Trip to Pennsylvania

With swim team at a close by the end of June, we took our first road trip of the summer to Pennsylvania.  We traveled up to Pottstown and Harleysville for a few days of visiting with Jonathan’s grandparents and aunt and uncle and then headed to Philadelphia for the July 4th celebration.  We took the very scenic drive up through western North Carolina and Virginia and I actually consider it a memorable part of the trip—beautiful rural scenes, only country music on the radio, reading stories about the Declaration of Independence to the kids (we were going to be in Philly for the 4th of July, afterall), and stopping at Dunkin’ Donuts once in Pennsylvania for their afternoon happy hour (one of Jonathan’s few weaknesses).  No pictures from that part of the trip, but, to me, definitely a calm, family-bonding part of the trip worth noting.
We headed straight for Grandmom and Grandpop’s house and were met there later by Jonathan’s aunt and uncle, Aunt Anita and Uncle Mark.  Grandmom had checked out of a rehab center that morning, after having shoulder surgery weeks earlier, but she still managed to have a huge spread of food for us, including her famous pierogies (yum!).  The next day Grandmom was settling in to being at home and expecting a physical therapist to come by, so Aunt Anita entertained us for the day before all (Aunt Anita, Uncle Mark, and their two daughters, plus us) met for a fun evening back at Grandmom and Grandpop’s house.  The timing of our trip might’ve turned out to be a little less than ideal with Grandmom unable to get out with us, but our visit to Pennsylvania was long overdue and we had a wonderful time hanging with the Pish side of the family.  And, we can’t thank Grandmom and Grandpop and Aunt Anita and Uncle Mark enough for their incredible hospitality.


{aunt anita}

{aunt anita took us to a cute little shopping village that had a place called mountain giggleberry.  she and i shopped around while jonathan and the kids had a ball playing here.  it was like plaza fiesta to the max.  here the kids are in an air cannon fight, shooting foam balls, with jonathan.  loads of fun and definitely had the energy-burning effect we were going for.}






{back at grandmom and grandpop’s house.}



{a little minute to win it fun with grandmom.}




{love these.  grandpop, chasing the kids around the yard and wrestling with them.}




{yay!  uncle mark joined us, too, after a day at work—he’s an amazing baker/chef.}


{jonathan’s cousin jenna, ella, grandmom, jonathan’s cousin julia, and grandmom’s best friend mary jane.  jenna actually had her beautiful baby girl just a little over a week ago.}