Weekend in PA

Memorial Day weekend, my brothers, 3 of my cousins, and I took a weekend trip to PA. My grandparents were babysitting for their 2 youngest grandchildren that week before Memorial Day. We decided to surprise them in church on Sunday. We left Saturday morning around 7 and arrived around 12ish. 

We were in traffic on a back road and saw this van blocking a driveway. I guess they don't need a "no trespassing" sign now! :)

The boys were extra excited about the Quilt Museum ;)

Travelling the back roads. I took a few pictures out the window

I really wanted to get a picture of a horse and buggy (and the driver of course;) so I focused and then when they came into view took the picture. That was a dumb idea because now they are blurry and the grass and fence are in focus. Oh well....

We wanted to eat at Shady Maple but the lines were so long and we weren't hungry then, so we decided to go to a few other stores that were around there. We had sent Evan inside to see if they take reservations (they don't if you are wondering) and he was coming back out and noticed that John L was sitting atop the horse drawn carriage out front. Long story short, after we walked about 10 feet into a grocery store, came out once we realized what it was :) and found out that Good's had closed 20 minutes before, we got a ride on the carriage.

This man was riding his horse and his 4 dogs were just trotting along side him. He never had to holler at them or anything to get them to stay near him. He also gave us a nice little sermon on laying down our lives. He used his horse as a "prop". Something about its not easy for a horse to lay down and it's not easy for us to lay down our lives for others.

We stayed at Extended Stay America overnight Saturday. Each room only had a queen bed, so we had 3 rooms. Andy and Laura shared a room, David and Evan, and I shared with Lanae. Our room was at the end of the hallway and it was like an apartment!

You walked in and it was like a little entryway with a closet ahead

Then you took a left into the little kitchenette. The bathroom was across from the kitchen.

After the kitchen, it opened up to where the bed and TV were

Group shot Sunday after church

On the way home :)

Mothers Day and Carla's Chorus Concert

Since David and I were in IL for Mother's Day, we decided to order flowers to be delivered for Mom. The price of delivery for flowers is outrageous! Especially on Mothers Day! We had them delivered on Saturday instead of Sunday.

It wasn't exactly what the picture showed on the website, but it still looked nice

Evan is taking a floral design class in school and came home with this on Friday

Carla's chorus concert was May 21st

Vocal Ensemble

8th grader playing the song that won the piano competition

The whole chorus

The chorus group

Evan's 18th Birthday

May 16th Evan turned 18. His favorite thing about turning 18....he doesn't have to eat the vegetables he doesn't like anymore! :)

This is a knife that David picked up at Gordyville when we were there. It looks like a rifle when its open all the way. It has a (empty/broken) cigarette lighter and a little flashlight on it also.

Evan also got this book from David. As you can tell, he was very into it.

Watching Evan open presents

Part of his present from Mom and Dad

Singing Happy Birthday (watch for David....he likes to steal the show)

The cake

IL

Schools over and so is my first trip! No worries, I've got another one coming up this weekend :)

This is pretty much all writing cause I didn't take many photos this trip. :O To see photos hop over here.

I flew out to IL on Friday from Boston Airport. Mom and Dad drove me to the airport and then just came home. When I was waiting in Boston, the ladies at the desk said if anyone wanted to put their luggage under, they would do it for free. I thought "Why not?!" Then I wouldn't have to carry it during my layover, so under it went! 

I had less than an hour layover in Detroit, MI. I even found my plane before it took off without me (this was my first time flying by myself)! ;) I landed in Peoria around 4 PM their time. I went down to baggage claim and met David and Anna there. The luggage started coming through and pretty soon the luggage that no one had claimed was coming through again! My luggage wasn't there :( Long story short, ;) the airport people dropped my luggage off at my Grandparents house the next morning around 8:45. Friday night I went to potluck with my Grandparents and David in a bright green t-shirt with Cape Cod written on it :) oh well....

Saturday after breakfast, I went with my Grandpa, 4 cousins, and David picking wildflowers. My Grandpa has a tradition with the grandkids to go pick wildflowers, make bouquets, and give them to my grandma, aunt, and then put some on the graves of his mom, sister, daughters, etc. I don't have any of picking the flowers, but I do have a few of the bouquets.

These ones are all set and ready to go to the graves

The bouquets for my aunt and my grandma

A lilac from the bush around my grandparents house. I think it is really pretty because of the white outline around the edge of flower

Saturday for lunch we met up with my uncle and 2 cousins. We ate at the Pizza Ranch. It's a pizza buffet and then you can order other food (i think) and it was awesome! They had dessert pizzas too, but I was too full to have any :)

After lunch, we headed to Gordyville. My favorite flea market ever! ;) We got a couple things there and then headed to David's apartment. We loaded up his clothes into his car, went to Steak and Shake for dinner, and then went to his friends for the evening.

Sunday morning we went out to breakfast with my great uncle and aunt and my uncle. After church on Sunday, we headed for Junction, OH and stayed with friends overnight. Monday we drove 3 hours to Rittman area and visited a few people. Monday night we stayed with friends again and drove the rest of the way home on Tuesday.

It was an awesome trip!

Two days!

Two days left until I'm done with school for the semester!!!! :)

My last exam is done on Tuesday at 10 AM and then I'll be a free woman after that! ;)

Then on Friday I fly out to IL for the weekend and drive home with my brother. And that's a start to a busy summer! :)