This and That

Beth caught a cold right before we left for Pennsylvania. We spent four hours in the walk-in clinic the day before we left but thankfully she tested negative for covid and strep. The doctor said she just had a regular head cold.

She felt fine during the trip but knew she wouldn't be able to hold Oliver. He was just too young still. But I think they had a moment one day at the dining room table, it seems he was listening as she talked to him.

We stopped for ice cream the day we went to Princeton University and they have a mirror there that used to be at the fun house at Palisades Park around 1933. Beth certainly couldn't pass that up!

At work today we had our annual First Responders Appreciation Lunch. We invite them from all over the county and it seems each year there's more. There are police officers, fire fighters, animal control, EMTs... plus their administrative staff. We're so grateful for the work they do and the lunch is one small way we can say thank you.

August 14 we were flying home so we didn't get to celebrate on that day. This year marked 43 years for us. We ended up going out to dinner this past weekend and on Monday we got to go to a Mariner's Game. We won so that made it even more fun!

You know, 43 seems like such a huge number but it's hard to measure the time. I was 21 and he was 24 when we got married but it seems like we've just always been together. We dated for six weeks when he proposed and we were engaged for one year. 

We've been so grateful to have so many adventures in our lives, we've gone places we could only dream of and seen things many people wish they could see.

New York

Cabo San Lucas

Israel

And our girls. We were able to give them a good life and as adults, they truly love each other.

And now grandkids. We are just blessed beyond measure. I'm so grateful for the life I get to live.

Pennsylvania

We just spent some time in Pennsylvania visiting Diana and Peter. There's just something about having the whole family under one roof. We hung out, played games, went out to eat, it was good to be together. 

Our Airbnb was an old manor on about 10 acres. We did lots of exploring!

We had a good flight and got in a little after midnight. The inside of the manor was gorgeous and the beds were comfortable! We even all got our own rooms! Well, except for Chuck and I, we were willing to share. 😊 This was our room:

Ally took that picture. She's got such a good eye for photography.

In fact, Ally took all the pictures of the inside of the house! The upstairs reminded me a little of the Waltons house, the large landing at the top then all the rooms were off of that. 

Sometimes Diana, Peter and the kids came to the manor (as we called it) and other days we went to their house. We went sightseeing around Princeton University, went to Washington Crossing, played games, it was good to be together.

It was extremely hot the day we went to Princeton so we stopped and got some drinks on our way there. I love the architecture of that school. It's a photographer's dream!

Sharaya took this one

At Washington Crossing we got to see them shoot off a small canon. It was louder than I expected! This is where I took the header photo. Beth looking out at the Delaware River, where George Washington crossed the night of December 25, 1776.

Adelaide painted rocks

She explored the manor with Ally 

The 'bamboo forest' was on the side yard 

And played outside

Taking a break during one of the game nights

We played UNO No Mercy, and Mexican Train. I lost at both. We are competitive when we play games but there's also a lot of laughter. I usually laugh my hardest on game night.

We took this one at Washington Crossing. The first one of all of us, including little Oliver. He's such a sweet baby. I'm looking forward to watching him and Adelaide grow up together.