Sunday, November 23, 2008

Trip to PA

We (our family and Bet, Justin and Company) went down to Pennsylvania this weekend for my aunt Barbara Ann's 10th Anniversary party. She lives in Italy, and I think it's been about 12 years since I've seen her or her two daughters. So we all met down in Lancaster County for a dinner on Saturday!
Friday night we shared a suite in a hotel in Bird in Hand, PA. The kids did their usual zombie impersonation when confronted with that stranger, TV!
Then, all ready to go swimming! That's the main reason we went to this hotel-- a heated pool for my little skinny babies!

Beat other swimsuit models all hollow!

Bethaney modeling smiles for Orianna...



who did a great cheesy grin!

Excited kids...


Photogenic children only look better when they're swimming!


Holding two water babies... Lily wanted to be with me even more than with her mother (for a short time, anyway). Made me feel special!


Spiky wet lashes.





A big girl who could hang on to the side of the pool.



Kicking boy! I haven't been able to go to Elliott's pool physical therapy for almost a year, but he still loves the water. I feel guilty not taking him, but it's half an hour further into the lake effect snow belt, and then I wouldn't know what to do with Marilla while I swim with Elliott. Oh, well, he enjoyed it this day.

The whole gang in the water. The water was too deep if they weren't standing on the stairs, but they had fun there!



Cheyenne was in tears when we took her out after two hours. Even promises of a swim in the morning weren't enough to console her.

Edible baby toes!

Marilla's foot was the pruniest of them all!


Beautiful Lily.



My aunt Charlotte feeding Marilla at lunch the next day.

Her husband, Don, with Evan.

Justin and Orianna.

Elliott with pumpkin torte dessert. It was a family-style buffet, and the desserts were excellent!


My other uncle, John (Hopie's husband), Charlotte, and Aunt Emma!


Charlotte holding Cheyenne and Cheyenne's second cousin, Aleana.
Barbara Ann's two daughter, Maya and Ayana (my cousins)
Marcello and Barbara Ann Lenci, celebrating 10 years!
Then, it was back to CNY and SNOW! We didn't even get in the driveway until Evan had run the snowblower.


I had to take pictures this morning when I went out to get the newspaper!

Just a couple of weeks ago, we were deep in water! Cheyenne loves the ditch when it's full of water. Unfortunately, she has started out this trek in boots that weren't waterproof. Ever the problem-solver, she just stuck Mommy's boots over the top of her wet boots when she couldn't untie the laces!
Striding through the river! I've had to try to get mud stains out of ALL her skirts and tights.

Elliott has been loving playing with Play-Doh toys... even when Mommy won't get the Play-Doh out! I don't know what all he's pretending they do, but it keeps him busy for hours!

And, while Elliott is safely ensconsed on the guest room bed with the Play-Doh toys, Marilla has free reign with Elliott's "truck-car". It makes a great sound when you push it back and forth so all the Matchbox cars stored in it roll back and forth a few centimeters!


I loved this picture of Cheyenne-- still proud of her Alaskan heritage!
Dana and Marilyn are here this Sunday night, and they'll be taking Cheyenne and Elliott home with them for a few days until we join them for Thanksgiving. I am RATHER looking forward to being a mommy of one for two days, and they are looking forward to a visit with G&G! I can't even wrap my mind around the thought of putting toys away and them staying there for a while! Rilla will do her part, of course, but she can't open doors yet, so at least their bedrooms can stay clean! Then, a wonderful Thanksgiving with both the Whites and the Vaughans, as the Whites are graciously hosting all my relatives, too! I'm sure looking forward to it!

1 comment:

Alaskan Vaughans said...

Fun pictures, thanks! I've been thinking about your books, ever heard of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series? We've gotten the audio tapes at the library and the kids listen to them for hours.... and best of all they are fun to listen to for adults too! Breanna got the birthday books and we are all enjoying them! Thanks so much, and especially for puting up new pictures so often! Do you have skype? We did that with my folks tonight, fun to actually see who you are talking to, I think the kids would love it!