Out West 2017: Kansas on the Road

Steve and I have traveled a lot over the years, especially in the early days of our relationship.  Back in the day you would go to AAA to get your maps, buy a Lonely Planet travel guide for a new city or county, or just wing it. Traveling with Google Maps is a whole new deal. Ok, I know it's not 'new' but it kind of is to me. I haven't traveled in awhile. :)  We were looking for breakfast and were literally in the middle of nowhere Kansas. Google Maps led us to the cutest little cafe right off the highway that had good reviews. I won't say it was the best breakfast or coffee that we have ever had but we got to see a small town and enjoy a place that we never would have found on our own.


From the iPhone:

These 2 were unintentionally twinning it

I love how happy Josiah is in this picture

Waiting on our breakfast

This picture does not capture the beauty of this moment. I was driving and Steve was sleeping. Blue sky, Midwest windmills, and the train hauling along beside us. It was gorgeous.

This beautiful field was along the highway. Truly breathtaking.

                   

Out West 2017: Kansas

Next up was Clyde, Kansas.  Steve's Uncle Michael and his family recently moved there from Iowa to take pastoral position. Michael and Karla are very dear to us. He married us and has always had a very soft spot for Steve. I often say that Michael is Steve's biggest cheerleader! It's so fun to see them together. They talk theology and encourage each other.

Clyde, Kansas is in the middle of nowhere. 

Steve's cousins are our kids ages. They love when they have a chance to be together!

From the iPhone:

This was the only picture I captured with Michael and Karla in it! Karla working tirelessly and Steve and Michale yacking it up.

They took is us to the local pool and there was a high dive. My kids LOVED it. 

In the Midwest everything in regards to direction is in North/South/East/West/. Love their church sign!

Out of the Mouth...

Jojo drawing a cow, "And here is his gutter..."

Out West 2017: Ohio

For years and years we have been saving quarters and dollars and 5's and 20's to take our family to Colorado. We knew with Claudia getting older this would be our summer to do it. There has been much anticipation for this trip!!

It is overwhelming to plan for something like this because the opportunities of what to see and where to go are just endless.  All in all we were gone for 18 days and visited 13 states. Steve planned it out excellently. Overall the trip went really well. We stayed at least 2 nights in each place to have some time to visit with family and also not have to drive 2 long days in a row.

We left after church on a Sunday and headed off to my brother's house in Ohio. They recently bought an old 'fixer upper' farm house so it was fun to see their new place!

My nieces love these crazy chickens that came with their new house. That chicken with the hair. I never in my life have seen anything like it!!!

Doing the ice bucket challenge 

Aaron forever the good sport!

Since getting a smart phone about a year ago I take so many pictures with it that never make it onto my blog!!  Even though the quality is lower I still love these pics so much and want to start including them.

Steve and Chad yacking it up about what to do with the outside of the house. My brother being a dork b/c he knew I was taking his pic.

Construction happening all around their new house!! They have an amazing view of the sunset!

This picture makes me laugh so much. Greta loves to eat but has certain things that she just can't handle. Steve stopped for long johns and this was her reaction when she found out they had cream inside. She was devastated. Life is hard...

Mountains

Friends of ours from church invited us to a weekend at their lovely cabin in northern PA.

Steve and Aaron kayaking 

Josiah and Josiah.  These 2 are such good buddies.

Cousins

An early summer visit with my brother's family

This stray cat had been hanging around our house for about a week before my brother got here.  They have much more compassion for animals than we do and they decided to take the cat home with them and make it their pet!!

These boys think they are soooooo funny when they dress up in the girls tutus. 

Tubing down the Pequea creek

A rare pic of the adults!

10.5

Since Aaron's birthday is the week before Christmas we decided to have him a half birthday party this summer.  What a great group of boys!!

Team water balloon

Love that there are two 2nd cousins and a 4th cousin in the crowd!!

Matching

Josiah was so proud of himself that he found an outfit to match his daddy!!