Fun Park!

Yet another blog post with no pictures. We went to Knobels Grove on Sunday, but it was such a rainy day that we didn't bother with the camera. We got wet, but the kids didn't seem to mind too much.

Christie, Briley, and Marina stopped over at our house, and all seven of us packed in to the Burby. We arrived at the park right as it was opening, a little after 11, and headed striaght to the kiddie rides. All the kids rode the Merry-go-round, the Red Baron, and the Jet Sky Fighters. Then Gavin got in the Ball Crawl (His favorite, we probably spent an hour and a half total there over the course of the day) while the girls got on some other rides. Then we met up again for the Firetrucks, Frog Hopper (another favorite of all the kids), the Kiddie Whip (Never liked the name of that one), drove the Panther Cars, the Kiddie Bumper Cars, and took a ride on the Kiddie Ferris Wheel. Before we knew it, it was time to eat lunch. While taking some refuge from the rain and eating a pizza, we met up with the Macoys, and also with Aunt Beppers and Uncle Nick. Beppers took Briley, Malin, and Gavin on the Haunted House ride. Malin loved it, and went on again with Daddy, and then again with Mommy. Gavin said that he liked it, but wouldn't get on again. He talked about the monsters the entire rest of the day -- to the point that everyone around him was getting annoyed! We kept trying to change the subject, but somehow he always managed to get back to the haunted house.

After lunch, we all kind of did our own thing. Mommy and Malin went on some of the bigger rides -- Tilt-a-Whirl, Pheonix, Teacups, and the Skloosh -- while Daddy and Gavin sort of hung out with the Holdermans in kiddie land. Gavin spent some more time in the ball pit, rode Ol' Smokey, and drove a motor boat. Also, he returned to the Frog Hopper numerous times, jumped in the Space Walk - and did I mention he played in the ball pit? Soon it was time to walk to the pavilion for our catered meal.

Our pavilion this year was over near the creek, and true to form, Gavin got away from Daddy and was chest-deep in the water before Daddy got him. Daddy was not too happy that he had to wade in the creek in his sneakers, but with Gavin, stuff like that should be expected! The dinner was pretty average -- hot dogs, burgers, macaroni salad, coleslaw, baked beans, potato chips, and ice cream. Malin wasn't feeling well after riding too many dizzy rides in a row, so she didn't eat much. Gavin was too excited to eat. At least being in the pavilion gave us the opportunity to change in to some dry clothes and get warmed up for a few minutes.

After dinner we put all the kids in to their swimsuits and rode the Skloosh a couple of more times. We got soaked, but at that point, no one cared. It had more or less poured all day. We took a wet ride on the nature train before heading back to kiddie land to use up the last of our ride tickets.

By the time we got back to the burby, got all the kids dried off, changed and curled up in their seats it was after 6. Marina fell asleep before we got out of the parking lot; Briley and Malin fell asleep before Sunbury. Of course, Gavin stayed awake and talked about the Haunted House the whole way home. Home by 8, and we all went straight to bed. Now today, we are all sick. But it was worth it!

Bible School - Fiesta

Since we're too busy to post our own pictures, click here for some of Pastor Bill's photos from Bible School!

Busy, busy, busy...

With the arrival of warm weather, our activities have really been picking up. Malin went to Bible School at Trinity last week, and Mommy was busy in the evenings planning the Bible School at our church. That gave Gavin and Daddy a lot of time to do some things together. We went to Jack's for ice cream, visited Pappy Aughey at the nursing home, visited Grandma Aughey at the farm, and went to Jack's for ice cream. Bible school ran until 8:30, so the kids have been up late and sleeping in. Of course, with it staying light so late, it's hard to get them to bed at their normal time anyway.

The weekend was a whirlwind. Saturday morning, Mommy and Daddy got started early with the yard work, while the kids played in the hose and sprinkler. By lunch time everyone was exhausted, so we went to Nana's for a dip in the pool. The kids stayed there while Mommy and Daddy headed back down the road for some more yard work. Daddy got some grass planted, got some trees cut down, and waterproofed the swing set. Mommy worked on the neverending weeding and mulching. Then it was back up the road to pick up the kids. We were going to take the kids to the drive-ins to see the new Pixar movie, Cars, but unfortunately for the kids, they didn't nap at Nana's, so no movied. They were both asleep by 8. Mommy and Daddy turned in early also, to get ready for a busy Sunday.

Sunday morning was the first early summer service at church (9:15). Right after church we stopped at the house and changed before driving to Harrisburg for Daddy's father's day lunch. He chose the 'Texas Roadhouse Cafe'. It was quite good. After lunch we headed over to a graduation party for Daddy's cousin, Becky -- where Aunt Karen made us eat again! From there we hit a couple of stores -- Party City, Target, and Costcos, before heading back up the road for a Father's Day picnic at Terry and Wanda's. Mommy had to leave around 6 to get set up for Bible school, but Daddy and the kids stayed and swam until after 8.

This week the kids have been doing 'double-duty' -- swimming lessons in the morning, and Bible School in the evening. Malin was very timid with her swimming starting out this summer, but she was swimming underwater by herself by the end of the first day of swimming lessons. Today, she jumped off the low dive by herself and swam to the ladder without any help. She was so proud of herself! There isn't an instructor for Gavin's age, but Mommy just stays with him by the baby pool while Malin has her lesson. He is quite active in the water -- I wouldn't be surprised if he is swimming unassisted by the end of the summer.

Sorry no pictures this week. Daddy is too tired to mess with it. He will try to get some up later in the week.

Camping!

We spent this weekend camping at Cowans Gap State Park. We had a pretty big group - The four of us, Christie and her girls, Melissa and Marylin, Jessica, Mam-maw and Pappy, Tonya, Kathleen, Heather and Tyson - so I guess 16 of us spread across four campsites. It was a busy weekend of walking the trails, swimming in the lake, and of course, eating mountain pies and hot dogs. We even went to a little talk on bats! The biggest excitement of the weekend came as we were getting ready to leave, when Pappy had a bungee cord let loose and smack him in the head. No stiches, but it sure bled a lot! We were worried all weekend about Gavin running off. By the end of the trip he was at least stopping looking both ways before running off across the road by himself. I guess that's some sort of progress?

 

Last Day of School!

Yeserday was Malin's last day of school for the year. For their last day of school program,the class did three plays: The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and The Little Red Hen.
Malin played the part of 'Mama Bear' in Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
The plays were followed by three songs: I Can't Sit Still, Ta Tootie Ta, and The Monkey.
Ta Tootie Ta pictured (Thumbs Up, Elbows Back, Feet Together, Bottoms Up, Tongue Out)
The last part of the program was a little awards ceremony where we found out each kids 1) Favorite Place to play at school (Kitchen area); 2) Favorite Food (Broccoli, Spaghetti, & Pizza; 3) Favorite Book (Turtle Soup); and 4) What they want to be when they grow up (Firefighter).
Malin receiving her awards from one of her teachers (Liz).
Malin had quite the crowd show up to see her. Besides Mommy, Daddy, and Gavin, Mee-Maw, Mam-Maw, Papply Leister, Nana, Pappy Tom, and Grandma Aughey all came.
And not to let a picture of Gavin out -- he and Daddy enjoying the show.