Hershey Chocolate Park

By far one of the best parts of our weekend trip was meeting up with our dear friends, who moved away from Belmont this summer.  We miss them so much in our weekly interactions.  It was wonderful to see them again and feel as if no time at all had passed, though at the same time we had lots to catch up on!  First on our itinerary for the day was a farmer's market where we saw an awesome one-man-band performer, some Amish wares, got some yummy food, and had lots of people stop and admire the seven children 6 and under between the two of us.

We drove through some lovely Lancaster County countryside, hoping to see lots of horse-and-buggies and Amish farms.  No luck.  Oh, well.  We'll have to research better a route next time. 

In any case, we got to our destination.  The land of waxy but still delicious chocolate (at least when mixed with peanut butter or mint creme).  Hershey Park was fun--just right for the littles.  All the big coaster rides were closed for the season, but even if they had been opened I doubt I would have gone.  I'm getting old and even the kid-rocket ride made me ill.  So I just mostly enjoyed talking with my friend and Janeil and admiring the little Hershey touches.  Like the iconic shaped light posts and the candy measuring wall.  I especially enjoyed hearing the kids refer to themselves as "Reese's" or "Kisses" when figuring out which rides they could go on.

The "Kiss-mas" tree all lit up was quite pretty, particularly with our whole gang beneath.

There we are again with those ubiquitous head hole cutouts.  Eliza is a great sport through it all.  Always.

The bee ride was very noisy and so I was surprised that Davy wanted to ride it.  I wasn't too surprised when I saw how he handled it, though!

Friends makes everything more fun.  We love those girls and how nice they are with the Lambourne boys.

Cookie s'mores.  Worth the whole trip.  ;)

And since we didn't feel like we got enough chocolate at Chocolate World, we grown-ups had a hot chocolate tea party after the kids had gone to bed on Janeil's last evening with us.  That hit the spot.

Stroll in Valley Forge

Valley Forge is one of my favorite places.  Every time I go it is a perfect visit, and each one improves the memories of the time before.  Some places just have that magic.

I probably should have chosen just one of the above  pictures.  I am getting better at curating the photographs I take.  But Eliza is just too precious in each one I hate to leave any out.  This was her first time at Valley Forge, and except for a time that I tried to insist she take a nap in the stroller I think she had a pleasant visit!

The boys were wild to be out of the car.  Luckily this is the perfect place to run, gather acorns, and find ingenious places to hold them (regular squirrels, the two of them).

I love the relationship between Collin and his siblings.  I love watching them interact and seeing their pleasure in each others' company.  I really don't get all their inside jokes.  Or references to random, obscure movies.  But I enjoy their contagious laughter and great sense of humor.

I had to remind myself, even as we were having a grand old time, that the reason this place is famous and a national park, is because some pretty sobering events in our country were witnessed here.  George Washington and the revolutionary troops did not really enjoy their winter encampment at Valley Forge.  I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the sacrifice made by so many men and women for a cause they believe so desperately and strongly.  For our freedom to choose and to be happy.

 

Back to the happy, silly mood we were all in.

Thanks, Janeil, for taking a family photo of us!

On the walk back Davy requested the camera.  He was frustrated by having his images come out blurry, so I came in close to explain to him how to half-press the shutter button to focus before clicking all the way.  He snapped this picture of me and I actually really like it!  And I love his pictures of me and Eliza.  I keep saying this, but I am so excited by his interest in and knack for photographs.

(And I'm not even showing his "landscape" pictures!  Leaves and sticks and other things he found interesting.  I agree with my sister, Erica, that if a picture doesn't have a person in it--especially in a personal family journal/scrapbook--it can be a bit boring.  Some photos for context are all well and good.  Ansel Adams is awesome.  Me and Davy, though, we haven't quite yet got the skill for sweeping dramatic landscapes.  I love capturing the emotion and the expression of people.  I don't know about Davy yet but time will tell.  Until then, I'll put pictures of Lambourne people on this blog!)

Just as much as I love kissing those big soft cheeks of 'Liza Bee's, I love her new skill of giving kisses in return.  Solid, slobbery, sweet kisses right on my cheek.  She'll grab for my face and search for just the right place to plant a good one. 

The most rhetorical of rhetorical questions:  What would a Lambourne family vacation be without some sweet cold creamy treat?  Zwalen's frozen custard is so delicious we have to get some if we are in the area.  It's family owned and operated by an LDS family, and I always look forward to seeing their family tree painted on the wall.  They trace their ancestry back to Switzerland and makers of good chocolate. 

Back at the hotel Davy discovered that he and Eliza were "twinners" with their shirts.  It's so fun to have a kid who is waking up to the world of words all around. 

One last Valley Forge shot (though is this the one to end on?) of General Washington and Martha.  And now a true rhetorical question:  Why are these silly cutouts absolutely magnetic even as you try to resist them?

Rocky Run

Say what you will about the gazillion Rocky sequels.  The original is a classic and inspiring and has the best theme song(s).  As we were finding a parking place near the Museum of Fine Arts I realized that we needed to introduce the boys to Rocky and his stair run so they would have some idea of what the hullabaloo was about.  Thank goodness for iPhones!  They really help enable last-minute planners like me.  We pulled up YouTube and voila!  The Rocky Run initiation has begun for the Lambourne boys.  (The statue of Rocky is small but visible in the background.)

Collin helped me figure out how to piece together a little movie clip of our run up the iconic stairs.  Disclaimer:  if you don't know and love these children it will be a very boring minute.

 

It's a long way up those landmark stairs.  Little legs got very tired.  After a short rest, though, they were at it again and running all over the plaza and up and down the landings.  Oh, to have the energy of a kid again.

 

Fantastic Philly

I'm pretty loyal to Boston.  I think it's clear how much I love this incredible city we get to live near.  And yet I admit a small but abiding crush on the city of Philadelphia.  The history!  The architecture!  The museums!  The cheese steak!  (Just kidding.)  Rocky!!  (Not kidding.  I love Rocky.)

Collin was scheduled to work down in Pennsylvania the week his sister, Janeil, was also planning to visit.  When first hearing that news we collectively were bummed, but two seconds later it was totally ROAD TRIP!!  (Cue 90s teen flick theme music.)

Lucky Janeil and me and the kids, we got to spend Thursday in the city while Collin worked.  We navigated the driving and parking without getting lost (ok, so I may have gone around a rotary a couple of times while figuring out where to go but that doesn't count), hitting anyone or getting hit, or getting slammed with a parking ticket.  There's a great day right there. 

But also we saw Liberty Bell and subsequently had a lovely and memorable converstation (Davy and I) about how things and people can still be beautiful and functional ("ringable" in Davy's words) even when imperfect and flawed. 

We ran--literally ran and jumped and climbed and hopped and skipped and twirled and hide-and-seek and making "brick angels"--around Independence Hall with all the freedom the founding fathers and mothers could have hoped for.  Seriously, I was so impressed by the casualness of the security guards regarding my energetic children.  No disapproving glares or stern rules.  Just smiles and waves and "here's a trading card with Abigail Adam's picture."  So refreshing.

I honestly could not get enough of the grounds of Independence Hall as far as photographing goes.  I could have spent another hour watching my kids play and trying to capture the gorgeous brick and stone and arches and stairways.

You see why I indulge in this little love affair with this place?  Pretty, no?

And this is my new favorite photo of Davy.  He had just turned to ask me for one last jump down the stairs.  I love his vulnerability and UN-self-conciousness.  He is a beautiful child, no question.

Ahh, the city of brotherly love.

Davy and Eddy were thrilled with the hotel experience.  They always look forward to the hotel part of trips more than anything else.  They slept really well on a little blanket bed on the floor.  I was ok with that arrangement too, until the next morning when Janeil spotted the most insanely large spider--no joke, think baby tarantula--creeping around under the beds.  Shudder. 

Collin, Janeil, and I shared a "Great Wall of China" chocolate cake from PF Changs and were sufficiently stuffed with deliciousness.

I loved our time in this city.  And this post only covers the morning!  I'll have to do our Rocky run in another section, and Valley Forge in yet another.  And Hershey Park Chocolate World will come along sometime after that.  Maybe by the end of the week, but no promises.