Jumping Jungle

In addition to the Discovery Center, we also went to the Jumping Jungle, which looked like a warehouse that housed blow up moon bounce-type things.  The hum of the motors was loud, but the kids both had fun.  Especially Meghan.  She is such a physical child.  You can see just how physical below!  If you don't typically watch the videos, watch the second one today!

I didn't know Meghan chose to jump in to join us in the ball pit.

This is the slide where Meghan spent most of her fun.  (See her in the corner?)  Yes, it is as large as it appears!  It most certainly is not made for small children of the tender age of three.

This is how she got to the top!  (Below you can see it in action!)

Evan enjoyed the toddler area for the most part.

Evan was a bit hesitant when there were lots of kids, but he got comfortable once the big kids left the ball area.

This next video shows my amazing little girl going up the giant slide.

Down she goes!

It was fun for everyone, and we were glad that Grandma took us!

Water Fun at GnG's

I have more pictures to share from last week...and this won't be the last post!

There was a pool at Grandma and Grandpa's (GnG) house for the kids to use.  Though the temperatures were cool during the mornings, it did warm up most days.

The pool doubled as a horse.

Watering cans became tea pots and we enjoyed a few tea parties.

Meghan also watered the big tree.

And Evan just had lots of fun.

Even when it got rather cool (for water play), we still enjoyed time outside.

Seven Years Ago...And a Story

Seven years ago today, Derek and I married.  Boy, we were young...or at least he was!

To read a quick version of how we met, click here, and then read below for the continuation.

We didn't see one another again for about six months...It was Memorial Day weekend.  I spent my Sunday afternoon and evenings at friends' home who were youth leaders in Derek’s church.  Memorial Day weekend was the kickoff for youth group (and anyone/any age from the community) to start volleyball at this home on Sunday nights.  Derek’s aunt Donna was planning an Olympic-style opening ceremony in which she asked us to both help.  (I had already been friends with Donna for a year or two.) 

So that night I learned Derek was home for the summer, and I invited him to return to the Happenin’ for Bible study on Friday nights.  We saw each other just about every Friday and Sunday evening all summer.   (His family and mine lived about an hour apart, so we wouldn't just run into one another.)

At some point in July I learned he was a Christian, so that was good...though there was still the age difference...somehow that has never disappeared.  Though these were faith-related activities, I knew better than to think just because he was there he was a Christian.  Keep in mind that Derek does not speak up much in group settings...so though he might answer a question or read from the Bible, I didn't really hear much of what he thought until one day a topic came up that he had something to say regarding.

Derek never showed much (if any) interest in me, and I was okay with that.  It was still nice to spend the summer getting to know him as a friend.  I was not about to "chase" him.  He DID invite me over to his grandparents' home for a Sunday afternoon in August when my standing plans were changed.  (I played a rather competitive game of Sorry that day against his mom.)

Then he went back to college.  We had had a couple of long talks that made me think he might be interested prior to his leaving, but when he returned to school and nothing had changed, I thought I was wrong.  Then he contacted me using Instant Messenger, and we enjoyed getting to know each other a bit more.

Then he returned home for Labor Day weekend.  We went to the drive-in movies with a friend.  That Sunday evening we spent spent the night under the stars talking late into the night.  Then he returned to school.  Again.  Nothing had changed other than a deepened friendship.

Then we started dating.  We were serious from the beginning.  We were two and a half hours apart during that school year, so we only saw each other every couple of weeks.  The following school year, I moved to State College for his senior year at Penn State.  He graduated and moved to Maryland for his work...and so it was long distance again (3 hours or so).  In November of 2002 he proposed...and we married in June when my school year was over.  

And we lived happily ever after.  With some reality thrown in to life.

Happy anniversary, Derek!  

Outing Adventures

We went to the Discovery Center with Derek's mom while we were visiting NE PA.  It's lots of fun for kids...and a lot of work for the grown ups trying to keep track of them.

This hula hoop makes a giant bubble around the kids...and it had just popped, but she still smiled!

Here she is winking at me at the grocery store.

The children loved all the telephones at their level.

They spent a lot of time in the ambulance.  It was a real ambulance...with the building built around it.

This was a giant abacus.

Afterwards, we went on the Merry Go Round.  The cost: a piece of litter.
Evan was happy to sit on the horse when it was still.

Meghan had this grin on her face every time she went by me.  Evan was on Janice's shoulder by then though.

I cannot ride merry go rounds...or most things that might be fun at a carnival or amusement park.  I even get carsick in the front seat of a car at times.

Evan was asleep within about three minutes of getting in the car.  I haven't been able to take him out of the car and keep him asleep since he was about four months old.  He slept through our pizza at Nirchi's though.  (Derek was jealous that we got to have Nirchi's pizza with chicken spiedies!  Oh the joy of the southern tier of New York!)

It was a really fun day despite the sprinkles keeping us away from the zoo.  

For those of you not familiar with spiedies, they are marinated meat, usually grilled on a skewer.  You can read more at the link above.  I think at some point this summer I will need to make my own spiedies...with a recipe instead of a marinade.  

Farm Days

We are having a really good time at the farm!  (Today Meghan did ask multiple times to go home and see Daddy.  Regardless, we are enjoying the fun!)

Both of the children enjoyed a trip to the barn.

Meghan loved her first true farm tractor ride with Great Grandpa. 

But it's still lots of fun to pretend to drive, too!

A friendly dog came to visit when the kids were getting ready for bed.  They enjoyed it!

Cute kitties, too!  

The Parade

We're here in northeastern PA enjoying ourselves.  Derek was only with us through the weekend, and has since returned to work.  We arrived Friday in time to enjoy the Fireman's Field Days in the tiny little town where Derek's grandparents and my sister, Amy, live.  

Friday began with a bang.  After visiting the booths and such at the FFD, we went to Amy's to watch fireworks.  Actually, Derek and Evan were "home."  (We are staying with Derek's grandparents.)  Meghan certainly enjoyed them!

Saturday we spent more time at the FFD.  In case you are wondering (especially if you are local) most of our time was on the playground!  Something really neat is that my children had all four grandpas there on Saturday night...and they were not even in the parade.  

This is my stepdad, John.  Meghan wanted to take the picture.

Saturday night the highlight was the parade.  We went to Amy's again.  This time we watched the parade.  This is Derek's dad holding Evan.  Meghan is on the other side of Derek.  My sister wasn't outside then.

I don't know if tractors are necessary in all parades all over the world or USA, but in NE PA, they are pretty much standard practice.

It's not unusual for my dad to be in a parade with one of his classic cars.  This is his pearl white AMX, made by American Motors.  (It was only made from 1968-1971, so it's not well known.)   He collects these muscle cars...I think he has eight AMX's (and many more classic and antique cars,  from the 1950's, 60's, and 70's with some much older, as well).  Meghan went right up to them.  You can do that in small town parades!

We were one of the first stops on the short parade route.  For only two children sitting there, they got an incredible amount of candy!

Later, we went to the FFD again.  Here is my uncle's Ambassador next to my dad's AMX.  (Two of my uncles also have AMX's.  It's a family thing.  

It was really warm during the parade that began at 7 pm.  Evan was sweating a lot!  I think his hair is pretty cute though.

Show and Tell

Wednesday was Meghan's last show and tell before summer break.  She had asked many times if she could take Evan as her show and tell.  Usually I said no.

But I decided to talk to the teacher and see what she thought.

The teacher was thrilled with the idea.  These pictures were just before we left for school that morning.

Evan's disposition improved, and Meghan stayed pretty happy.

Some days it is hard to have two happy children at the same time!

Friend Fun

Last week I knew I wanted to spend some time with friends...so I invited several over to visit.  I actually find it much easier to do this than to take  my kids to the park to meet friends.  Everybody brings something to contribute for food, and the adults really enjoy the food and the conversation, even if it's interrupted.  We spent an enjoyable morning outdoors watching the children play.

Three (two pictured) friends came.  Eight children playing together in a pool can be a bit crazy.

The next two pictures shows where everyone was at once.  Three around the swing set...

...lots at the pool, two (mom and daughter) sitting off by themselves relaxing, and Evan wanting his mom.

I'm so glad that we have a backyard that we can play in...and the new swing set, too.  Though we may not have any seating for adults, it is kid-friendly and makes opening my home to others, especially those with children a lot easier!

I'm glad we have a big kiddie pool...big enough for six girls and two boys to enjoy.  We're actually the fourth family to use it...and I know it will last us for several more years before passing it on to another family.  The best part is knowing that we can share it with friends now.  

We're Off...

In just a little bit we will be traveling north to visit our families.  The children and I will stay for a whole week.  Derek will spend the week working and hopefully painting the children's bedrooms.

I will still be posting to help Derek see what we're up to.  I also have lots of other pictures from the past week to post, so come back to visit again soon!

Evan

I cut Evan's hair recently.  My goal is to not buzz it every haircut, but to try to use scissors, too, to help it keep some length.  

Derek couldn't even tell I cut it, so I don't expect that you will notice.  Around his ears it looks lots better.  

More Swimming Fun

I just found more pictures from last weekend!

Golf

That leads to a boy who wants his mom...a wet mom.

       

Baseball.   In the pool.

Meghan took a picture of the fire.

Meghan took a picture of Great Grandpa