The Buckeye State

For some reason blogger won't let me move this picture... so here it stays... bothering me - completely out of order... ugh.

We were able to vacation in Northeast Ohio with Dan's parents last week. It was one of my favorite trips to Ohio. We had a blast. I've only spent a brief couple of days up there during the summer (7 years ago after our honeymoon), so it was nice to see the state in the lush greenness of summer.... beautiful. Dan is usually pining for snow, so fall/winter trips are our norm.

In the airport.

'Hanging' out on the plane.

Ben slept most of the way going and coming thankfully. I think if all we did on this trip was fly in the airplane and stay in a hotel... the kids would have been happy. That is exciting stuff to these littles.

We spent an entire day in Amish Country. The community was so intriguing. Wildly obvious differences in the community... yet they work together in what seemed like mutual harmony and respect. The different people, beliefs, and lifestyles all meshed - from what I could tell. I was trying not to be a 'staring' tourist, but this made me think of all kinds of places here in America where this doesn't happen nearly as well.


We toured a working Amish farm - Yoder Farm est. 1865 & two Amish homes. I was glad I already had a 'big belly' as an excuse because the food was amazing. The farm bakery was so yummy. Ali found a beagle dog she lovingly called brownie and decided that is what she wants for Christmas. Although I think many of the Amish beliefs to be misinterpretations of Scripture, I envy their simplified life.



This was, as Ali named him, Brownie.

Beagle puppy... 2 weeks old.



The green in this picture is not just from the vegetation... it's from my envy as well!
Just the right size, complete with a quaint wooden fence...hmm, I will have to have one of these someday. A garden to eat, better than flowers.

We rode in one of the Amish horse & buggies. They were surprisingly comfortable. We saw them all along the rodes in town as people were headed home from work.

Pictures, nor my camera did justice to the beautiful landscape of the countryside.

City Hall of a town called Millersburg that we drove through. Est. 1885.

Our usual stop upon visiting Ohio, is our friends, the Yarmans. We had a great time seeing them again and letting the kids play. Some of Ali's favorite parts of our trip were in Anna's back yard. As always, we enjoyed it. Thanks guys!!

(Here should be the above bonfire picture...ugh.)

Anna & Ali

Ben, Ali, Anna, & Maddie in a tee pee set up around a bonfire one evening.

This year, we visited our Bittinger cousins in Bay Village, Ohio. This was my first time to see Lake Erie. Dan's cousin Stephen & his wife Jenni along with their adorable two sons, Sheridan & Luke hosted a BBQ for us Sunday afternoon. It was so nice to spend the afternoon catching up and watching the kids play together. We wish we could do that more often. Ali is still amazed that her friends, Sheridan & Luke, have her same last name!

Sheridan, Ali, Luke, & Ben

Lake Erie

Daughters

This fall little Ben will be outnumbered, but well loved I'm sure. We will be having another precious girl. I have wanted Ali to have a sister ever since we decided to have more children. She is very excited. We took her with us to the ultrasound and I think that made it even more special for me to share that experience with her. It is fun that she comprehends and anticipates much more about babies than she did during my last pregnancy.

I never really wanted kids of my own, until after our first. Each child has brought the desire to have another. Though this will be our last natural child, I definitely see more kids in our future. Being a stay at home wife & mother is one of my favorite parts of myself.

Like I've told many first time moms... my assurance of God was strengthened when I became a mother. Part of me 'happened' that had never existed before. Something I had no desire or knowledge about became so natural and treasured.

I do so wish to spend this time with my own mom, but it is a slight encouragement to know that one day when Ali and sister girl have babies of their own - they will not only (hopefully) have me, but a sister to share the moments with.

Want

Most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it.

-Soren Keirkegaard

I am becoming increasingly aware of this... in effort to stop being quite as guilty of it!