Celebrating Life Daily

Sunday, August 25, 2013

A Fun Day of Camping!

Thursday morning was rather cool and very cloudy. Everything was so wet from the thunderstorm we had during the night! We did make Mickey Mouse pancakes outside and sat outside to eat too! Too wet to go to the playground and too cool to go to the pool. The girls really wanted to go back to Chocolate World! (We only did the ride there yesterday 2X's). But, what the heck!!! So we loaded everyone in the truck and off we went to Chocolate World. Lots more people than on Wednesday! We rode 2x's again and by the last time, we decided to make silly faces for the picture they take at the end of the ride!

PaPa brought their little picnic table from home!
Works well when camping!

Sam was "practicing" for our photo
at the end of the ride!

Guess we aren't setting a very good example!

Back to the CG by 12:30 and now the sun was out. So we changed into our bathing suits, packed lunches, and drove to PA Dutch CG about 15 minutes away to check out their swimming pool. Much more kid friendly pool than the one at Hershey Preserve. Had a waterfall mushroom and a much larger shallow area. The girls played in the water from 1:30 to 4:30, only stopping to eat their lunch. They had such a good time.

Pool at PA Dutch! There is ramp to walk in and then
only 1' to 3' in the shallow end! They enjoyed
the mushroom falls!

Such a good PaPa. They love when he plays
in the water with them!

Cali is definitely the most dramatic of the group
and loves to pose for photos!

Stopped by the store at our CG for ice cream knowing that supper wouldn't be ready for at least 1 1/2 hours and of course, they were hungry. We all got showers (all 3 girls sat in the bottom of the shower - so cute!). No campfire tonight. We made hot dogs on the grill. Girls were tired, so we read a book, watched part of a movie, and they were asleep by 9:15. We had such a fun day with them. Each camping trip gets better and better. They already mentioned that they want to stay longer!

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Camping with Bria, Cali and Sam!

On Wednesday we met Jamie, Lanie, and the little gals at a church about a mile from the CG at 9 on Wednesday morning! Lanie and Jamie went to the Hershey outlets and Ken and I took the 4 little ones to Chocolate World. We went on the ride 2x's at their request. They really enjoyed it. Then we drove back to the CG and we all had lunch. Then we went to the playground and on the way back they played in the little stream near Willie. At 1 Lanie picked up Katelyn and they headed home. Ken, Bria, Cali, Sam and I went to the pool. It is amazing how much all the girls have improved in their swimming abilities this summer. Bria and Cali have become little mermaids!!!

A "Kodak" moment before going into Chocolate World!

All smiles after we got our candy at the end of the ride
in Chocolate World!

Katelyn loved the duck!

More time playing in the stream on the way back to Willie. After showers, the girls played outside - what imaginations! We cooked over an open fire and then made s'mores. The girls kept saying how much they love camping!!! Another trip to the playground and then it was time to watch a movie to settle down. By 9 everyone was in their bed, but it took alittle time for everyone to go to sleep. They did very well for all sleeping together in the living room. They actually slept thru the thunderstorm we had early this morning. Lots of lightning and thunder!

S'more making time!

It's worth all the work to get to eat the
yummy s'mores!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Back at Hershey Preserve!

Well, we were only home about 5 hours from the beach when we decided it was time to get on the road again! So we called on Sunday and added Monday to our time at the Thousand Trails CG near Hershey! Sunday and Monday were very busy days at the Hosler House! Took quite awhile to get Willie ready to head out for another adventure!

We left home around 2 yesterday, Monday, and I followed Ken in the CRV. It is odd for us to not be together in the truck when towing Willie. We don't like it!!! We were surprised at how full the CG was when we got there, but we found a site in our favorite area. Set up went well and we were so excited to be here! After dinner we took a walk around the CG and then watched some TV.

Love the sites at this CG. Large sites and so quite here!

Water area in the middle of the CG!

Today, Tuesday, was a very unusual day for Ken and me. We never left the CG and spent most of the day under Willie's canopy relaxing and doing somethings we haven't had a chance to do, such as making jewelry and for Ken, researching numerous things on the internet. We have several Amazon gift cards and we spent time making a wishlist of things we need or would just like to have. We will wait to order until we have time to really evaluate the list. It is amazing how much time we spent outside talking and sharing while we were doing things that we both enjoy doing! That just doesn't happen too often at home!

After we finished cooking and eating dinner, we started to walk around the CG and stopped to talk to a full-timing couple, Ray and Linda, that Fred and Doloris had met here last weekend and suggested we met them. They were sitting around a campfire with their camping companions, John and Betty. Ray and Linda just finished a 3 year trip across the USA and John and Betty were with them for about 2 of those years. They are both from Lebanon, but met when camping in Florida. They sold their homes and are loving being on the road full-time. We spent about 1 1/2 hours talking with them - what delightful people with a wealth of knowledge concerning CG's, places to see, etc. Hopefully we will have a chance to spend more time with them while we are here!

Full time campers - John, Betty, Linda and Ray!
They love to do extended travels together!

Tomorrow morning we will meet Lanie, Jamie and our 4 granddaughters outside of the CG and we will take the 4 little ones to Chocolate World while their mommies shop the outlets! We will bring them back to the CG for lunch and to swim. Lanie will pick up Katelyn and take her home and Bria, Cali, and Sam will stay with us at the CG until Friday morning. We are looking forward to a wonderful time. They get so excited to go camping and we love having the opportunity to share this lifestyle with them.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Time to Head Home!

Ken headed to the beach at 5:45 this morning to see the sun rise. I was too tired. He loves photographing sunrises and sunsets and said it was a special morning! Back by 6:30 and we were all up by 7. Time to finish the packing and begin the loading process. All went well and we were on our way to PA by 8:30.

The start of another day, but the last day of our family vacation for 2013!

Ken and I stopped at the WaWa in Rehobeth Beach for a breakfast sandwich and Jamie and Dane were leaving as we arrived. We also stopped at Parkview RV to look at Class A and Class C Winnebagos and left feeling like Willie is a great RV for us! We arrived home around 2 after several additional stops.

Then the work begins again - unloading, unpacking, washing, and mowing. Ken wanted to cook dinner, and who am I to argue. He grilled chicken with sauteed onions and peppers, grilled a Caesar salad, and grilled corn on the cob. Fantastic dinner and he even insisted on cleaning up. What a guy!

We have reservations to camp at the Thousand Trails Hershey Preserve from this Tuesday to the following Wednesday. At dinner we said we should leave on Monday - we are so excited to camp again! So, we are going to check with the CG tomorrow to see if we can check in on Monday. Bria, Cali, and Sam will camp with us from Wed. morning until Friday morning with a visit to Chocolate World. We are looking forward to having them with us!

A Very Special Birthday!

Friday was my birthday and what a way to celebrate - spending the whole day with your children, their spouses, and your granddaughters! I got a special card from Sam - one she made while she was resting in her bedroom before coming to the beach. Bria and Cali helped Grandpa pick and card and then signed their names. Bria also went with PaPa to the grocery store to get a birthday cake and ice cream as a surprise when having dinner that evening!

After eating breakfast, the girls played the bully game of Haus with Ken and I and we got severely beaten! Dane and Bob had gone for a 2 hour bike ride from 7 to 9. Second one for the week. We packed lunches and were all on the beach by 10:45. It was a nice day, but still only partly sunny and a little cool when the sun was in! The little gals enjoyed going out in the water with the big folks and jumping waves. Then they spent time playing in the sand. The men took the 4 little ones back to the Condo at 1 where they watched some movies while Katelyn slept. Then they took all 4 of them to the pool.

This is the back of the condo where we stayed!
Ours is on the far left!

Lanie, Jamie, and I stayed in Bethany and went in and out of several shops. Then we went to Mangos for Happy Hour - drinks and nachos. Left there and went to Happy Hour at Cottage Cafe, one of my favorite places for drinks and excellent food. I had the best frozen Peach Drink ever! We had such a special time together. So nice to spend some alone time with my daughters!

Back to the Condo by 4 and the men and girls were at the pool. We started to do some packing and loads of wash. We ordered in from a local barbeque shop - pulled pork, ribs, chicken and numerous sides. Enjoyed eating on our deck. Then we had delicious birthday cake and ice cream. What a perfect birthday!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

So great to have my whole family here for my special day!

Ken and I took Bria, Sam, Cali, and Katelyn for a walk to the playground where they had such a good time. Little ones to bed around 8:45 and then the adults played games till 11. All of us so tired. Can't believe it is time to head home! Family vacations are so special and we feel so blessed!

On our way to the playground!

Friday, August 16, 2013

Another Wrong Forecast for the Weathermen!

Thursday was supposed to be a spectacular day in Bethany Beach, but a lot of the day was overcast and cool. After breakfast, the men took the little gals to the playground while we packed lunches and got ready to go to the beach. We were on the sand by 10:30, but it was abit chilly! Not much time spent in the water, but the girls did enjoy playing in the sand. After eating our packed lunches, we headed back to the Condo. Both Katelyn and Cali were ready for naps. Dane and Bob took Sam and Bria to the indoor pool while the other girls slept.

Ken and I took a walk and played some ping pong. Then it was time for Ken and I to play Hause with Jamie and Lanie. We used to play a lot when the girls were growing up and we don't have the opportunity to do it very often. We enjoyed. Girls enjoyed playing and watching a movie after naptime.

By 4:45, we all went to Bethany Beach to eat dinner on the 2nd floor porch of Mangos, right on the boardwalk. Good food and the little ones did very well. Then we enjoyed a fun evening on the beach taking lots of photos and flying kites. Ice Cream was the final treat before heading back to the Condo.