Vacation with Babies, 2010: Day 3

Day 3 was our first full day in Ephrata. I never did tell you why we picked these specific locations. When we were staring at the map in our vacation planning stage, we originally wanted to go to my beloved Boston to go see some whales. Momma needs a whale fix, it's been almost 5 years. Too long. So when we thought we'd go to Boston, we decided to stop over in PA to see some family. We'd met Madelyn when she was just a few months old, and we saw both Madelyn and JD at Grandpa Ellerman's funeral two years ago, but we had yet to meet Maya. And we wanted to hang out with everyone under a less stressful situations than a funeral. So when the plans to go to Baltimore instead of Boston unfolded, we kept our PA plans in place. And, I wanted to see Amish stuff. Fascinating to me. Not as important as family, but we like to disclose everything here.

So this morning the two families respectively loaded up cars and we headed out to explore. We followed them. See them? There they are! The white car.

More farm scenery to enjoy. I was loving the scenery. So peaceful and serene.

Mike had a great idea to stop at a visitor center. I am drawing a blank on the name of the visitor center....hmmm...Mennonite something? I'm not sure. Despite us all stopping so I, just I, could get some coffee, I was still not alert enough to absorb details.Someone who knows should comment here for me, please. We got there a few minutes before the center opened, and there was a really neat buggy that drew us like moths to a flame.

The kids swarmed around the buggy, and Mike and Julie told us a bit about the Amish and Mennonite , point out some features on the buggy, like the shock absorption system, and the wheels. Keith and I are not shy about being dorks, and we had a few discussions about the differences between the two groups on our way up to PA. Keith was quick to point out, repeatedly, that their buggies have metal on them, not rubber. I guess the thinking is that rubber is a manmade product, so they shun it. But isn't some electricity or other technology used nowadays to produce metal? I wondered about this. See the wheels?

We finally got Madelyn and her boys to pose near the buggy.

And we were lucky to get the pic, because just as quickly as they posed, they were distracted.

Behind the buggy Cole went to look at the shock absorption system.

By now the visitor center opens and we go inside. We looked around a bit and Mike got info on some sights. And Keith fixated on this. Some local hotel advertises hotel rooms with three bed! Whoa. I no longer get surprised at the random things that catches Keith's eye, but I was surprised that he took a picture of the ad.

We left the visitor center, and started to follow the white car again. Past some corn fields.

And through a cute little town of some sorts.

And into a railroad station. LOOK! Trains! TRAAAAAAIINS.

Madelyn and her gang start wrapping their minds around riding a train.

And by "wrapping their minds around it" I mean they were standing about staring. Might have been tired, no telling.

Madelyn and her boys pose here for a picture. She needs to get one of the boys in line.

We tried again to get a picture of Dada and boys. Cole was obsessed with a rock he picked up (note the ground cover, that kid was in heaven, he loves rocks), and was busy making it fly. And Grady was highly concerned with Dada's shirt being wet. Why was it wet? I'm glad you asked. Out of the entire parking lot, which was like a quarter mile long, Keith managed to step backwards onto the one watering hose in that parking lot, spraying water all over Keith. I've never seen him move that fast. I got a good chuckle out of that. But Grady was concerned. Was his Dada ok with all this water on him? How could we just take pictures at a time like this?

We abandon the photo op and head to get tickets and board. A few picture were taken on the way there.

Of course we should climb up these steps. Why else would the steps be there?

Then down the steps and off towards to ticket station. And where we, exactly? A really cool train station, the Strasburg Rail Road, read about it here and here, if you want.

Mike took one for the team and stood in line for tickets. We explored other old means of transportation. Here was another buggy, but this one we could climb into! Whoa. Forgive the "ghost" in this picture. Somebody should clean his lenses.

And another buggy. Even the Momma's got into this action.

Then it was time for snacks. The kids sat on the bench, and the adults stood about.

Before we got onto the train, we went into a little train hobby store to watch a train go around the track. And around and around, until my arms felt like they were slowly getting torn out of socket. And then we explored the rest f the store, and chuckled at the fast array of accesories one can buy for a model train setup. Your people can be sitting, standing, or they can be fat. Your options are endless!

And finally it was time to board the train! All aboooooard!

We found our seats and waited to get moving.

And when the train did get moving, we saw some more fantastic farm scenery.

While I enjoyed that view, I wondered what the adult boys were talking about across the aisle.

Then my attention went back to the corn. And farms. And I hoped we'd see some Amish in action.

And just like that, the universe provided!

Then I handed the camera back to Keith and he got this shot. Surely he could not have gotten his picture by following the "keep your arms and head inside the train" rule?

AHA! Busted! Mike better be happy JD the Rule Regulator didn't catch him doing this. JD does not tolerate rule-breaking.

As you can see, JD waves at passing trains while keeping his arms in the train.

The trainride was about 45 minutes and we followed it with a visit to the train museum across the street. It was a large warehouse type building that was not air conditioned. I repeat, not air conditioned.

These trains were so big.

There were little places here and there we could step up upon and peer into the trains.

And a diarama here and there. Madelyn checked this out for a bit.

Above turned into a drumming session. In action here.

And now were hot and sweaty and quickly approaching our pre-nap meltdown stage, so we headed outta there.

And we followed the white car on to lunch and then nap. And while following the white car, we saw a buggy crossing sign. Am I the only one who thinks this was neat?

More farm. Cannot get enough. Maybe I want a farm?

OOOOH. The white car pulled up to a stop sign, and there was a buggy. Score! I took one picture then felt bad about treating the people like animals at a zoo, that little girl and her brother on the back of the buggy was giving us the stare-down.

Once home the boys and I took a glorious, almost 4 hour nap. Awesome does not even get close to telling you how good the nap was. When I woke up, there was some action in the backyard. Mike was putting the kiddie pools into action.

There was definitely not any clothes behind the board.

The playground equipment was put to good use.

While we played about outside, Julie was slaving away to make our dinner. She grew purple green beans. I had never seen those before. And she came to show them to us since the turn green when they are cooked. Neat. adding "grow purple beans" to our next year's summer to-do list.

And back to swinging. everyone got a turn to push.

Later that evening JD showed the boy the "Fwogs". A few little fellas who live in Julie's classroom during the year, but came home with her for summer. The boys were ecstatic.

And for the evening's grand finale, Madelyn and her boys played a little dress-up. I present to you Sleeping Beauty.

And Tinkerbell and her Bea-uh.

I simply cannot wait to share these beauties at a wedding or graduation of the boys'. Mwahahahaha.

And a few minutes later we enjoyed a few dance performancesc from Madelyn and JD. Not the best pics, but here you see the master perfomer instructing her boys.

A great day overall. The next one coming is just as good, with even more Amish and little foursome cuteness. Can you stand the excitement?