it's already summer!?!

**Updated with pictures! The camera has been found!!! (folded up in our friends camp chair on memorial day if you are curious)***

We have been a busy bunch since my last post. We were home from FV (family vacation) a whopping 2 days before we headed out again. Ben was working at an Air Show just outside Washington, DC. So Rhone and I loaded up and headed over to spend some time with Ben. We crashed in his room with him for 4 nights. Yes, it was a little crowded, and yes Rhone was a little naughty, but we are so glad we were able to see Ben at night. He had 1 down day there. So we were able to do a little sight seeing. We went to the National Zoo. It was a little drizzly, but not too bad. Then we headed down Arlington National Cemetery (where I believed Rhone when he said he didn't need the stroller- it was a BAD decision). It was a nice way to remember those who have served our country around Memorial Day. We finished the day down town with a tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It was interesting to see money rolling off the presses. We even got (or used to have) a picture of Ben and Rhone next to 1 million dollars.

There is an elephant way in the back

Gorilla's at the national zoo

Carrying Rhone around Arlington. I took my turn too.
Ben and Rhone by a million dollars in $10 bills

The hotel was located on the National Harbor, which was full of restaurants and fun shops. There was even a tiny children's museum where Rhone made a bird house and a sea shell mobile. His favorite item there was by far, the magnifying glass. There was also a Peeps Store where we were able to make our own mix of mike and ike's.

Rhone at the Peeps store where we made a mix of mix and ikes. I had no idea there were so many flavors.
Rhone playing in the beachy area at the harbor. This was a huge sculpture there (see the foot).

Sunset at the National Harbor

Rhone examining the turtle shell at the children's museum

Of course, we also visited Ben at the Air Show. It was the first time I have seen the C-5M with power and the nose up. It was pretty cool, and really popular with the crowd. Ben worked long days. He got interview too. You can read the article here. We also saw the Thunder Birds, the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, and other fun performers. Rhone had a fun time climbing in and out of planes.

Here's a photo of C-5M from the Air Show. If you enlarge it and look closely you can spy Ben.

Watching the parachuters. Rhone kept saying, "Mom, need my noculars, so I can see something."

Over memorial weekend we hit the "real" beach for the first time this year. Rhone made friends quickly and was entertained the whole time. We LOVE our new sport-brella. It makes beach trips so nice. We also took the kayak out on the maiden voyage this season and spent time barbequing and at the park with friends. Time seems to be speeding by, but we are loving it and we are loving that we have been able to spend so much more time with Ben this year!

We love the beach and this umbrella makes it feel like a private one.

He's a little beach bum. He asks all the time to go to the beach.

First kayak trip of the year.

Memorial Day BBQ with friends from work.

FV part 4- Chocolate World

We spent one morning at Hershey's Chocolate World. It smelled so good there. Lucky for us, it wasn't too crowded, so we were able to go on the ride about the production of chocolate twice. It was fun with singing cows, and all the steps and machines that make Hershey's Chocolate. I had no idea that making chocolate was such such a long and complicated process. Rhone got to package some Hershey Kisses and then we paid to create our own candy bar. We were able to pick our type of chocolate and fillings. Then we were able to active a production line and watch it happen. Ben and Rhone even designed their own packaging. It was really fun and quite interesting to see how everything happens. One of the coolest parts was seeing the laser burn the bar code onto the packaging. We could have spent a little more time there, but Rhone was tired and grouchy, so we headed out.

Meeting a Hershey's Kiss

Watching the singing cows on our ride through the creation of chocolate

Rhone printing his package

UMMMM Chocolate


Family shot. We look awesome with our hair nets.

Rhone by the packaging machine. We are waiting for Ben's to cool and be packaged.

Holding huge candy bars in the gift
Showing off their completed candy bars. YUM! (Actually we haven't even eaten them yet, we feel like they are special so we have to save them- funny huh.)

FV part 3- Dutch Wonderland and other fun

We decided to try Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park out. Most of the rides are designed for younger kids (and it is much cheaper than Hershey Park). Even though the weather was a little drizzly we had a great time (and I think it helped keep the lines down). Rhone might have been an inch too short for the roller coaster, but they let him ride and he loved it- in fact he rode 3 times in a row! All of us had a pretty good time. It was fun that we could ride a long with Rhone.

Our hotel had a fun "water park" in it. It was great that Rhone could walk in it and play on his own. It was great to fill up the evenings after a long day out. We finished our time there with a few more Amish stops including picking up some yummy preserves and jams in Intercourse, PA and eating a family style Amish meal at Stoltzfus Farm Restaraunt. There was so much food and shoo fly pie. I was a little hesitant to stop, but I am glad we did.

Rhone took this picture for us. I think we look great as Amish.

Rhone loved this "whip" ride and rode it a few times. He would giggle like crazy. If you enlarge it, you can see his smile.




Driving the big truck

Everyone on the "tilt a whirl". This was my favorite ride.

Rhone and Ben on the roller coaster. He would get off and run back into the line.

Sliding down the frogs tounge in the hotel pool.

Racing dad through the rainbow.

We had all sorts of good (and interesting) dishes included choo choo salad, ham loaf, candied sweet potatoes, and potato stuffing.

FV part 2: Buggies and Trains

Once we got to Lancaster, PA, we took a buggy ride through the Amish country. We were a little sad that our tour guide wasn't Amish, but we felt more comfortable asking an "Englishman" questions. The views were beautiful and the ride so peaceful. We also took Rhone on the Strasburg railroad. It is a coal powered steam engine. Everything was quite original. The cars were beautiful and Rhone loved the ride. We also discovered there is a quite a "country" smell in Lancaster from all the cow manure.

Ben and Rhone in the buggy.

Our horses and buggy.


An Amish man working his fields



This was our engine on the Strasburg Railroad.

Getting ready to board the train


Rhone took this picture.
I love the look of delight on Rhone's face!

FV part 1: Princeton and Valley Forge

We started our vacation out by heading up to Princeton to visit with Cole. We made a last minute stop to see some of our friends from pilot training at McGuire AFB. I am so glad we did. We met Cole after work for dinner. We walked through campus and downtown and stopped at a fun yogurt bar for dessert. Rhone had a great time. He warmed up to Cole so quickly. Rhone especially loved this silly head scratcher that Cole had (oh and trying to jump on Cole's couch). Next we headed toward Lancaster County, PA. We stopped at Valley Forge on the way. It was really interesting, I can't imagine so many men camping in one place.

Rhone and Cole with their yogurt creations.

Rhone scratching his head.

Little George Washington at Valley Forge.

Rhone and Ben with a muzzle loader. We could touch and pick with one up. When it didn't do anything Rhone informed us that, "it's broken, needs new batteries."

In front of one of the replica cabins at Valley Forge. It must have been one terrible winter.

Ben's Big Day

(birthday morning celebration at home)

We just celebrated Ben's birthday. We strung the celebrating out over a few days because of our schedule and up coming vacation. We had some friends over for a BBQ. I tried to make it outdoorsy, with camo, camping chairs and brown and green balloons, and decoys on the deck. Last minute I was even able to find a little hunting set up for his cake. I saved 1 gift for Ben to open on his actual birthday on our trip, but unfortunately the day before the club called and told him is membership card (to a shooting range) was ready for pick up. After some confusion, he figured out that was his gift. I was pretty sad that the surprise was ruined, but he was still happy about the gift. We are so happy to start another year with Ben!

Rhone giving Ben his lucky hunting bucket. It's filled with happy birthday fortune cookies.

Little boy table waiting for the food.

Family picture

Cake close up. The targets are cupcake toppers that I made for the little boy cupcakes.

I refinished this dresser so Ben could get a TV on it for our bedroom. This set up is pretty sweet.

Before picture of the dresser