Friday, June 19, 2009

Trip to PA....


Last weekend we ventured for the kids' first trip to Pennsylvania. It was such a wonderful, memorable trip! We flew out of Moline and the trip to the airport was rough on Danielle. She screamed the whole way....poor thing really doesn't like her car seat. Funny part is the Dylan slept the whole time, even thru his baby sisters tears......not so funny part.....just before we arrived at the airport she threw up in her car seat. That really was not fun changing her clothes in the car and trying to hurry and clean the car seat so it wouldn't stink by the time we got to PA!

Check out this beautiful view from my moms backyard, it is such a serene sight and breathtaking view of the mountains and the city of Bloomsburg below....

Danielle was a good girl on the plane. Being this was the kids second full trip on an airplane I think they were a little more use to it than the first time. Mommy held her again in the Baby Bjorn, thank goodness for that and being able to have 2 hands free! We arrived in Philly at 11pm, Grammy & Tom were there to greet us and we were SO excited to see them. After a lot of stand still traffic we arrived to Grammies house at about 2am, got all the kids nestled in their beds, they were cashed out from an exhausting day.

Saturday morning brought some relaxation, it was great! Britni and her friend Hannah played with Dylan at the super nice town park and Grammy & mommy hung out and snuggled Danielle. It sure was a beautiful day and so nice to spend some time soaking up sun & fresh air. We then went and surprised Great Grandpa Phillips with our visit. It was great, we pulled up and they were sitting on the sun porch, I waved and I could read Barbara's lips right away, 'is that Amber?!' We got out and they were thrilled and even more thrilled when the kids got out. This was their first time meeting them in person and it was the most precious moment ever! Grandpa had a huge smile from ear to ear! There is nothing better than giving the ones you love a complete, total surprise visit, it was great :)




We relaxed with Grandpa and Barbara. Danielle was such a good girl. Great Grandpa could not believe how soft her little arms were and how big she is getting compared to the many pictures he has seen of her. The pictures do no justice he told us. Dylan found his most favorite toy, a bucket of clothes pins, funny he rather play with those than the numerous toys. When Danielle was being held he of course wanted to relax in HER car seat. Silly big brother!
Saturday night our cousins RaeAnn & Carrie came over and Carrie brought her 2 girls, Nola is 4 1/2 months old and Sayla is just 6 months older than Dylan. Her little boy Savich was camping with his Grandparents so we didn't get to see him. But it was an excellent visit. We got in some great laughs and conversation. Danielle had been asleep when they arrived but mommy went and got her so she could join in on the fun and meet her cousins! Dylan and Sayla had a blast playing together. He was so into following her around and copying what she would do, she would take a drink of her cup and then Dylan would do the same, it was adorable. Little Nola just coo'd and snuggled with her mommy & Danielle snuggled with me. It was an excellent evening, mommy spent many summers visiting them when she was little and it was great being able to get our kids together now!


Sunday morning was church with Grammy. Grammies congregation has prayed so hard and often for our kids thru the most happiest and scariest moments that we have had with them. The prayers continue....
We then visited Great Grandpa and Barbara again and told old stories and just watched the kids be kids. Dylan & Danielle even managed to take a nap on the sun porch. It's not too often that they nap together at the same time, it was pretty cute. That night Auntie Ciara came over to meet the kids and have dinner. Grandpa Tom (Thomas as Dylan calls him) made his famous Italian Chicken, it was excellent as always! Must be that Italian in him that makes it the best, mommy definitely has tried to duplicate it and no such luck yet...! After dinner it was outside for play time. Aunties Ciara & Britni played some soccer with Dylan and did bubbles. Danielle snuggled with mommy & Grammy. It was a beautiful evening, and once again we were able to enjoy the breathtaking views while enjoying the company of great family. Danielle fell asleep & Dylan was filthy from playing so hard, but before bath time we needed to try out the new Popsicle contraption Grammy & Tom got the kids, so we put an orange Popsicle in it and he could hardly keep his eyes open to eat it, but managed. Then it was bath time and off to bed to prepare for another fun day ahead!

Monday Barbara & Grandpa invited us over for a picnic lunch on the sun porch. It was SO yummy. Barbara is totally Ms. Susie Homemaker and everything was home made, the veggies were all fresh from the market & the lemonade fresh squeezed, perfect for a summer day! Danielle took a nice afternoon nap while we ate and visited. Dylan loved to play, once again with his bucket of clothes pins. Great Grandpa and Barbara each did some snuggling with Danielle. Precious moments that is for sure. Whether our family is miles and miles away or close to us at home it is always such cherished time when spent together. We were able to pull off such a heart warming surprise for the kids to see their Great Grandpa & Great Grammy Barbie, it surly warmed mommy's heart.
There is nothing as wonderful as catching up with family that we have not been able to see since before we had kids. The kids were such a surprise for them & we were more than happy to share them for the nice, long weekend :) We got home, Danielle didn't make a peep on the ride home, Dylan ate his lunch, we gave them baths, did laundry right away and got all settled in from a wonderful trip. Dylan still keeps asking for Grammy, Thomas & 'Bam', (he calls Britni Bam) it's hard to explain to him where they are, but we know we will see them again very soon!

Lord thank you for blessing our family with a perfect vacation. Thank you for protecting us in our travels. We look forward to seeing them again very soon :) It's very hard to believe that our precious baby girl will be 1 year old next weekend. We look forward to an excellent celebration for our little princess.~

No comments: