Counting Blessings: Pennsylvania, Part 1

In July we spent a wonderful 2 weeks in Pennsylvania.

I will admit, I was pretty anxious about flying with the 3 kids by myself. I bought tickets to fly out of Orlando, and I'm not sure what I was thinking because there is no way Garrett can just drive us to the airport in the middle of the week! I guess I just thought he could take us since it was an early morning flight, and he would have still gotten back to work by 9 or so. But, a few days after buying our tickets, Garrett found out he would be working nights during that time and instead would be finishing up a shift around 9 a.m. Thankfully we got things worked out - a friend's mom was flying into Orlando a few days after we left so she just drove my car home.

But that led to another slight problem... how was I going to park the car in long-term parking, and lug 3 kids, suitcases, and carseats to our gate all by myself?? Well I know you are on the edge of your seat... let's just say I survived.

We had a direct flight from Orlando to Pittsburgh, which was wonderful. And, the flight was only about 1/3 full so Olivia got her own seat...

....and the girls each got their own row!

We left our house before the sun was up, and 8 hours later we were in heaven:

Doesn't my mom have the prettiest garden? She has fruit trees, veggies, blueberries, etc. The fence is to keep the critters out (mostly deer):

This is the little farmhouse that my parents live in:

We were welcomed by a giant double rainbow on our first evening there:

Ellie picking flowers by the barn:

Fun with cousins! All the girls in the family came (Molly, Shauna & her 4 kids, Emma & her 3, and me & my 3), and Molly's husband John was there for a while too.

Shauna brought Courtney, who was my bff in junior high and high school. We even roomed together our freshman year at BYU. She lives back in NH now and she and Shauna are good friends. I love that she comes to the farm in the summers - she is definitely part of the family!

Taking a walk with the twins (Shauna's youngest):

Ranger rides with Grandma:

Grandpa showing us how to build a fire:

Courtney & Shauna with the twins:

Life is so perfect at the farm:

Ellie and JB (Emma's youngest):

Roasting hot dogs:

And s'mores. I don't really like s'mores so I usually roast a marshmallow, and then when it's ready I stick chocolate inside and it melts immediately.

Yum!

Courtney teaching the kids how to do back bends:

I can't get enough of this picture. Olivia loved riding in the Ranger!

Grandpa took Chris and Carter out to do some chores in the woods and this is how they rode back:

So idyllic.... this is one of my favorite views of some of the property. The farmhouse where my parents live is on the far left, and my grandparents live in the big house on the right (which is where we all stay, too). They own 100 acres, surrounded by a creek. This picture was taken from the bridge going over the creek.

We didn't leave the farm too often, but one day we did go to a local Wildlife Park. Also, here's a picture of all 10 grandchildren!

Every year we also do a lot of 1000-piece Charles Wysocki puzzles. We didn't do very many this year (we had other projects going on), but we did do a few.

Ellie & Courtney on a 4-wheeler (see that bridge in the back? That's where that other picture was taken from).

My cousin Nate came by one day:

Ellie & Marian

Meals were pretty chaotic, as you can imagine. My grandparents have a little kitchenette down in the basement, so every year we set up a giant table down there and eat most meals there, so we aren't in my grandparents' way. We also spend most of our time down there because that's where the toys, puzzles, and pool table are. I'd hate for my grandparents to lose their sanity with all those crazy kids around!

Another cousin, Noah, stopped by another day. Olivia wasn't a huge fan, as you can see:

And of course, Elza! We love Elza. She used to come spend several weeks with us every summer when we were growing up in New Hampshire. She came to girls camp with us, Youth Conferences, etc.... she is also like part of the family and I think she has as many friends in NH as I do!

We did fireworks one night:

Emma, you put an embarrassing pic of me on your blog, so this is payback! Sidenote: doesn't Emma look about 15 years old when her hair is in braids?? You'd never guess she is 18 weeks pregnant in this picture, with her fourth baby!)

We spent afternoons down in the creek:

The kids loved swimming and playing in the mud, which they named "Creek dough":

Looking for crabs... sadly she never found any ;)

Creek dough:

Blueberries from mom's garden:

More Ranger rides:

Mom had a birthday while were there! The kids said she was "fifty ten"! Haha she liked that.

After the kids went to bed, we stayed up LATE playing Mexican Train. It's a family tradition!

This is one of my favorite candies and they always remind me of my grandpa. He used to always give these to me, and sure enough I found a stash while I was there:

My mom volunteers at a nursing home every week, and we joined her one day. The kids sang lots of songs and the people there loved it.

Playing Candyland with Grandma:

MORE Ranger rides:

Payback part 2:

Making breakfast one morning

And, breakfast another day. When my Grandpa was growing up, he and his brother used to buy day-old rolls from a German bakery near their house. They would bring them home to the family and they would eat buttered rolls dipped in hot chocolate for breakfast. We've been doing it ever since I can remember - another favorite Siebach tradition:

Ellie and great-grandpa:

Dad took Emma and me on a Ranger ride around the property one day, and he showed us this fallen red oak tree. The wood is very valuable so he was showing us the parts that they were planning to sell.