A day off! Yeah!

I have this list.  You could call it a "bucket list" of sorts.  It is a list of all of things I want to do while we are living here, back east.  We have managed in the last three and half years to put a check mark next to several things.  One of things that has been on this list since the first year we moved here is the Hershey's Amusement Park, though I have been to Hershey numerous times, never to the park.  When we first moved here I got pregnant with Lucas, and then we had Lucas and he would make it difficult to ride the rides.  Then the biggest factor is money, it is really expensive (especially on a grad student income!!!).  The stars finally aligned and the heavens smiled down on us and Craig and I were able to go in October!  I am still amazed at how perfect it all worked out!  I just want to say, "Thank you!", "Thank you soooo much" to those who watched Lucas and made it so Craig and I could go!  We are so grateful!

On the way to Hershey there is this car hop place, the "Red Rabbit", that I have always wanted to try, but they have odd hours, and we are usually on our way home from the temple when we drive by it and it is late and we are very tired and don't want to stop.  And yes, it too it on my "list".  On the way to Hershey we stopped for lunch, and it was pretty good.  We had the "Bunny Burger".

Pay no attention to the lady in the car who was probably wondering what the heck Katie was doing.

As we were driving to Hershey we were a little worried about the weather, especially since the weather forecasts here are not always accurate.  Though it said it would be in the high 50's and sunny, it was not.  It was overcast, but still fairly warm.  I was determined to go, I felt that if we didn't do it now, it would never happen!  We made it to the park right when it opened, dressed warm, and (having just taken dramamine) we were set and ready to go.  Craig had a list of all of the ride we wanted to hit first, just in case they were shut down due to the weather.  I was a little nervous, roll coasters are not my favorite, but Craig was excited and it was something I wanted to experience so we did it.  Can I just say, Wow!  That was so much fun!  They had some pretty neat roller coaster rides, on one you went forwards and backwards, on another you went from zero to 72 mph in about 2 seconds, which was crazy!  Our favorite one, was the one where your hanging and the track is above you head.  The first couple of hours there were no lines we walked right up the rides. Unfortunately this didn't last the entire night, but we were able to go on most of the roller coasters without waiting too long.  The other ride I enjoyed was the tram that went through the park and outside the park around Hershey the Factory, it was interesting!  We ended the night having dinner at the "Outback".  We have never been here, but had a coupon so we went, it was way better than I was expecting, I loved there baked sweet potato, oh so yummy!  And their bread was amazing!   I would be willing to go again, if only for the bread!  Check and Check off the list.

Fire Station!

For playgroup we recently went on a field trip to the local fire station.  This was pretty fun.  Because we live in a small town, the fireman are all volunteers.  The fireman talked about fire safety, let the kids roam in and out of a fire truck (they even turned on the lights), let them put out a fire with the fire hose, and they dressed up in their fireman gear!  It was exciting!  What would have made it even better would have been a better behaved little boy, but we managed!  While we were taking a group picture Lucas was sitting next to his friend, and right when I was taking the picture they started to smack each other, so I have it on camera these two taking and giving each smacks!  These two are a perfect match, they are so alike it is scary!

Rain = Soup!

I am not a big fan of the cold wet weather we have been getting and they fact that we are headed into that season!  But I am not really sad that it is raining right now, because there are a bunch of soup recipes I have been looking at and can't wait to try.  So the Swensons are having soup tonight!

Books!

This past week Lucas has wanted to read a book 24/7.  The other night I wanted to sit down and turn on the t.v for five minutes, but Lucas had other plans, he turned off the t.v looked at me and said, "read book".  What do you say to that?  Lucas and I read the book, and have been reading books nonstop since then.  This is not a bad thing, I just feel guilty that I can't read to him 24/7.  Right now we're obsessed with a book call, "The Doghouse."  We went to the library today so hopefully we can branch out a little bit!  Side note, we were able to find another Dora DVD, thank heavens, I have basically memorized the previous Dora Halloween episode.

Caramel Apples

On Monday for FHE we had our friends over (the James Family) for Caramel Apples.  I have never made caramel apples it just sounded and looked good, and it is the season!  Honestly can you go wrong with apples dipped in caramel then smothered in a topping of your choice and drizzled with chocolate (white and milk)?  By the end we were wondering where the apple was!  This was very successful, almost too successful!  Lucas seemed to like it, he basically licked his apple clean.

Pumpkin Picking!

Saturday afternoon we went pumpkin picking!  There was a fun festival going on at a fruit farm that we go to.  We took a wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch and picked a pumpkin.  That is what we planned on doing, honestly, but really Craig picked the pumpkin while Lucas and I were busy stepping in a huge pile of pumpkin goo!  Yuck!  It smelled awful, thus we smelled pretty bad until we got home to wash our shoes! (I think Craig was relieved that I was so willing to leave so quickly, he thinks I take to long picking the pumpkin, but it takes time to pick the perfect pumpkin for our dinner.) So not our funnest trip to the pumpkin patch, but the most memorable trip so far!  And we did end up with a beautiful pumpkin for our traditional dinner in a pumpkin!  Thanks to Craig!  Lucas also rode on this train car ride.  I thought he wouldn't like it, because he had to go all by himself and during part of it we wouldn't be in view.  This was not a problem at all he liked it so much I think he would have gone again!  Instead of riding it again we went and saw the bunnies, which Lucas seemed to enjoy!  He spent most the time trying to pick one up, much to the dismay of the people running the bunny petting booth (Lucas has not learned the concept of being gentle yet.)

 

Football!

Friday night we went to a Penns Valley High Football game.  A young man in our ward is the quarter back, defensive end, and the long snapper.  Basically he is the team!  (He also is also a starting forward on the Basketball team and plays P/1B/SS on the baseball team.)  It was way fun!  The weather was wonderful!  Unfortunately they lost, but our wardie did awesome!  We went with our friends which made it way more fun!  Lucas seemed to enjoy it!  He left the game on a sugar high, at one point he was carrying around a bag of pretzel M&M's.  Yeah that's responsible parenting for ya.  Oh well, isn't that one of the reasons to go to sporting events; to eat junk food!

Penns Valley is the Blue and White

A newspaper shot of Sam