Summer pictures of our home

Just took a few pictures outside our home. My plants are a bit wilty, thanks to the heat and humidity here. It is really amazing to see the change in seasons on a farm.

Delaware Children's Museum

To get out of the heat, as we don't have central air conditioning, Peter and I went to eh Delaware Children's Museum on the waterfront in Wilmington. This is a new museum and I think they are still developing programs, it cannot compare to the museum we went to Pittsburgh, but it is in keeping with the science theme. Peter did love the place. He grew vegetables and harvested them, he learned about the water process, and changed tires and a muffler on a race car. You can certainly tell Peter's mom is a librarian as he grabs a book (about farm equipment) and sits in a bean bag to look at the pictures!

Fourth of July

This is the first time in Peter's life that we didn't participate in a patriotic day. Instead we used some really great coupons to go to the waterpark at Morey's Pier in Wildwood. We went to my mom's in Cape May on Thursday night, we went to the lighthouse, Cape May Point Nature Center, the beach, the boardwalk in Wildwood and the waterpark in the stretch of the 4th of July weekend. Jeff and I have agreed that Peter will not be unaccompanied to the boardwalk until he is 18 years old. Things have certainly changed at the Jersey shore! Peter went on some really big water slides, and of course splashed around the kids area.

Pool Fun!

My assistant gave us a "pop-up" pool. It is 30 inches deep and about 12 feet in diameter. It has been the greatest gift. Peter has been in it everyday and Jeff and I even enjoy cooling off in it as well. Peter has taken off swimming. I can thank the YMCA for teaching him. He swims well underwater and blows bubbles, and reaches and pulls to get across the pool. There is also something to say about the background for our pool, see for yourself.

Dutch Wonderland

Peter had a dentist appointment so Jeff took off from work to accompany us to the dentist, as this was his first real appointment. We capitalized on the day and made plans to visit Dutch Wonderland. It was a very affordable, family-friendly place. We didn't have to wait in any lines! We went on a very hot day, so most of the patrons were in the water park area. During our visit we got hit with some very severe thunderstorms. The policy at Dutch Wonderland is to issue rain passes. So we get to go back again this summer. When we arrived back home, we didn't have power. This lasted for almost 7 hours. Because of the heat, Jeff and Peter stayed in the pool unitl 9:00 PM, way past Peter's bedtime.

Long Pond Park

Peter and I initially were planning on heading to the Smithsonian for our first day of summer vacation. We had planned on going to see the Natural history museum, specifically the dinosaurs. However, hitching a ride to DC with Jeff requires going to bed before 9:00 PM. Since we didn't go, I arranged to go to a park. We went on a road trip to Lancaster County to Long Pond Park. It had a petting zoo, a pond, and of course several playgrounds. Peter had a great first day of summer.

BBQ

Jeff and I love where we live so much that we are anxious to share this amazing place with anyone who wants to visit. I organized a BBQ with my father's childhood friends, Eddie and Trish (Lauren's parents) and Rich and Jeanette, and their daughter Adrienne. It was a great time. Eddie and his dog Riley, enjoyed a relaxing time in the hammock. My parents had a great time too.

POCONOS

Lauren invited us up to her Aunt's Pocono home for Memorial Day weekend. We headed out of here on Saturday morning and made it up the mountains in about 2 hours. Peter was excited to see Lauren and "her vacation house". We went canoeing, played with the dogs in the lake, took the dogs to the dog park, had a BBQ with Lauren's parents, and even squeezed in some yard sales. Jeff really found the trip very relaxing. Peter caught a fish, a small mouth bass. We bought him a Spiderman fishing rod and a Lightening McQueen life jacket. Peter adores Wil, Lauren's boyfriend. We had plans to do our usual game night, but at 8:30, when I put Peter to bed, somehow I fell asleep alongside of him.

Walnut Springs Farm

We took Peter strawberry picking. I envisioned having to pay for all the berries he would be eating as we picked. It was very anti-climatic for him. However, Jeff picked his little heart out. The berries of course were delicious, right off the vine. Jeff made strawberry jam with many of the berries. Peter liked the strawberry slide. This farm is a U-Pick for raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries. We also learned that a member of our church owns the farm. It was a nice evening and so very close to home.

Visit with Julie and Jon

We made it to Pittsburgh in 5 hours. So much for moving to PA to be closer to friends. We arrived late, and woke early to do a walk a thon to support the local parks and recreation program. It was FREEZING! After the walk we went to the Children's Museum in Pittsburgh, we had a blast...I mean Peter had a blast. We found a way home that only took 4 hours, so we will be visiting Julie and Jon again this summer.

Much anticipated Egg Roll at the White House

I won't bore you with the history of the Egg Roll on the lawn of he White house, you can research that yourselves. I do know when the Johnson administration began this tradition they didn't anticipate 6000 people per timed entrance. Let's say it was an experience that I am very glad we had the opportunity, but should tickets be offered to us again we will politely decline. I am very grateful that it was just Peter with us. We had to wait in line for over an hour to gain entrance and you were not allowed to have beverages. The family in front of us with six kids had so many whiners, and complainers. Peter was a delight. He sat on Jeff's shoulders while waiting in line. Once on the lawn, it was shoulder to shoulder people. Peter did roll and egg, played on President Obama's basketball court, and ate one of the most delicious bananas I think we have ever eaten. I am certain with Peter's brains it won't be the last time he visits the White House.

Easter Sunday

Quite a fiasco these holidays are becoming. Annette's parents were here, my mom and dad were here, and Jeff and I potentially could have been in DC. We wound up having a stolen ham, and a turkey breast at Wendell's house, only after Peter hunted for eggs that the Easter Bunny had left on the grass. It was a long day.

EGG DROP!

One of the local churches has an annual egg drop. What does that mean? Well, 20,000eggs fall from a helicopter onto the high school soccer field. The children then rush past the rope and gather as may eggs as they can hold in their baskets. We invited Connor and Chelsea to the event as well as Peter's teacher and her son. It was a lot of fun. My parents were up because of Easter.

Clifford Vistis Pre School

Our book fair was held at my school, so I asked for a Clifford costume. I didn't use it at my school, instead I walked Clifford to visit with Peter and all his friends at the YMCA. He was a hit!

Conowingo Dam by Exelon

Jeff and I have driven over the dam many times visiting Wendell. We never knew there was a park there until last weekend. Peter and I attended an event at Church called Cabin Fever. The event brought in many of the local resources available for outdoor recreation. Exelon was at this event they provided me with trails of the lower Susquehanna River basin. Today we went to the Dam. It is in Conowingo, Maryland, and is the dividing line between Harford County and Cecil County Maryland. It is about 20 miles from our home. we were all a bit groggy so we didn't' do the two mile hike, although we did venture about 1/2 mile into it. We had a picnic lunch and really enjoyed being outside. Welcome spring!