PA Vaca - Day 6

On day 6, we had decided to take the kids tubing down the Pequea.  I had done this as a kid, as a teen and as an adult.  Now we were exposing our kids to the fun memories we had made doing this in the summers.

First we stopped off in Conestoga to visit with Andy's cousin Jody.  We didn't get to see her at dinner a few nights before so we made some time to pop in and catch up.  It was great to see her and the kids loved all the dogs - Jody's, Kyle's and Kelsea's dogs were all there.

After we said our goodbyes, we drove over the hill to Sickman's Mill.  Believe it or not, I had never tubed at the mill before.  I'd been there for their Haunted Mill at Halloween, but never for tubing.  We always tubed from the old Martic Forge through Suzy's Hole, to the Pequea Campground or the Pequea Boat Club.  This was a different and much tamer experience for us, but one much better suited for the kids.  We had a BLAST!

K was tethered to me and Ra to Andy

I miss these scenes - I use to love kayaking down the Conestoga too.

Sis exploring on the rocks

I told the kids we needed to watch out for big rocks like this one.  The Kendallism for the day was "Those aren't rocks, they're tiny islands!"

We got out by a cornfield - Sis had never seen a cornfield up close so I had to take a picture so she could see how tall the corn grows.  It's sad that they don't have the memories that Andy and I have growing up and wandering through the corn fields from our back yards.  We'd get lost in them, build forts in them, play tag in them, etc.

This was the rickety old bridge where we got out - There was even a hole in the bridge!  Good thing it was out of service to traffic!

After spending a few hours on the creek, we were all hungry and ready for some of our favorite ice cream - Pine View Dairy.  We use to go there while we were dating and for the 6 years we lived back in Millersville.  Ra and Sis have both been there before, but not for a few years.  It's our all time favorite ice cream and I will usually risk getting sick on it because it's that good!

The building hasn't changed much over the years.

The view across the street from the dairy.  It's absolutely beautiful there.

I always loved going to see the calves.  The new stalls are one of the few changes at the dairy.

Like mother, like daughter.  She didn't realize you could pet cows.  She even let one lick her!  

The day's Kendallism - "Mom, this cow isn't as white as the others.  Does this one give chocolate milk?"

It was milking time so I explained the process of how the cows get milked.  I guess dating a farmer in HS and college paid off!  

It wasn't an Achenbach's but Andy couldn't resist a long john AND ice cream!

After we stuffed ourselves, we headed back to get cleaned up because we had plans to visit with some of my CV friends.  Chris and Sherry hired a sitter for all of our kids and we went to Joboy's Brew Pub in Lititz.  A few friends met us there.  It was great to see a number of my former colleagues.  I miss that job more than any other I had.  The people were what made that so great.  I was thrilled that I got to see my dear friend Leslie.  She and I only met when I started teaching there, but we have lived parallel lives and now we're finding our kids doing just the same...Leslie and Chris both coordinated meals for us while I was on bed rest and took care of me and Andy during that difficult time.  I'm so thankful for people like that in my life who I know I'll always be close with no matter where we live.

Our kids were exhausted by the time we got home, but it was worth it!  I enjoyed seeing everyone so much!

PA Vaca - Day 5

This was supposed to be our Hershey Park day, but it was a rainy type of day and we didn't want to get caught in rain or have to leave the park early due to the weather so we decided to play tourists for the day!  Something I swore I'd never do, but our kids technically (well, Sis at least since Ra was born in Lancaster) are tourists!

We started out our day at my favorite place in downtown Lancaster.  Central Market is my favorite building and I loved going there for fresh produce, meats, etc.  It's the country's oldest continuously operating market.  Lancaster had numerous markets back in the day, but this one is the only one still operating.

Our kids got their first close encounter with Amish kids while at Market.  Out of respect for Amish beliefs, I didn't take any pictures but our kids saw first hand how well behaved they were and got to hear PA Dutch spoken by Amish.  They were amazed!

We splurged on milk from Maplehofe's, raw milk from Green Circle Organics, cherries from Meck's, and drinks from Mean Cup.  Sadly we got there too late for any long johns from Achenbach's at Stoltzfus Bakery, but our kids experienced Achenbach's delicious long johns a few years back when we stayed near Leola.  

We took the kids out to the square to show them a few buildings.  This clock at Penn's Square was made by Hamilton Watch which is where my Pappy Stauffer worked his entire life.  

We also showed them the Griest Building which was the tallest building in Lancaster until the Marriott took over the Watt & Shand building across the square and built it up taller than the Griest Building.

The old Watt & Shand building, now the Marriott and Lancaster Convention Center.  Glad to see the building still standing and being used.  Watt & Shand was the Macy's of Lancaster and I remember shopping there with my Nanny Stauffer both downtown and at Park City.

After our tour of downtown Lancaster, we took them to Roots for a completely different type of farmers market experience.  Mom and I use to go to Roots all the time when I was a kid.  We'd meet up with my grandparents there on Tuesdays.  Once mom moved to NC and we moved back to Lancaster, my Pappy Stauffer and I would meet there during the summers.  Ra would join us once he was born.  I prefer Central Market to Roots, but both markets carry similar items and very different items.  My love for Roots is tied more to the personal memories I have there than anything else.  

I took this picture for my dad who loves scrapple

A very different look to Roots, but you can still find good, local produce at great prices.

We let the kids get 6 different types of whoopie pies and the results were (without any bribing from me) that they they liked mom's whoopie pies best!

I took this picture for my friend Cara who always says Jersey has the best produce.  I disagree on corn and tomatoes but will give her the blueberries!

We took the kids into the auction house to show them some of the animals.  The many birds, bunnies, goats, ducks, sheep, etc. were an attraction for our kids.  Sis tried hard to convince us to buy her a bunny!  

After our visit to Roots, we headed to Lititz to get some Wilbur Chocolate.  When I was home in February I brought Wilbur Buds home and the kids went nuts for them.  

 Here is the Wilbur Chocolate Co in Lititz, Pa

Ra tried to get us to buy him this!

The NS siding where they deliver cars to Wilbur

The old train station now Welcome Center at the Lititz Springs Park

There is always something fun about watching the ducks at LSP.

LSP also has a caboose behind the station.  Andy and the kids were in there checking it out for what felt like forever!  They really enjoyed seeing a caboose restored to it's glory days.

I love walking through Lititz.  I use to coach lax camps in the summer at Linden Hall (oldest boarding/day school for girls - founded in 1746).  It's such a beautiful campus.  We'd eat pizza from Roma or stop into the Herb Shop (which is no longer there) or brave the crowds for the Lititz Arts & Crafts Show.  Lititz is such an adorable little town and where some of my favorite people live.

We enjoyed our window shopping along the streets of Lititz.

Homes and buildings are so adorable - and sooo Lancaster!

Lititz is home to a lot of VERY old homes too.

I just loved these window boxes with the old wooden shutters...

We decided to stop in the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery.  PA Dutch country is known for it's German pretzel bakeries.  Julius Sturgis was the first commercial pretzel bakery and was started in Lititz.  

Getting ready to learn how to make pretzels

The explanation of the meaning for the twist in the pretzels.  Riley learned this at Grace in Utah.

First you need to roll your dough as long as the wooden dowel.

Then you make it smile.

Then you cross the ends.

Lastly, you bring the ends down and now you have a pretzel!

The bakery still makes their soft pretzels by hand in the bakery, but all others are made in a factory near Shillington.  The kids had a fantastic time learning to how make pretzels and how they are now made.

Andy had a desire for Mosby's Pub's wings.  We use to go there all the time with friends when we were dating.  Andy likes Mt. Joy - It's where his grandparents lived and where his dad and Aunt Shelby grew up.  We've actually gone to Mosby's with his dad & grandfather before Charlie passed.  It was where we had lunch with 4 generations of Chunko men.  Mosby's has been voted best wings in Lancaster.

Andy's plate of wings with extra suicide sauce - his all time favorite!

Riley was challenged to eat one whole wing dipped in sauce for $15.  Check out his expression!

The video of Ra eating the suicide wing

My rich Little Man!

What a busy day playing tourist!  At least we didn't go ride a buggy or hit up the Amish Farm and House, right?  We stayed away from Rt 30 East - never went further than Leola or Lititz!  The county's west side has always been the best side!  ;)

PA Vaca - Day 4

This was a special day for me.  The kids and I loaded up in the "loser cruiser" and met up with Beth and her 3 boys.  I love spending time with them.  Beth and I have been friends since before kindergarten.  We met at my mom's Toddler Gym program that she ran through our church.  This girl has lived through every part of my life - whether in person or through phone calls, emails and texts.  She's the one person besides Andy who I know I can count on to always be there for me.  I love her and miss her dearly and our time together is always too short and not frequent enough.

We got to play at their house for a bit before heading over to the pool at their club.  The kids had a fantastic time together.  Ra and Myles fell back into step with each other.  These two boys have known each other since the day they were born.  Ra went with me to visit Myles in the hospital even though Ra had only been released from the NICU a few weeks before.

Sis and Jameson also hit it off well together.  Jameo loves turtles and has a few in his room.  Sis loved holding them.  She likes that stuff almost as much as he does.  They are cute friends.

Diving boards are so much fun!

Five happy friends - so glad that the Chunko/Walters kids pick up where they left off, just their moms do!  

We went back to their house so sweet little Ashton could take a nap and the other kids played quietly while Beth and I could finally get to share a glass of wine and really catch up.  I could have spent the entire afternoon just the two of us, sharing, listening, laughing.  I really miss that with her.

Later that night after we got back to Lancaster, we met up with my cousin Lori, her two sweet kids and my aunt and uncle.  We got the kids ice cream at Maggie Moo's while we sat and caught up.  It was awesome to see my Aunt Beth and Uncle Don.  It's been a long time since I've been able to sit down and talk with both of them.  I found out that Uncle Don is rather knowledgable when it comes to the history of Gettysburg so I think when we get around to taking Ra there, we are going to have to invite him to be our guide.

Maddie giving Sis her birthday present.  K loved the bag filled with goodies to entertain her on our trip.  It was a perfect gift.  K carried around her bag the rest of the week!

Thanks Aunt Lori, Uncle Jason, Maddie & Hayden for her sweet gift!

Lori's kids are so stinkin' cute.  It was my first time getting to meet Hayden.  He's so big.  It seems like forever ago when I made his PSU/football blanket for his birth.  Kendall and Maddie are so cute together.  Now that they are both older, they'd make great friends.  I'm hoping they come visit us so the girls can develop a close relationship like Lori and I have.  I miss them terribly.