Beautiful Brooke: Benezette 2010 and The 4th.

I think that my head has finally stopped spinning, and I have enough sense about me to compose yet another exciting blog post!

There are 2 different events to document, so pay attention!

The 4th of July has turned into the annual weekend for our Richard family Benezette retreat!

My dad fell in love with the Winslow Lodge as he would 'weekend' there with his "Warriors." (Don't ask.) So, last year was the first time we spent a long weekend there as a family - my parents, my family of 3, and Meg's family. Remember this post?

Even though this wasn't Brooke's first visit to Benezette, it held so many 'firsts' for her - and I can't wait to tell you all about them!
(Picture overload below...didn't want you to miss a thing!!)

Brooke didn't seem to remember Benezette, but did she ever love it there!

We left Thursday morning and arrived before lunch time. Brooke was so excited to see Nana and Pap who had been at the lodge since Wednesday. Pap made us his super special grilled ham and cheese on the grill...I think I'm in love with this sandwich. Meg, Jason, Josh and Lauren arrived shortly after lunch and the rest of the day was filled with lots of playtime for the kids!

It was a little chilly on this first day...only about 65 degrees in the afternoon!

It was Lo's maiden voyage to the lodge - it's so hard to believe that this little baby was Brooke last summer!

Brooke found a new love in her Nana's whoopie pies!

She's had bites before (since Mommy has trouble sharing these pieces of heaven) but in Benezette, Brooke thought she should have her own 'pies.' Every day, she wanted 'pies' for her snack, another for dessert, and one before bed. Hey, when you're camping, anything goes!!

Daddy kept watch over the fire, as usual. He made us S'mores and Mountain Pies every night! YUM!
The cool evenings are so wonderful! We played on the deck, sat around the fire, took walks through the yard, and watched for Elk...

Day 2.

Brooke fell in love with the millions of bubble wands that Aunt Meg brought for the kids! Blowing bubbles was all she wanted to do!

Meg and I made a special place out front for the kids to play with the bubbles...

Blowing bubbles made them hot and hungry -

So, we filled up the pool with some freezing cold hose water, added a little hot tub water, gave them some cookies and had a perfect afternoon! See?

Do I really have a blonde-haired, green-eyed baby??

Saturday morning, the kids were just finishing up their breakfasts when we spotted 7 Elk grazing towards the lodge. They walked and fed for the longest time, and they even let me snap their pictures!

Zig and I went for a ride in the evening and spotted a HUGE bull elk along the road - it was a monster - and something that reminded me a lot of our trip out west!

They're so gorgeous!

Aunt Meg had the awesome idea to let thekids have a picnic for lunch on Day 3!

Lunchables, ravioli, and plenty of sweets on Pap's Harley blanket! So fun!

Since it was the warmest day we'd had, we warmed up the pool water again and caught a few rays!

And once the kids got tired of swimming,

Aunt Meg broke out the PAINT!

They created beautiful masterpieces!

It was the first time that Brooke had ever painted - she concentrated and made such awesome colors and shapes!

Is it me, or is she the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen?

Sunday morning, th 4th, we fed the kids breakfast and started the 'packing up' process. It's my least favorite part of the vacations, but we were anxious to get home. Brooke didn't sleep well in Benezette, so she napped the whole way home...and was super excited to see her home and toys!

When we got home, we unpacked, started a little laundry, ate lunch, got showered, and even tubbed Brooke!

We were packing the car right back up and heading over to State College for the 4th of July fireworks!!

It has probably been since I was in college that I watched the fireworks in State, and I've NEVER actually gone to the stadium to see them!

Some of Zig's family had the motorhome at Beaver Stadium and were 'camping out' all day...and we were so excited to join them!

How cool is this?

There were 2 skydivers that fell with this ENORMOUS American Flag!

So patriotic!

We were right next to the stadium...

Penn State football, anyone???

Brooke was all decked out for the holiday and had so much fun playing outside!

It was over 90 degrees, so we didn't stay out much until the sun went down...

Mommy and her American Sweetheart!

(We both got a lot of sun in Benezette!)

Brooke played so hard with her cousins...

This is Dylan.

And this is Noah!

(Jenn asked me to feed Noah while she prepped supper - and for a split second, holding him made me want another baby!! And then...the moment passed!)

And this is Sawyer!

It was our first time meeting this handsome man - this family makes such cute kids!!

And this, my friends, is what you get after a long vacation with very little sleep...

A very sleepy Brookie.

She couldn't even stand herself - she was so tired.

We took her inside the motorhome for some quiet time with the "Bee Movie" and she literally fell over and passed right out.

We woke her up just in time to walk around the stadium for the fireworks.

(I'll spare you the story of her screaming her head off the entire time we were walking...)

We were right at the base of Beaver Stadium and had perfect seats for the show!

It took Brooke a little while to decide that she liked the fireworks! We were SO close to the display and they were very loud! She wouldn't let me hold her- I think she felt safer with Zig.

I love fireworks so much!

And I loved sharing such a cool American tradition with Brooke!

I'm already excited to head back over next year with Jenn, Mike, Noah, Chrissy, Brett, Sawyer, Corey, Kylie, Dylan and any other Hertzler cousins that join into the madness!!!

Our summer is flying by so quickly!