Friday –
Today has been a GREAT day. Even the big thunderstorm that rolled through didn’t dampen our spirits. We were able to get ready and out of the RV by 11AM (that is a major accomplishment for us ;). Our first stop was Cherry-Crest Adventure Farm. It was like Gull Meadows Farms, only HUGE. It had a petting farm with a chick hatchery (the kids loved holding baby chicks), fossil digging, mining, play areas, hay mazes, and a huge maze…the a-MAZE-ing maze. We also got to make delicious homemade butter…yum. We were just finishing up all the fun activities when the storm made its way in. We hopped off the slide chutes and ran for shelter, barely making it before the downpour. There is just something I LOVE about running in the rain with the kids. We hadn’t eaten yet and it seemed like the perfect time since we were going to be stuck at the sheltered picnic tables for a while. Marc was our hero and ran through the rain to the café. We hoped it would just blow through like typical Michigan thunderstorms, but they told us that the farm was closing (three hours early). We were all bummed that we didn’t get to go through the big maze, but they said we could come back a different day.
Aspen LOVED mining for gems with her daddy.
Blake taking on the challenge. 
Nicholas loved the tunnels.
It had cooled off so much that it was perfect weather for an open car train ride on the Strasburg Railroad. The boys were a little bored but Aspen really enjoyed standing up at the window and looking out. I liked feeling the cool breeze while staring out at the beautiful country side. Marc spoiled the kids afterwards at the toy store. The boys got awesome dragons and Aspen got a Calico Critters set. They played with their new stuff for most of the evening when we got back. The nice thing about long adventurous days like these is it usually keeps all of us happy. The kids are too busy to fight and yell with each other…a bonus for me. I hope the rain isn’t too bad tomorrow…it’s supposed to rain pretty much the whole time we are here. I think it has something to do with Hurricane Bill…I wonder how our next stop, New York, is going to be?
Saturday-I don’t think I have mentioned that I LOVE thunderstorms in the RV. You can practically feel them ;) We did discover a few leaks last night though. Luckily two were in the shower and one was near the sink where a cup could easily catch the water. It’s kinda sad knowing this is our last big trip in this baby. This is our fifth summer with her and we plan on upgrading next year.
Today was our “Amish” day…we learned all about the Amish lifestyle. We got a later start than yesterday, not leaving the RV until 12:30. Our first stop was The Amish Farm and House. I wouldn’t really recommend it. It felt like a tourist trap. It had lots of features, but most of them were dumpy. The house tour was indeed informative, but not very authentic. Everything looked so “new” (it was supposed to be from 1805). I did get my first Amish quilt…damn are they expensive (and I got a cheap one). The name of it is Field of Dreams and the center has a girl in a green dress. It made me think of Aspen.
The kids loved playing "school" with Daddy in the Amish School House.
Our next stop was the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery. I didn’t realize that the bakery didn’t really function anymore (they get all their pretzels from a family factory). But the kids still enjoyed learning about the start of pretzels and they got to roll and twist one. 
We saved the best for last…Abe’s Buggy Rides. We went on a 4.5 mile authentic Amish buggy ride through beautiful Amish countryside. We were our “drivers” last ride for the day and got a special treat (thanks to my big mouth). We stopped at an Amish house and looked at some crafts in their basement. It was after dinner time and the family was just getting ready to have homemade ice cream. When the father came out to check on it I jokingly told him we were just in time. He told me, “You sure are” and went in and got all of us a dish. I was completely embarrassed, but he assured me that I had no reason and even offered seconds…what a genuinely nice man. Our driver was great too. We had so many questions for him and he never made us feel like his beliefs were any better than ours. His best words were, “We’re just people like you, only we live a simpler lifestyle.” 
They all got to take turns "driving" the buggy.
You can’t finish an Amish day without a smorgasbord dinner. We went to the Good n Plenty Restaurant for traditional Amish food, family style. I LOVE Amish food: fried chicken, butter noodles, mashed potatoes…but mostly the fried chicken. It was really hard for me not to have seconds, but I was glad I didn’t. I had a little room for dessert still and the apple pie was so yummy.
Sunday-
Today was kind of a wash. I spent the morning cleaning up the RV like a good little housewife ;). We didn’t get out until almost 2PM. I wanted to try Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries for lunch. Marc said it was supposed to be like Inn N Out. Nope, not at all and it was $28 for the five of us to eat fast food. It wasn’t bad, but it just wasn’t great. I would rather just go to Mickey D’s.
I wonder if we are the only family that decides to go to an amusement park at 3PM. We went to Dutch Wonderland. The positive side was that the boys could ride EVEVYTHING and Aspen could ride all but four. The negative side was that it was really no different than the Jackson County Fair (the fair might be better ;). It was also overpriced at $30 per person. But the kids DID have a good time which is all that really matters.
Aspen’s favorite part was probably the gift shop afterwards. I thought I loved to buy Aspen princess stuff, but Marc might be worse. He spoiled her with a beautiful princess gown AND slippers. She wanted to go into the bathroom and put it on right away. It is so sweet to watch her eyes light up at the thought of becoming a princess. I can already picture the many Sunday mornings that she will refuse to wear anything but that dress into LaRues.
Monday-
Today was out last day in Lancaster and we made the best of it. We headed to Hershey, PA to visit Chocolate World. You can’t take a tour at the actual factory anymore…that was a little disappointing. Instead you go on a Disney like ride that simulates the chocolate factory. The kids thought it was great and it was really cute.
We took the scenic trolley tour of Hershey. It took us by the real factory, Milton’s home, the home he was born in, and some of the schools he built. Hershey really was an amazing man, so kind and generous. I honestly found myself comparing him to Marc when Hershey’s life story was being told. I hope Marc is eventually rewarded for not giving up…I know he cares more about success than anything.
The kids also loved the Really Big 3D Show. The seats moved, water sprayed, and bubbles fell from the sky. The Chocolate Tasting Adventure was great too. We were taught how to “taste” chocolate by trying numerous samples. I don’t know if Aspen and Nicholas got the hang of it…every time I looked over they were chewing. The kids became factory workers and joined the Hershey Kiss factory line. They packaged up and sent off some kisses.
I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed in anything we did today. We didn’t go to Hershey Park because I felt that the kids would appreciate Chocolate World more at their ages. I think I made the right decision, they said everything we did was AWESOME. Hershey Park is similar to Cedar Point and I figured we should wait until we could all enjoy it.
The visit was almost perfect…until the end. I wanted some postcards and a shot glass. When Marc went up to the register I noticed that the boys kept walking. Aspen was right by me looking at some stuff. Every time we had been in the gift shops we had to pull her away from the stuff, so I knew she would be right there while I ran to call after the boys…I didn’t have to go far at all so she never really lost sight of me. Well actually, she did, because when I turned back around she was gone. I wasn’t frantic at first…I figured she just went around the display, but when I couldn’t find her in the entire section…panic set in. I told a girl that was shelving that I lost Aspen…ugh, and then I had to tell Marc. How could she have disappeared so fast??? Did someone snatch her??? Man, I was freaking out. Marc and I split up with the boys…round and round I went searching for my baby. Then a security guard came up to me and asked if I was missing two children…two???...I followed him to find Aspen and Nicholas. I guess Nicholas decided to leave Marc and go searching on his own, I was so happy to see that he found her that I couldn’t even be upset that he was missing for a minute as well…he was our Hero. Those five to ten minutes felt like an eternity. Blake was very happy to see his little sister and showed it by giving her a big squeeze.We got back to the camp ground in time for the kids to play on the playground. A movie was playing at the outdoor theatre so we watched Underdog under the stars. Marc had the fire ready when we returned so we could roast hotdogs and marshmallows. I love sitting around the fire with my family (and I was actually being a pissy bitch haha…what can I say, a special visitor is in town). It just amazes me that I created these little beings.
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