strawberries and fun

We almost missed strawberry season, but Rhone and I managed to make it out and pick a few. When we paid for our strawberries we also bought some yummy ice cream. The weather was perfect for spending time outside. It was such a delightful afternoon with my little guy. We came home and made 2 batches of fresh strawberry jam. Yum.

With Ben on the road, Rhone and I have been keeping busy. We loaded up all our gear and headed to the beach. We ended up staying until late in the afternoon. So we skipped the nap and got dinner on the board walk and even rode some rides. Whew it was a lot of work for single mom, but we had a great time together. Some of our friends were even able to meet us at the beach for a little bit.

Ben made captain. Can you believe we have been doing this military gig for 4 years now? Seems crazy to me. Only 8 more to go :) We are so grateful that he works hard for us! Congrats, Ben!

As soon as Rhone noticed the soil was sandy he took his shoes off so he could, "feel with my toes mom". What a beach boy.

Look mom, a big one.

A Captain sarsaparilla that Rhone and I made for Ben.

I made these little bags to hold Rhone's snacks and small toys that I carry in my bag. It was my 1st time sewing zippers and I was pretty proud of myself. You can find the tutorial here.

Just Rhone and mom at the beach.

It was so fun to have friends there for a little while. Although it did significantly increase the sand throwing :)


Play group at the pool was so fun!

Most of the kiddo's. What a rowdy crowd.

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!