Vacation 2013 {Part 14 - Renae}

One day Elianna and I met up with a friend of mine from my days in FL.  Renae was a huge help at our wedding by coordinating and making sure our reception was all set up.  After we moved, we lost touch and I haven't seen her in about 8 years.  We connected again via Instagram.  When we were flying out to NJ, she asked where we were going and when I told her, we made plans to get together.  It was so nice to re-connect and basically, get to know her again.  I'm so glad we got to see her!

We all decided to take a spin on the carousel - can't do that for long!

Riding carousels and catching up with friends is hard work

I also have to give her a HUGE shout out on her accomplishment.  She's lost over 100 pounds!  She looks awesome!

Vacation 2013 {Part 13 - Randomness from PA}

Vacation is that special time in life where calories don't count and exercise is optional.  It's a good good time in life!  In light of those facts, we ate a lot of ice cream on vacation!  Rakestraws has a delicious pretzel cone and coupled with whoopie pie ice cream - heavenly!  We also randomly found a little place with homemade ice cream so naturally we had to stop and try it out.  It was a vacation of ice cream!

When we lived with GG, one thing we enjoyed doing was feeding the ducks.  Elianna was so brave this time we went - so much so I was a little nervous.  The ducks are not shy there and will come right up to you and honk at you demanding food. 

We also went to the park for a picnic one day and watched the train go by.

I've mentioned it before, but Elianna is not a stranger to cemeteries.  We got to visit my PopPop and my great grandparents' graves while in PA.

My PopPop's grave

My great grandparent's graves

One night while we were in Walmart, Mom saw a friend so naturally they started visiting.  GG got tired of standing so she shared Elianna's cart.  It says it is also for "adults" so she took them up on it and went for a ride around the store.

Elianna and Caleb playing "hair"

Vacation 2013 {Part 12 - Sight & Sound}

One of the highlights of our trip to PA was to go to Sight & Sound to see Noah.  But before we get to Noah, I have to mention that we first went to Shady Maple to gorge eat lunch (and dinner).  Their food is good - not in an eat-there-everyday outstanding sort of way - but good.  Of course, I don't think I ate my money's worth of food but since Elianna was free, I'll say part of my price went to her food.  After eating, we went over to the Shady Maple Market.  It makes one wish they weren't flying home because I would have so loved to have loaded myself up with all kinds of things!  Sissy did!  She took home 50 pounds of flour in their car back to their house.  Lucky dog!

Elianna and Caleb rode around the store in style

Now on to Noah... To say it was phenomenal, would be a severe understatement!  I wasn't sure if Elianna would sit still that long (it's a couple hours long) but there was no need to worry at all!  She was absolutely enthralled!  

The second "act" opens up to you being "in the boat".  The entire stage and the side stages are filled with animals - just like if you were in the boat with Noah and his family.  Not all the animals were real but it was still incredible to sit and look at all those animals.  Seeing Noah makes me so incredibly thankful for God's mercy and grace to us each and every day!  

Elianna and I in 2013

And just for fun ...

Elianna and I (and the Papi Man) in 2009

Vacation 2013 {Part 11 - Memorial Day}

We had a list of places to go and things to see while we were in PA.  Going to Hershey is always on the list.  Who can't pass up a free (small) candy bar at the end of the tour?  And the singing cows?  It's a no brainer!

Yes, it's a terrible picture but the only one of all of us

The famous free candy bar!

This is one - not so free

Growing up, we always had our picture taken in front of the cocoa trees.  It's only natural that Sissy and I make our kids do the same.

Besides the chocolate smell in the air, the Hershey Kiss lamp posts are my favorite about the town of Hershey

Back home, we celebrated Memorial Day by grilling out - and by we, I mean, Ben.  It was some delicious food!