Missing our Friends!

It didn't take long after we were home for us to start wanting to head over to see some of our friends. Elaina pleaded all morning on Saturday to go see "my Hannah" and "my Jill." In fact, Elaina fell on Saturday. It was no big deal - she just triped in the living room. You would have thought the world had ended. She was screaming! She wasn't hurt at all. Nothing seemed to help, so finally out of somewhat frustration, I asked her what she needed. She replied, "I NEED MY JILL!!" with big tears streaming down her face.

The Ruddle family got a new puppy, Mac, while we were gone, so Elaina was very excited to go see Mac and give him the ball she picked out for him. Elaina is TERRIFIED of dogs, so we weren't sure how this would go. We're very excited that they got a dog because we are at their house so much, and we're hoping that it will help calm her fears a bit. She loved meeting Mac! We had a great lunch with the Ruddles.

We got to catch up with more of our friends Sunday at church and again Sunday evening out at the Bright farm. It was so wonderful to see everyone. We had a wonderful Sunday, and the girls really enjoyed playing with their friends.

We've made a lot of girl plans this week to hang out with friends, which is very exciting. The girls will be spending time with their MawMaw and PawPaw this week, too. There are so many people that we want to see. I feel like we were gone much longer than two weeks.

Here are some pictures that the Ruddle family took of their new puppy, Mac. He is a Newfoundland and is just stinkin' adorable!

Mac and Hannah

Mr. Mac Ruddle

Miss B - New Hampshire Trip - Day 15

I had to make this last post about our trip. When I was a little girl, I had a lovey named Miss B. She was a bunny rabbit hand puppet blanket thingy. Anyway, I took her everywhere, so she actually made many New Hampshire trips. One year, when we got to New Hampshire, we couldn't find Miss B. My mom tells me that I cried and cried and cried. Mom was afraid we had left Miss B in Connecticut at my aunt and uncle's house. She was fearful of what our time in New Hampshire would be like with me not having my lovey. Fortunately, my mom found Miss B, and it was a very happy ending.

Well, 28 years later, Miss B is still making the New Hampshire trip. When I was pregnant with Elaina, I washed up Miss B just in case we had a baby girl. Well, we did, but Elaina really never got attached to a lovey. I was a little disappointed, but I knew Elaina would have other special things that she gets to have passed down to her from me. So, I set it aside and saved it for possibly another baby girl. Then, Emily was born! Emily attached to Miss B right away and snuggles with Miss B at every nap and every bedtime. Miss B went on our trip with us, and she made it safely home, too. Emily loves her Miss B!

Emily and Miss B

Miss B - age 28

On the Road Again . . . Tetanus Shot Arby's Playground . . . 2650 Miles . . . We're Home! - New Hampshire Trip - Day 15

We left Connecticut at 6:30 Friday morning, and pulled into our driveway at 11:30 Friday night. It was such a long day, but the weather was perfect, and we didn't run into any major traffic. It was a great day to travel.

Our total mileage for our trip was 2,650 miles! It was well worth it! We had such an amazing time. It was so special to have my parents with us for this trip, too. I know it mean a lot to them.

I was so glad that I was able to share all of my special places with the girls and Jeff. I know we'll get back up there someday, but it won't be for a long time.

I'm glad that I was able to keep up with my posting so that the girls will have these written memories years from now to look back on. Elaina learned so much on our trip, and I'm sure Emily had great experiences that helped her grow, too.

For lunch, we stopped somewhere in PA at an Arby's. We had to laugh because it was such an old Arby's. It had one of those playgrounds that I like to call "tetanus shot playgrounds." You know, the old metal ones. Well, Elaina decided to discover the metal curly slide. She's fearless. She got to the top, and went down. She did somersaults the whole way down banging her head. She was screaming and crying as she got to the bottom. But, of course, she dried her tears and asked to go down it again! I made Jeff go down it with her the second time. She's so brave. She was not happy that I made Jeff go down it with her. She wanted to do it again all by herself.

Well, we're home, and we're exhausted. We're trying to catch up on two weeks worth of mail and newspapers. It feels good to be home, but it was sad to have our vacation end. Thanks to all who prayed for us along the way. To my family on the East Coast - you are much loved by us out here in Indiana. Thank you for a wonderful two weeks and many special memories. You're the best!

Elaina playing "1, 2, 3, 4, 5" at a Cracker Barrel pit stop. Elaina and her Poppy play this game together. It's really special.

The Tetanus Shot Arby's Playground somewhere in the middle of Pennsylvania

A Tough Goodbye - New Hampshire Trip - Day 15

We left Uncle Harry and Aunt Audrey's house early Friday morning. As with last week's goodbye from NH, this was just as tough. It's so hard saying goodbye to family, especially when you never know when you might see them again. We enjoyed our stay in Connecticut so much. The girls had a ball with "my ucus" (Cousin Lucus). Jeff had a great time teasing his Aunt Audrey, and I'm sure Aunt Audrey had a great time giving me grief all week and calling me "Saucy" - a nickname she's had for me since I was Elaina's age. Uncle Harry and my Dad had a great time just sitting around, and Mom enjoyed her time with Aunt Audrey, too. It was so great to watch the girls play there like I did when I was a little girl. We miss our family so much, and they were so good to us while we were there. We can't wait until we will get to see them again.

Uncle Harry, Aunt Audrey, and Emily

Uncle Harry, Emily, Aunt Audrey, and Elaina

A Day at the Park in Connecticut - New Hampshire Trip - Day 14

Thursday of last week was our last full day in Connecticut. We went to a wonderful park in the morning where the kids could play. We were able to feed the trout at a catch and release area. They were huge trout! They were jumping up out of the water. The kids loved it. It was a really pretty area as well.
We also went out to dinner and enjoyed time with our family. We had such a wonderful time here in Connecticut. Here our pictures from our day.

A Day of Play - New Hampshire Trip - Day 13

Today we did a lot of playing at Aunt Audrey and Uncle Harry's house. This morning we went to prayer meeting at their church. After church, we went to lunch and then came home for naps. The girls took a 3 hour nap! They are so tired from playing so much! Cousin Lucas was here all day to play with us again. He loves to catch bugs, so Elaina got to do that with him today. Emily was our little adventurer today and again decided to do a face plant right into the concrete step. She's our little climber. She has no fear and insists on being independent. She has the bruises and scrapes to show for it today. We enjoyed a yummy dinner with Cousins Robin and Donny (Lucas' parents) tonight as well.

Emily relaxing in a chair that Uncle Harry fixed up for his great nieces to lounge in while they visited.

Elaina in Uncle Harry's chair

The hill was a big hit again today!

Catching bugs with Cousin Lucas and Daddy

Emily had fun playing with Cousin Robin tonight.

More fun on the hill

Emily's scratched and bruised up face that she got from being a big explorer today!

Aunt Audrey's Toilet Paper Head - New Hampshire Trip - Day 12

My Aunt Audrey has been getting her hair done every Friday morning for as long as I can remember. Jeff always gives her a hard time because she wraps her hair in toilet paper right before she goes to bed each night to keep it from getting messy. Jeff teases her about this constantly and even sent her a quality roll of toilet paper for her birthday one year. None of us have ever seen Aunt Audrey's toilet paper head because she makes sure she does it once everybody has gone to bed.

Last night, I was down in the basement office working on our family blog, and Aunt Audrey knew that I would be down there for a long time. She wasn't worried about me catching her in her toilet paper head dress because by the time I came upstairs she would be fast asleep in bed.

Well, Jeff was bound and determined to snap her picture in her toilet paper head dress. Jeff waited in the dark hallway for what Aunt Audrey says was almost an hour. Finally, Aunt Audrey didn't hear any noise in the house, other than me in the basement, so she figured it was safe to head out of the bathroom and head to bead. She was wrong! Jeff was waiting for her just around the corner and snapped a picture of her! From the basement I heard shrieking screams and loud laughter! It was hysterical!