What would we do without Ryan. He works nonstop and doesn't get home until 7 or 8 at night. Has to be at work the next morning by 4am but he still stays up late to help Nathan make his pinewood derby car. Ryan you are the best. I love you!!

A Surprise Visit

For two months DeeDee has been planning a trip for her and Bill to come and visit. I'm not sure how we did it but we were able to keep it a secret from the kids. We got to spend ten days with DeeDee and then Bill came for the last four. We loved having them here. The kids were completely shocked. We had told them that a friend that I had met in highschool was coming over for dinner. When Sarah saw someone walking inside she said, "Mom's friend sure does look like Grandma", And then she realized it really was her Grandma.

The Beach

With Ryan's parents here we wanted to take them somewhere fun. We decided on a last minute trip to Ocean City about 3 hours away. So we loaded everyone in the car and off we went. We figured the water would be to cold for swimming so we didn't bring our swimsuits. Our kids didn't care though. For me the water was freezing but they all got soaked most of them from head to toe.

Seafood

After a few hours on the beach we decided to eat at this extremely authentic seafood restaurant. We were told about this place from some friends from work only we got the name wrong and went to the wrong restaurant.

Ryan's parents treated us. Thank you Bill and DeeDee for an experience I will never forget.

Little did I know how authentic the seafood would be. This was the face I made as the food was brought to our table.

I think the lobster and crabs were literally pulled out of the ocean cooked and served to us. They had a salty ocean taste.

We had to crack open the shells and pry out our food. I am new to the whole seafood idea so needless to say this was not easy for me.

Everyone had to pose with the uneaten crab. Even Peyton wanted to hold it. Notice someone is missing though. Sarah did not want to hold it, but she did taste a bite.

The next day we drove to Cumberland, MD to visit Uncle Everett and Aunt Virginia. Another 3 hour drive we were definately the adventurers.

Monday night Mom and Dad Young treated us to another night out and then we came home for ice cream sundaes.

Easter Surprise!!

An Easter surprise from Grandma and Grandpa Young. It arrived a week before Easter and the kids spent the week speculating what it was. There was an Easter bunny basket for each one of the kids.

Our Trip

We finally made it to Pennsylvania to visit Suzette and her family. We had a blast spending time together and watching conference. I got to go to a band concert for Courtney and a Choir concert for Hannah. I also got to see Jake in a school play and Jaque's makeup skills in the play. We got to celebrate Joy and Bryce's Birthdays too. It's like we got to celebrate tons of stuff we have missed in the five years since they have moved all one one weekend. I loved Suzette's cooking and watching her bake non stop. They have a beautiful property, and a Snow White cottage. I felt like I was camping. It was wonderful and we can't wait to go back. Playing American Girl DollWatching High School Musical 3 for the first timeSarah on the massive swing that Dad built

Nathan and Bryce Mara and Spencer Joy and Peyton Bailey The cool swing tree has a little seat

Peyton walking down the lane to the cottage

The cottage

Suzette and her mad baking skills she was serving the caramel brownies for Joy's Birthday We got to eat dinner at their 16foot Amish table. There were 22 people seated and we probably could have had moreWe were almost about to leave when Nathan fell and sprained his wrist

Rain

"Rain Rain Go Away, Come Again Another Day". Most of us as kids used to song that song whenever it rained. Now that I am an adult I have learned to love the rain. I welcome it. Living in AZ we did not get to enjoy the rain very often. But when it did rain we would open the doors and windows or go onto the porch and enjoy the wet and cool water falling from the sky. I like to sing the song "Rain Rain Come and Stay , We're so glad Your Here Today". Living in Maryland I now get to enjoy the rain every two or three days. Here are the kids in summer 2007 enjoying the rain. They love to play in the rain and get all wet. We haven't done so here yet it's still a little cold for that. I tell them they will have plenty of opportunities in the near future.