Fourth of July 2020

Fourth of July is my favorite holiday of the year. I love it all: the food, fireworks, parade, and swimming. It's all my favorite! 

This year we even had a special treat in the morning. Kona Ice drove through the neighborhood so we had shaved ice while we were watching the morning parade. 

Nothing like getting sugared up at 9am in the morning!

We love getting decked out for the 4th! 

The parade starts at the other side of the neighborhood so we have to wait a bit for it to come by our house. It was HOT which was good for swimming but not good for parade watching.Adam put up our canopy so we could have some shade.  

I bought Paige some noise cancelling headphones for the parade and fireworks. Last year, she didnt make it through either. She cannot handle loud noises so I hoped these would be helpful. They did the trick. She didn't mind the firetrucks or fireworks this year. 

After the parade we swam and grilled out. It was a great day for swimming since it was so hot. I am so glad the weather cooperated with our plans. You just never know. 

Once everyone left we regrouped and got ready for round 2 at my parent's house. It's always a long day but so much fun. 

We love the fourth! 

Fireworks ready!!

We all got a big kick out of my dad with his grabber stick. He lit a firework, grabbed it, and held it in the air. Imagine me laughing hysterically, because I was. I appreciate the stupidity that fourth of July brings out of the Pennells on the fourth. Lol! 

Since there were no fireworks at the river this year (due to COVID) most everyone was at home doing fireworks. There were so many fireworks being lit off all around the city, and that's about all you could hear. It was something! 

It was nice that Paige (and Mammy) could actually watch the fireworks this year and enjoy it. 

Autumn is a true Pennell. She helped light off everything with Terry and dad. 

It was truly a great fourth of July. Looking back, I'm sad it's over. It was an other great fourth spent with the family! 

Amish Country

There is something about Amish Country that I find fascinating. Each spring, for the past few years we have gone to the amish greenhouse to buy flowers, and I always enjoy the trip. I love seeing the Amish women out mowing the lawn, their laundry hanging on the lines, and the horse and buggies rolling down the road.  I admire the fact that Amish can survive without electricity, phones, the internet, and cars. I'm sure that list could go on.  Although I love all "the fluff" that life has to offer, I definitely can appreciate how simple their life is. 

Shortly after our spring trip, I saw on Facebook an advertisement for dinner at an Amish home. I knew we had to do this so I texted my mom and got her on board as well. Luckily it worked out that the whole family could go. Once the day came we worried all day about the weather. Most of the activities were outside so the rain was not an option! It POURED almost the entire way to their house, and shortly before we got there it stopped. 

We ate dinner at The Yoder's home. Sharon and her husband were the nicest people. We also met their son, daughter in law, and grandsons. They made a delicious meal complete with cinnamon rolls. I could have only eaten the cinnamon rolls and been happy. 

After dinner we were taken on buggy rides and a barrel ride. It was so much fun. We did ride after ride in the barrels. The kids (and the big kids) loved it. They took us down the road and around some of the other homes. We even got to see a baby pony that had recently been born. They also had a fire going that we sat around to drink coffee and chit chat with them. They were the nicest, most hospitable people. It was a great night. One that will be not forgotten anytime soon. 

Paige on the barrel ride. She loved it! 

Their garden was nothing short of impressive. 

It's hard not to love the back country roads they live on. It was so calm and quiet. 

Paige was living it up. She took barrel ride after barrel ride. 

I had to get in on the fun too! 

Paige had absolutely no hesitation to go on buggy rides with them by herself. 

My mom was meant to be amish I think. Stick a dress and bonnet on her, and she would fit right in!

The big girls had fun too!

 It was so neat to meet the Yoder family and get a closer look into their lives. It was a wonderful evening spent with a great family!