Our 2nd Full Day at Elk Neck

Ken had one of his best night's sleep in a long time.  Only woke at 7:30 - wow!!  Another slow paced morning with a later breakfast.  By 10:30 we drove to the Lighthouse Trail and began the mile plus hike.  Another very beautiful setting. 

Here we are hiking on the Lighthouse Trail to the Turkey Point
Lighthouse.  A great trail!

Quite a nice view when you get out to the lighthouse!

After we got back to the truck, we decided we would like to return to the sandy beach area where we were yesterday to look for additional seaglass. So, we found the White Banks Trail southern path that eventually got us to that area but gave us a different part of the trail!  The view of the White Banks was incredible.  Eventually we arrived at the same beach area and we found many more pieces of seaglass. Had such a good time!

Love my hiking poles!

Gorgeous photo of the White Banks from the trail!

 

This butterfly is black and white!

Our camping buddies, Fred and Doloris!

The happy, hiking campers!

The sandy area where we found all the seaglass!

Another view of the White Banks!

We hiked back to the truck and arrived at the CG around 5:15.  We had walked over 15000 steps.  By then it was getting cloudy and cooler so we decided not to start a campfire, but cook on our grill.  Most of today was sunny with less wind and milder temperatures - a very nice day!  It started to rain while the men were cooking dinner on our grill.  Will be a rainy night, so another time of card playing. 

Waldo at the campground.  Very nice sites!

Fun Day at Elk Neck!

What a relaxing morning!  We didn't get up very early and our cooked breakfast was rather late!  It was very windy and fairly cool this morning, so we decided to play Skip-Bo and go for a hike this afternoon.  Ken and I had learned how to play Skip-Bo in Florida with Chuck and Melissa so we decided the 4 of us should try it.  Martins enjoyed it so we played 2 games. Unfortunately the men won both.

After lunch, we drove to the beginning of the White Banks Trail, parked the truck, and began the hike.  What a great trail!  It started near the Beach area and then we started an upward hike overlooking the Chesapeake Bay - gorgeous views.  Then we got down to a sandy beach area and Bingo, we had our surprise and reward for the day - the best seaglass we have ever found and there was so much of it!!!!  Almost every step you took you picked up a very etched piece of glass - amazing!!  It was so much fun!

The start of our hike!

Combing the beach picking up seaglass!

A view of the white cliffs from the sandy beach area!

There was seaglass everywhere!

Some large Canada geese!

1st time I used the hiking poles that Ken bought me 2 years
ago for Christmas.  They are very helpful!  I think I should
have used them before!!!!!!

We got back to the truck around 6 and went to check out the beach area here at the park.  Quite a nice setting and large area complete with a snack bar (of course it isn't open this time of year so there was no ice cream for the hungry hikers!!!!)

The beach area is rather large and has lots of picnic tables,
grills, snack bar, and modern bathhouse!

The men built a campfire when we returned and we had a delicious supper.  Got together in Waldo for more card playing.

We are sad that Sam and Kathy couldn't be with us this trip.  Kathy has  been in pain with a pinched nerve in her neck that affects her arm and hand. After an MRI, they discovered she has a herniated disc and after seeing a neurosurgeon she has to decide whether to have surgery or do steroid shots and physical therapy.  Not an easy decision.  Marcia and Gary were supposed to arrive tomorrow afternoon, but Gary is having some health concerns and they hope to be able to join us for dinner and a fun evening on Saturday night.  Time will tell!

This is our seaglass "stash" for today.  This is only what
Ken and I found.  Doloris and Fred have a lot too!!!!

Elk Neck State Park in MD

We met Doloris and Fred for breakfast at 8 before heading out for our camping adventure.  We were on our way by 9:30, arriving at the Elk Neck around 11:30.  This CG has wonderful sites in the full hook-up loop - very level and totally stoned or macadamized.  Amazing how quickly we can back in and be leveled, and all set-up.  So much easier than it used to be!!

It is a rather cool, very breezy day, but we are camping so it really doesn't matter.  After we ate our lunch together outside, we went for a walk to the park office to get info on the walking trails.  We continued walking till we accumulated our 10,000 steps.  Then it was time to get inside play some cards!!!!  We each had won a game when we stopped to have dinner.  It was too windy and cold to have a campfire, so we got out our grill.

Back to Fred and Doloris's 5th wheel to continue our card playing.  Again, we each won a game.  I guess the tie breaker will have to be played tomorrow.  The guys wore their safety belts, which they thought brought them good luck depending how they wore them!!!!  What is wrong with them?????  We must have married a bunch of duffesses!!!!!  (not sure how you spell that word but it certainly applies!!!!)

Another fun day of camping with the Martins!!!

A Wonderful Family Weekend!

Saturday was a fun day with the little ones!  We met our granddaughters at our former church for an Easter Egg Hunt!  The Church of the Brethren does such a good job each year with this special event beginning with an Easter Story in their sanctuary.  Then they have a big egg hunt outside with a visit from the Easter bunny.  Back to the social hall for a fun craft making time, even decorating cupcakes.  The 4 little girls had a fun time!

Bria is getting so big! 

Katelyn got quite a "stash" at the egg hunt!

After the egg hunt, the 4 cousins enjoyed playing on the
Church playground!

Jamie helped Bria and Cali make bunny headbands
in the church fellowship hall!

More fun at the church playground!

Which way do we go on the sliding board??????

Then Ken and I kept Sam and Katelyn overnight so Lanie and Bob would have time alone to get ready for Katelyn's party and the family Easter dinner.  The girls were so good.  They even took hour naps.  

Sunday we were at Lanie's by 10 for another Easter egg hunt, the distribution of Easter baskets, a delicious meal, and then a Birthday party!  So nice to have both of our girls and their families together for the day.  Jamie's family had to leave at 3:30 for an meal with her in-laws.

Another Easter egg hunt and Lanie and Bob's for all
4 little ones!

Aunt Lanie decided to try out the bunny sunglasses courtesy
of Aunt Jamie!  She couldn't see anything!!!

Katelyn loves Mickey and Minnie Mouse, so it was the
theme of her birthday party - cake and gifts!

Ken and I bought each of the "families" a parachute for Easter!
It was fun for the girls!

The happy Hosler family!!!

Sam just learned to ride a two wheeler last weekend, so
she was eager to show us her riding skills.  Made Papa
very nervous!

Yesterday and today were very busy days getting ready for our camping trip. We leave tomorrow morning to go to Elk Neck State Park in Maryland with Fred and Doloris Martin.  Marcia and Gary Kreider will join us on Friday and we will all head back home on Sunday.  Hopefully the weather will be cooperative. Today we spent time with Lanie - Ken went with her to a large consignment sale for children's clothing and toys that will take place near Exton this Thurs through Sunday.  The amount of work that is required to bring items to this sale is incredible, but the quality of the items and the pricing is incredible too! I took Sam to Pre-School and then spent time with Katelyn till they returned. This evening we went to see Bria and Cali at their tap dance class where they were rehearsing their acts for the dance recital this Friday night. Unfortunately we will be away and will not be able to attend - that is why we went to the rehearsals.  The recital was rescheduled to this weekend instead of when we 1st returned from Florida in March.

Our camera is already packed away in Waldo so no pictures for me to post tonight.  I will add them tomorrow.

Really looking forward to a relaxing and fun camping trip with special friends.

More Good Times with Family

Tuesday we spent the afternoon visiting my mother and father at Masonic Homes.  It was Dad's 90th birthday and at the top of his list for fun activities is playing Pinochle.  So, we spent from 1 to 5 playing 4 games with them and it ended well!  The men won 2 games and the ladies won 2!  Perfect!!!!  They are always excited when we plan on an afternoon of cards and both of them are sharp card players.   We are all blessed that they are so good both mentally and physically.

Yesterday we headed to Lanie's house to go with her, Sam and Katelyn to Philadelphia to the Please Touch Museum.  What a wonderful place for kids to have a good time.  We were so glad she asked us to come along.  There are so many great areas for playing including McDonalds, a shoe store, grocery store, transportation area, Alice in Wonderland, a hospital emergency area, a building area, water area, musical area, and a gorgeous old carousel.  The old, old building is incredible.  The entire museum was very impressive!

This is the entrance!

Let's Make Music!

Katelyn served me a Rita's Italian Ice!

Working at the cement plant!

We had a "pretend" meal at McDonalds!

A sick baby at thee emergency room!  Doctor Katelyn
was on Call!

A fun carousel ride!

Katelyn was very possessive of her ducks in the water area!
Sam liked sailing the boat the whole way around the waterways!

Thank goodness for the water smocks.  They still got wet!!

Ken had to mow the yard for the 1st time today.  What is that about????? The weeds are "taking off" too!  Obviously, I'd rather be camping!!!!

We do leave next Wednesday for our camping trip to Elk Neck State Park in MD with our camping friends here in PA.  We are so ready to get back in Waldo again!

I will mention again that we are going to Escapade in Goshen IN, leaving here on Sat. May 9th and spending the week.  So, if you will be there, please let us know.  Looking forward to a wonderful, informative time!

We Need to Get Back on the Road and Relax!!!

Well, it has been quite awhile since I did a post!  A lot has been happening, but I have been too busy to take the time to do a post!  What is that about?????

This weekend was a lot of fun!  We had card club for the 8 of us who get together once a month to play Haus!  We always go out to dinner and then take turns going to each others homes to play cards, snack, and then have dessert.  It was the 1st time we were with the group since January, so it was our turn.  What a fun evening!

We did go to a viewing this week and 2 funerals.  Lori Paparo's mother died and Lori is a member of our small group at church  Then Ken's 99 year old Uncle Dan died and on the same day his 88 year old Aunt Esther died.  Both of them were incredible people who left such a legacy.  

Yesterday we had a surprise birthday gathering for my 90 year old father and there were 25 of us there.  That is everyone in our family.  Amazing that it suited everyone to be there!  One of his favorite places to eat is Hoss Steak House, so that is where we went.  My sister and her husband picked up my parents and Dad and Mom thought that they were just meeting Ken and I at the restaurant.  They had no idea the entire family would be there.  What a special time!  They could not "take it all in" when they first arrived.  Ken and I had picked up a cake at our favorite place, Costco, and it was delicious!  Our little granddaughters love their MaMaw and PaPaw and enjoyed being part of this special day. 

Out special granddaughters!

Dad was really surprised when he saw the
whole family!

They love their PaPaw!

And their MaMaw!!

It was a full house!

We didn't put on 90 candles - didn't want to be
responsible for a fire!!!

PaPaw needed help to blow out the candles!

What a group!!!

A spacial time with my Dad, Mom and Sister!

Dad, Mom, Jamie, Me, and Lanie!

 

My father is really a miracle man!  He has battled throat, bladder, and prostate cancer over the last 35 years plus a strangulated bowel that almost took his life!  He never complains and always says that what happens, happens.  No use to worry about it.  I think that is why he is still with us - his very positive attitude!  He was also in the Marines during WWII and was one of the 2 in his company that was not injured or killed.

Tomorrow, April 15th, is his actual birthday, so Ken and I will go to see them in the afternoon to play Pinochle.   He is a very "sharp" card player and really looks forward to our time with them.

Next Wednesday we leave for Elk Neck State Park in MD for 5 days of camping with our local camping friends.  We can hardly wait!

How Can We Be So Busy at Home????

This past weekend Sam and Katelyn spent Saturday and Sunday morning with us while their parents celebrated Daddy's birthday.  We met Jamie, Dane, Bria and Cali at the Bouncy Place in Lancaster Saturday evening where they spent 1 1/2 hours bouncing and climbing.  They were exhausted when the fun ended. Sunday morning we took the girls to church with us and they really enjoyed their Sunday School classes.  They went back home right after church, so we went out to breakfast and shared time with Deb and Lloyd from our church life group.  In the afternoon we went to a retirement party for one of our camping friends and in the evening to our Life Group.  What a busy day!

Yesterday, April 1st, was Bria's 7th Birthday.  Ken walked to their house - about 2 1/2 miles, for a haircut and to walk to the bus stop to meet Bria.  I got home around 5:30 after spending the afternoon with my mother.  Jamie had invited all the grandparents to their house for a light dinner and some birthday cake.  A nice evening!

We are trying to do our 10,000 steps each day, but Ken has been more "devoted" than me.  I have been going to Curves Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - at least I am doing that!!!!  I probably do my steps every other day!  I have more trouble being outside when it is cold, windy, or rainy, so the good days have been rather limited!!!!

This weekend we are keeping Bria and Cali Saturday through Sunday.  Looking forward to seeing the movie "Frozen".