Last Sunday Christy and Christian and all the kids came down for a visit.  It was somewhat unexpected except that Christy called the day before to ask if they could come down.  We were delighted, of course, to have them.  The purpose of the visit was for Andy and me to test the kids on what they had learned in their schooling this year.  They were supposed to be tested by someone other than their parents and we were happy to hear what they had learned.  We were impressed!  They and their mother had been very diligent and worked hard this year.

They arrived after church quite hungry because traffic had been bad which increased their travel time getting here.  We had omelets and waffles, our usual Sunday after-church meal.  It was a nice day and the younger ones were able to play outside while Grace and Aiden were being tested. Aiden and Naomi also love playing with the toys I keep in the toy chest.

I managed to get a picture of each of the kids except Claire.  When I had the camera in hand, she was eating, so she got missed this time.

Andy left on Friday for the men's retreat.  Since he was going to be gone, I planned a trip up to see my Mother on Saturday.  On the way up, Amy called and said I should stop in to see them on my way home because they'd be home all day.  We did a little mulching and weeding in Mother's gardens, then went to Red Robin for lunch.  That was happy for me because I didn't know there were any Red Robin restaurants around.  We had enjoyed that restaurant when we lived out west years ago.  And they were as good as I remembered.  The only complaint I would make was that the music was too loud, making it hard to have a meaningful conversation.

After lunch we paid a visit to Lowe's and bought some more mulch.  I didn't have time to do any more, but Amy had said she would be happy to help her Grandma so I left some work for her to do!  I did a little trimming of the bush by the front door.  

Then I tried taking a picture with my new phone.  I have a lot to learn on that.  Fortunately, I know a lot of techie people who are happy to give me pointers.

On my way home, I did stop at Amy's since I didn't know when I would see them again.  However, they were out.  Yes, the whole family was gone.  I hadn't given her a definite answer that I would be stopping by, so I can't blame them for not being there.  I did get to see her gardens and enjoy their beauty.

Andy left the men's retreat early because he had several commitments today.  So he got home soon after I did last night.

After church today, I spent the afternoon preparing for our evening with the older singles from church.  We're having a baked potato bar.  I baked 16 potatoes.  Others are bringing toppings:  several kinds of cheese, crumbled bacon, guacamole, sour cream, butter, salsa, etc.  I'm also making chili which Andy and I like to put on the potatoes, and I made blueberry muffins and cinnamon chip muffins.  Someone is also bringing a salad.  Ummm, ymmm!

Twelve people had dinner with us tonight.  It was a wonderful time of food, fun and fellowship.

Not much to relate this week.  We spent our days in house work and yard work.  We received some much needed rain over the weekend which kept us indoors.  The rain gauge said we got 4 inches.  I was glad to have the rain to wash all that pollen away.  There had been a green film over everything which kept me indoors.  If I did venture outside, I would spend the next several hours sneezing.  We started to mow the lawn last night but had to stop halfway through because it started raining again.  However, today was a beautiful sunny day, although quite breezy, and we were able to finish the mowing.  The lawn looks so beautiful when freshly mowed.

Dawn and I went to Perennial Gardens on Saturday morning and picked up some bushes and plants for both of us, as well as some mulch for her.  We took Kira with us.  I had forgotten how "fun" it is to shop with a 2 year old.  She took her shoes off and was running around in the dirt.  Then she decided it would be fun to make mountains with the gravel and dirt.  Needless to say, she got herself pretty dirty.  She also wanted to push the wagon/cart we were using to put our plants on, but it was a little heavy for her.  If she did manage to get it going, it invariably went the wrong direction.  What a fun adventure!

We had a group of singles over on Sunday evening for dinner and fellowship.  They are older (in their 30's, 40's & 50's) and we've been meeting every other Sunday evening for over a year now.  It's a great group and we really are enjoying getting to know them as well as watching them connect with each other.  Beth Fuller is currently staying in our upstairs apartment.  She is on furlough from Papua New Guinea where she works in translation work with Wycliffe Translators.  She made dinner for us on Sunday evening, using somewhat traditional food that we would eat in PNG.  It was a delicious dish (with chicken, sweet potatoes, cabbage, carrots and green beans, flavored with ginger and garlic), and we learned a lot from her. 

We finished our new little reading area in our house, between the dining room and kitchen.  It's a cozy little spot and I love it.  Andy had to put an electrical outlet in the floor which he finished last Saturday.

I couldn't resist walking around taking pictures of our beautiful flowering trees.  I just love this time of the year.  Even sneezing and itching eyes can't put a damper on my love of spring and the enjoyment of God's creation.

Focus on Aiden

Aiden's 9th birthday was Tuesday and in keeping with a practice we began when the first grandchild turned 7, we had him over to spend the night with us for his birthday.  So this was his 3rd year to stay with us by himself.

It just so happened that he was also the star of the children's musical at their church, so Andy and I went up to watch the performance.  He did a great job acting and we were very proud of him.  
His dad was also a main player and seemed to enjoy his role as a nutty professor.

Grace and Naomi were also involved in the children's choir, singing and acting.

Afterwards, we all went out to eat together.

I went to work on Monday, but left an hour earlier than usual to drive up to get Aiden and bring him back to our house.  We got home in time to have dinner together.  He had requested chicken noodle soup with my homemade rolls.  It was very hot on Monday - not a good day for soup, but it was delicious anyway.  After dinner, Andy had a deacons' meeting at church, so Aiden and I watched a movie, Disney's Pinnochio.  Then we read Uncle Remus stories till we both started yawning, which was a good indication that it was time for bed.  Aiden slept in the tent that he and Andy set up in the front room.

 On Tuesday morning, we had another birthday request of blueberry pancakes for breakfast, then watched a couple Veggie Tale videos.  Andy and Aiden also went to the church and rode bikes around inside the gym and played soccer for a while.

After lunch, the 3 of us went over to the Battleship New Jersey for a self tour.  I got the idea from a friend who had taken her 9 year old grandson there.  It was a beautiful spring day for a field trip.  We learned a lot of interesting things about the ship, including:
1.  she is the largest and most decorated battleship in our nation.
2.  she was built in 2 years.
3.  she was launched from the Philadelphia shipyard on Dec. 7, 1942, a year to the day of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
4.  She participated in nearly all the western Pacific campaigns from January 1944 until the end of WW II.

It is an enormous ship and hard to understand how a ship so huge can stay afloat.  Fully loaded in 1943, it weighed 57,216 tons.

We left from the Camden waterfront to take Aiden back home and stay for the birthday celebration.  We had pizza and salad for dinner, then angel food cake with strawberries.

 He had lots of interested friends to see what presents he got.

 

And Grammy just had to hold Claire as much as she could!  What a sweet baby.

I am very thankful for the gift that Aiden is to our family.  He's quiet, thoughtful and creative - a delightful boy.

Landis Valley Farm Museum

I took a day off work on Thursday to join Christy and Amy and their kids on a field trip to Lancaster County.  Dawn had originally been planning to go too, but decided Kira was still a little young to understand the educational nature of the outing.  Plus, it was a long drive in the car for a 2 year old.

We got there around 10:30 and enjoyed a lovely spring day walking around to the different displays and demonstrations in the outbuildings.  The breeze was still a little chilly, but the sun was warm.

I had taken my girls when they were little to this museum - a step back in time, so it was deja vu for me, but still interesting all over again.  Plus, an added bonus this time was being with 8 of my grandchildren.

 
 We stopped in the tinsmith's shop and heard a talk on how tin objects were made and what they were used for.

 Naomi modeling a tin hat.  I can't imagine it would be either warm or comfortable!
 We stopped in the general store that looked like it could have been from the set of Little House on the Prairie.

 We took a wagon ride with a team of horses.

 The grounds were beautiful with apple trees in bloom and green grass in the meadows.

 I think someone's tired!

 We ate our lunch on the grounds then walked around a little more.  Unfortunately, after we ate our lunch, I put my camera in the car and didn't have it the rest of our time there.  But thankfully, Christy had her camera and was kind enough to share, so I am "borrowing" a few of hers.
 
The Village Smithie

 Spinning wool into thread

 A tavern where you could get a place in a bed and a meal for 40 cents.  The bed held 4 people, so you would have to share with 3 others! 

  And a farm wouldn't be a farm without animals and gardens.

 The farm in springtime - brings back memories.  It's an idyllic place to visit.