Father's Day Weekend

We had an absolutely wonderful Father’s Day weekend this year! We visited my Grandparents in Pennsylvania, and two of my Dad’s cousins drove up from Virginia to be with us! The last time we saw the cousins was when we spent 2 weeks in Virginia and Washington D.C. last year. So we were VERY excited to see them!

We left for PA early on Friday morning, and stopped for lunch at a Big Boy somewhere in Ohio. It was rather funny because we ate there the last time we visited Grandma and Grandpa, around Easter. We sat at the same table, with the same waiter, and he remembered us! When I think about it, we’re probably hard to forget (in a good way, hopefully! J)

We finally arrived, and around dinner time, the cousins showed up!

We enjoyed pizza, popcorn, antipasto salad, and soda pop for dinner. We’ve had pizza and popcorn every Friday since the twins were born! As you can tell from the picture, we kids enjoyed our dinner on Grandma and Grandpa’s screened in back porch. This is truly one of the highlights of our summer: eating outdoors without the bugs!

After staying up late visiting on Friday night, we enjoyed sleeping in a bit on Saturday. Daddy and I left to go on a run around 9:00 a.m. It was good, but a very hard 4 miles. The route we take never seems to get easier!

I showered and enjoyed a late breakfast, and then went outdoors to help weed the gardens. The cousins arrived and sat on the back porch visiting for awhile. After a light lunch of leftovers, we decided to go out to the lake for awhile and walk the trails there.

Cousin B, Cousin E, Daddy, and Ben watching the ships on the Bay.

All of us kids in front of the Bay. The weather was perfect for a walk along the lake shore!

Yes, we do know how to stage funny pictures! J We decided that since the water was shallow, we’d better not push him in this time. J

All of us (minus mom snapping the picture) in front of a monument at the Bay.

We were finally able to see the Flagship Niagara sail! We had learned about this ship a few years ago when we visited a Maritime Museum, but the ship wasn’t there that day. We saw it sailing in the distance last summer, but this year it was up close and personal!

Unfortunately, our view was somewhat blocked by a big freighter dumping sand on the shore. It was cool to watch, but since it was there, we couldn’t go out on the pier to see the lighthouse. L Maybe some other time!

It is impossible for us to resist the tug of Lake Erie! We had to get our feet wet!

But a few minutes later, much more than our feet were wet! J We stayed relatively dry while still having fun.

After our jaunt to the lake, we were able to swim in my Grandparents’ neighbor’s pool. I lifeguarded. J The pool hasn’t warmed up yet. I dove off the board once or twice, but I’m positive I saw ice cubes at the bottom of the pool. J

For dinner we enjoyed hot dogs and brats hot off the grill! My Cousin B told us about slaw dogs. I think it’s a southern thing. He puts coleslaw on his hot dog! I tried it, and it was actually pretty good!

Sunday morning we all were able to go to church together. We were even able to snap a picture of us all “gussied up.”

As a Father’s Day gift for my Grandpa, Cousin B brought up some of my Grandpa’s favorite southern-style barbeque for lunch, all the way from Virginia. It was goooood!

After lunch, we gave out gifts to all of the fathers! I think they all enjoyed them.

We were so blessed to have such a full house for Father’s day! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with Grandpa, Grandma, Cousin E, and Cousin B. It will be one of the highlights of our year. We wouldn’t trade our time with them for anything, and hope that they will come and visit again very soon!