Poe Valley 2011!

Well, we did it again!

My little family of 3 survived a weekend in Poe Valley!

We spent the week cleaning and packing up the motorhome, before heading over the mountain to my favorite place on Earth!

This year, Stacie and Anna were joining us for the weekend! They had originally booked their own site, but ended up bunking with us in the motorhome! Zig took care all of us and the girls just had a ball being together!

Millions of wagon rides and lots of yummy snacks kept them happy!

...and 2nd generation BFF's were born!
Hiding under the covers while Stacie tried to make up the bed...

...and first thing Saturday morning as Anna woke up for the day!

I was thrilled to have Meg and the kids come to Poe for the day too!
She packed up her growing family and joined us for a day of camp food and swimming at the beach!

(I guess it's important to mention that, since Brooke is 2 years old, there are many temper tantrums and 'time outs.' Even in Poe.)

But 'hissing' moments pass quickly when there's fun to be had at the beach!

These two ran in the water and chased each other! They squealed with delight - and even took a few spills face first into the lake! Josh declared that he didn't much like drinking 'pee water.' HA!

This one was NOT a 'happy camper' (HA! GET IT!!??) when it was time to pack up and leave the beach!

...but some snacks and a warm towel in the wagon was convincing enough...

Before Meg headed back home with the kiddos, we made Josh the S'More he had requested! And I think he enjoyed every bite!

Just before supper time on Saturday night, Brooke crashed!

I haven't been forcing naps this summer, knowing how much better she sleeps at night without one, and this late nap definitely kept her up much later! However, that just meant that I got to hold her in her PJ's and a sweatshirt while sitting around the fire!

After supper, the Wray family and the Miller family packed the wagon for a LONG walk!

This was Brooke playing with Anna's magnifying glass before we left...HUGE EYES!

The million dollar shot!

LOVE this picture!

Mommy and Daddy look a little rough...but we enjoyed each other's company this weekend!

Daddy and baby walked hand-in-hand on the dam,

enjoying the wonders of God's Earth!

Just breath-taking!

The night was just perfect!

Perfect time spent with our families!

Perfect time remembering our love of Poe, and sharing it with our children!

Perfectly cool weather to sit until the wee hours of the morning around the campfire!

Sunday morning, we took our time getting around in the morning.

We let the girls play around the campsite and we worked at getting things packed up and ready to head-out.

We are so happy to be home, but we love hearing Brooke talk about her favorite parts of our weekend in Poe!

I hope that, when she remembers these family trips, she thinks of the fun times with her cousins, the beautiful scenery that she experienced, and the love that we feel for her...

I love my family of 3!

Next up...summer fun and Benezette!

Summer!!...So far!

I can't believe it!
It's FINALLY Summertime!!

And what a wonderful summer it's ALREADY been!

Me and my AWESOME 2-year-old!

We've packed and unpacked in the classroom...

We've slept very little and lounged a LOT!...

We've gone to Children's Church for the very first time...
We've found a love for water-color paints!

We've spent every afternoon and evening outside...watering flowers, digging in the dirt, chasing birdies, and riding wheeled vehichles!

And yesterday, we finally were able to get together to play with the Noerr family!

Leah and I were in awe as we realized just how much our 'little ones' have grown!

They're independent, and they play so well together! They're just really good friends, that Brooke and Monster Caleb!

Friends! I said, Friends!

Ok...REALLY GOOD friends!?

Um...

Ok, so they're IN LOVE!

Go ahead and tell me that's not the cutest thing you've ever seen!

The latest in the Wray household?

This brand new chair!

It's seriously the size of a love-seat!

FUN!

(You'd think that summertime for a teacher would free up all kinds of time to blog! I'm very sorry to say that I'm far too busy playing outside, painting, working in the new classroom, tying back ponytails, arranging bedrooms in the dollhouse, preparing meals and snacking... I'll do the best I can!)

HAPPY SUMMER!

Burnham Centennial Celebration!

It was a weekend full of fun and celebration in Burnham PA!

I never would have dreamed that our weekend would end up so jam-packed full of sunshine, family and visits with some of our favorite people!

Our little town celebrated it's 100th birthday on Saturday!

The streets were buzzing with food and craft vendors, pony rides, and patriotic bands!

There was even a man that traveled the streets with hundreds of life-sized balloons for the kiddos!

Imagine Brooke's excitement when she saw those balloons!

Each of the kiddos got one! (some got 2, since those darn things kept slipping away!)

We spent the entire morning and afternoon at Grammy Joyce's house!

She and the family have worked so hard to make her house look so beautiful and patriotic for the town's celebration! Gram's house sits at the center of the town and is prime location to be a type of 'Grand Central Station' to the town folk (and family!)!

Brooke adores her cousins - and they had so much fun running and playing in the yard!
Halle, Max, Zoe, Marlee and Noah played and played until the PARADE started!

...just before the PARADE...

The Hertzler family that was in attendance for the day gathered for a group shot!

(We were missing a few branches of the family tree...but it's a great start!)

I was pleasantly suprised at how wonderful the PARADE actually turned out to be!

This was Brooke's first official parade experience!

She was THRILLED!

Daddy' Firetruck!

We love COMPANY 1!

After the parade, Brooke and I rushed home just intime to avoid the RAIN! We napped and visited with Grammy Kathy, then packed up to spend the evening at Brandon and Amanda's with the kids!

One of my favorite summer activities is spending time outside, around a crackling fire, making S'Mores and Mountain pies while the kids play!

Brooke and Halle are the perfect age that they play so well! They blew bubbles, drew rainbows with sidewalk chalk, and climbed like monkies in Halle's playhouse!

THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR DAY?

The Burnham Centennial FIREWORKS!
I wish I had pictures from this part of our day, but I'm sure you can imagine us, staring into the night sky as it lit up with beautiful fireworks! Max was already in bed, but the girls just giggled with delight as they called out the colors that they saw in the sky! So awesome! And a perfect way to end a wonderful day of celebration!

Happy Birthday Burnham!

And, as if this weekend couldn't get any better, this morning we ran into the Hertzler clan while out for a walk! Zig and I were pushing Brooke, and around came Boom, Manda and the kiddos! The firetruck had driven by...and Halle decided we should walk to the firehouse and take a ride!!

Again...what a THRILL for Brooke!

Zig and Brandon took turns driving the massive firetruck, while Manda and I sat with the 3 kids strapped in the back! (I kept thinking how much Joshua would have LOVED this ride!)

Halle and Brooke were singing songs, clapping with Max, and squealing with excitement as we rode all through town in the prettiest firetruck around!

What a great weekend!

Mommy has 3 more days of work for the year!

The kiddos come Monday and Tuesday, and teachers finish out the year on Wednesday!

Lots of planning for retirement parties, last day festivities, and packing to be done!

I'm so excited to spend this summer with the sweetest 2 year old I know!

Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to live this life with such incredible blessings!

I'm so thankful!