Wednesday - Time to Leave Gretna!

Well, Ken was up very early and Samantha and Katelyn were up before Grandma, but not by much!  Cali soon joined the group but we had to wake Bria around 8.  It was another very cloudy morning with a "sprinkle", so hiking Governor Dick was not an option and it didn't look good for the lake either!

Last evening we had a discussion with the girls regarding what they wanted to do today if the lake and hike were not an option - bowling, roller skating, or Sky Zone.  They all agreed that Sky Zone would be their 1st choice a place that offers wall/rock climbing and trampolines for lots of bouncing!

We had to be out of the cottage by 11, so after another pancake breakfast, everyone worked together to pack up all their belongings, strip beds, and then load the car.  We still had time to play several more rounds of LCR Wild and finish last night's movie!

By 11 we started the 40 minute drive to Lancaster to Sky Zone, eating our packed lunches in the car when we arrived.  The girls had 1 hour of climbing and then another hour of bouncing and they certainly had a good time.  It was a lot of fun to watch them and the amount of energy they used was amazing! 

Samantha climbing towards the top!

Bria did very well considering she
is afraid of heights!

Cali made it to the top on her
2nd try!

Katelyn did a super job too!

Sam made it to the very top and was so
proud of herself!

They all enjoyed the beanstalk climb!

Katelyn was so determined on
this climb, but she is not very tall!

Go Katelyn!

All the girls climb to the top on
numerous climbs!

Way to go, Bria!

Dodge ball on the trampolines!

Some gymnastic moves!

From there we stopped at Wendy's for a Frostys before getting to Jamie's house around 3.  Lanie was there when we arrived.  Lanie and Jamie had both been very busy while the girls were away.  Jamie repainted and redecorated Bria and Cali's room and Lanie painted their downstairs 1/2 bath.

While there I got birthday presents from the girls including another lighthouse pillow for our spare BR in Florida.  I had found 1 but was unable to find another like it for the twin beds in that room.  Lanie made a special trip to another Christmas Tree Shoppe and was able to find the only remaining one that they had.  Yeah!!!  They also gave me a much appreciated gift card to Marshall's to spend in Florida!

Ken and I were back home by 4, exhausted but happy.  Even though the activities that we planned didn't quite work out, we had a wonderful time with the girls.  We unloaded and unpacked and then we both took a much needed nap - we are getting too old for so much activity!!!  After dinner we did some devotions and sent some messages before I started working on this blog.

Like I said before, I am not doing this blog daily or even weekly, but I will continue to post when something special is going on in our lives like trips with our families and granddaughters.  These are moments I want to document so we can remember them in our later years!  Hopefully we will recognize the people in the photos!!!!!

Tuesday - More Fun at Mt. Gretna with Our Granddaughters!

Ken and I were able to get ready for the day before the girls "appeared"!  Samantha and Katelyn were up by 7:45 (late for them!) and Cali appeared soon after that.  Bria stayed in bed till about 9 reading.  I made pancakes for breakfast and after cleaning up, we had a meeting to decide what we wanted to do today!

Mt. Gretna has an old fashioned Lake area complete with a diving dock, trapeze swings, etc. and that is what we planned to do most of the day.  Unfortunately, the weather changed our plans because it was extremely overcast and they were predicting numerous storms.  So after some discussion, we all agreed to go to the 1:15 showing of The Lion King!  So, we ordered the tickets online and then continue playing LCR Wild.  We still had some time before lunch, so we decided to go for a walk around the area to show the girls some of the amazing cottages in Mt. Gretna, stopping at the park to play and introduce them to tether ball. 

Love this picture of our special
granddaughters!

Just an example of some of the cottages at Mt. Gretna.

Lots of beautiful landscaping and some of the cottages
have really been updated!

Tetherball was a hit for everyone including Grandma and
PawPaw!  

PawPaw had the girls really spinning!  They came off
rather dizzy!

Upon our return, we ate lunch and then drove about 30 minutes to the movie theater and all of us agreed it was an amazing movie.  The animation was incredible and so life like!



We made a quick stop for a few groceries items I had forgotten like chocolate milk and a definite staple, whipped cream!  Back at the cottage we played some more games and then Ken walked to the nearby pizza shop for our dinner.  The girls played on our I-pads for a short time and then we walked to The Jigger Shop, the open air ice cream shop in Mt. Gretna, followed by more fun at the  playground which included tether ball and another musical performance in the gazebo.  We stopped at the only gift shop in Mt. Gretna and when we left it had started to rain, so we were all rather wet when we got back "home"!

The girls decided they wanted to just relax instead of play games and enjoyed checking out Pinterest.  I watched part of the movie, Daddy Day Care with Samantha, which we plan on finishing in the morning.  

We were all in bed by 10 and I didn't hear a "peep" out of any of the girls.  I think they were exhausted.

Tomorrow we want to take a hike at Governor Dick, which is a nearby trail that leads to a cement tower you can climb and it provides a fantastic view of the area.  We hope to go to the Lake after the hike, but unfortunately the weather is still not looking favorable!  We did have a group "meeting" to discuss our options for tomorrow if it is rainy and decided to go to Sky Zone as an alternate plan!

Monday, August 12 - Fun Trip with Our Granddaughters Begins!

On Monday morning, Ken and I got ready, loaded the car, and were on our way to Jamie's house by 9:15.  Lanie and the girls met us there also.  We were unable to take all 4 of them in our CRV so we traded Lanie for her Toyota van and didn't have much extra room after we got everyone's things "aboard"!  

We left Ephrata around 10 and drove to the Hershey Preserve Camping Resort where we have camped with the girls many times.  We still have an active membership until the beginning of the year with Thousand Trails so we have access to their facility.  The girls really enjoy their pool, so that is where we spent our time from 11 to 5 and they had so much fun.  We did do a few extra activities during our stay there!

All 4 cousins enjoying the pool!

Cali gave Katelyn a fun ride!

Cali and Samantha are both 10  and enjoy spending time
together!

We also played a round of miniature golf and it is amazing how they have improved.  We ate our packed lunches and then they wanted to play in the creek where Ken took a picture of the 4 of them sitting on the covered bridge, something we have done every year since we began taking them to this CG.  I think they might have grown quite a bit during those years!

The golf course was "refurbished" this year with new "greens!
We had a fun time playing together!

They always enjoy playing
in the stream!

This is the picture we have taken every
year, probably about 6 different ones!
My how they grow!

Bria and I went back to the pool but Ken remained at the
creek with Samantha, Cali, and Katelyn because they wanted
to build a dam!  Thus the work begins!

Completed project!

The CG got something new for campers to do this year - swan pedal boats so we had to give them a try.  Grandma stayed on the bank and was the photographer.  After an hour and everyone having a turn to pedal it was time for a special treat - ice cream cones!

The ride began with Ken and Bria pedalling...

....then it was Katelyn's turn, but she could barely
reach the pedals!

Samantha was enjoying her time driving and steering!

Then it was Cali's turn!

After all that hard work, it was time for a treat!

We left there at 5 and drove the 25 minutes to the cottage we rented in Mt. Gretna for 2 nights.  Mt. Gretna is a small area that just celebrated their 125 year anniversary and it was started as a religious camp meeting ground.  They still hold services at their outdoor tabernacle.  Our home for the next 2 days was a rather small, quaint cottage that had been very nicely updated with 2 modern baths and a beautiful kitchen.  It also offered 3 bedrooms, 2 sitting areas, a large dining room, and was so well stocked.  

Very modern kitchen complete with stainless steel appliances!

Sit-up bar area!

Large dining room and a pretty center staircase!

One of the 2 sitting areas!

Not sure what was happening here, but Bria seemed to have
their attention on the cottage patio!

As soon as we were unloaded and unpacked (the girls did their own!), we all showered and then walked to The Hideaway for dinner on their outside patio.  The food was delicious and the girls were so well-behaved!  What fun!

Off to The Hideaway for dinner, about a 10 minute walk!

It was a bit overcase, but warm and nice to sit on the patio!

Katelyn appears to be listening intently!

Cali being her normally animated self!

On the way back to the cottage, we stopped to check out the Tabernacle, and the girls used the stage to perform a musical show for Ken and I using songs on his phone to sing along with.  It is amazing how they know all the words to so many songs.  Once back "home", I pulled out the game, LCR Wild, and we played many rounds before going to bed around 9:45.  

Time for a musical production on the way back to the cottage!

It was a very busy day, but lots of fun was had by all!!!!