammy to his soccer game at 6:30, but there was time to play at the playground where we met.   

There were a lot of other things besides swings, but I was busy talking and didn't get any other pictures. Sammy was also having fun riding the scooter I had gotten him at Goodwill.

On Tuesday after I picked Elizer up from preschool we went to my friend Peg's place for a party!  Peg's daughter Shannon and her baby boy Arlo were visiting from California, and everyone wanted to see them!  Arlo is a GIFT FROM GOD after Shannon and her husband Carl lost their first two babies.  What a courageous couple they are!  

There was live music by Biscuit Jam, friends of Peg and Bill.  

Elizer was mesmerized!

Peg and Bill are the best party hosts and the best dancers!  I love to watch them.

There were a number of dogs at the party, and Elizer was having a great time with them.  You can see him in the center of the picture with a dog.  You can also see baby Arlo (now  6 months old) being held by his cousin in the back.  

I was disappointed that I hadn't gotten any picture of Shannon and Arlo.  Then I noticed in my video that I had this little shot of them.  I think he was falling asleep. 

This is the view from their place up on the hill.  We live down in that valley.

Wednesday morning began with a beautiful sunrise. 

After I picked Elizer up from preschool we stopped at "airport park."  The only picture I took was this.  One of his favorite things about going to parks is petting the dogs.  There are always dogs. 

There was another beautiful sunrise on Thursday morning.  

When I got to Destiny's place for Elizer I took a picture of her impatiens.  One of these days they'll get hit by frost.  Sad day that will be in my opinion!

As Elizer and I crossed the street from the parking garage to his preschool we spied this hot air balloon! We could actually see the fire that was powering it!

And as I left town there it was!

I almost thought I could see the people in it!

I did laundry and choir prep that day.  Then after I picked Elizer up he said he wanted to go to "King Roar."  Hahaha! I knew he meant Rural King.  So we went there, got our yummy freshly popped corn and looked at the baby chicks.  

He said this bunny rabbit had zombie eyes.

When we got home I took this picture of my knockout rose.  It's all misshapen, but blooming for all its worth!

On Friday I cooked for Lori, an Asian recipe from a Hello Fresh meal I had cooked before.  Unfortunately I had to stop in the middle of everything to pick up Elizer at noon.  That never happened before.  Sadly, he was having a very bad day at preschool.  It's hard to understand how such a sweet boy can suddenly feel like hurting his classmates.  His teacher is wonderful, and we all work together on issues like this.  

After his nap I took Lori's food to their place then met up with Destiny.  She really wanted to go to Way Fruit Farm to pick apples.  Their website said they have apple picking until 6:30.  We got there at 6:15 and hurried inside to pay for a bag of apples.  It was 6:20.  The cashier looked outside and said, "It looks like he is packing up out there."  We were so disappointed.  Except that it was starting to feel really cold and windy, and we weren't exactly dressed warmly enough.  

So we shopped inside for a little while.  We were amused by these enormous cabbages!  When we were checking out later someone had a whole cart full of these cabbages.  We heard the guy tell the cashier that his aunt owns a restaurant and likes these cabbages!

Then we came home for the evening.  Destiny and Elizer had fun with LEGOS. 

And of course some gymnastics!

They stayed here overnight.  Saturday it rained alllllll day!!  Ugh!!  What a bummer for Destiny's day off.  Dick took Elizer along on some errands.  We cracked up when they came back - matching hats and matching camo pants!

I went to the bank.  I hadn't driven on Colonnade Drive lately and was pleased to see these trees, beautiful even in the rain.  

After Elizer's nap he and Destiny played with the new play doh I had gotten.  Last year's was all dried out.  

They also did puzzles. 

In the evening we went to Get Air trampoline park - the best place for an energetic boy and his mamma!

Elizer had fun grabbing this rope and swinging on it. 

Even more fun - fighting with Mamma!

Sunday was beautiful, although chilly.  I took this picture as we left for church. 

After Elizer's nap Dick and I took him to Talleyrand Park.  There was intermittent rain and sun, and we spied this rainbow on our way there.  

These two Golden Retrievers weren't quite sure about each other.  

Elizer cracked up as Grandpa pushed his swing with his walking stick!

Beautiful Bellefonte!

After we left the park we drove on some streets we never had before.  We found some really nice houses. 

Then we went to the car wash!  

When Destiny got here after work she and Elizer had so much fun on the floor.  He's lucky he has such a strong, energetic mamma!

I did a puzzle with him.  He's starting to be pretty good with puzzles. 

We did it!!

And that was another week in the books!