More Summer

Dad wanted to go to Hershey Park with the family for his birthday. So six months after his birthday this was his birthday fun.  The kids had a bunch of firsts and we enjoyed a picnic lunch.

 Here are four of them on the twirly ride.  They thought it was great.  There is not a picture but the 3 A's tried out a mini drop ride and they thought that was great,  They also enjoyed the water show and checked out the little zoo.  But I think that their absolute favorite was the mini and grownup log ride.

A good time was had by all.  And the day ended with a stop at Hoss' which is one of Andrew's most favorite places to eat because they have all different kinds of soup and ice cream.

Summer adventures

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 I am so far behind that I am just now sharing some of our summer adventures.  The boys and their cousins enjoyed a trip to the local ballpark.  This is diesel dog.  Grandpop introduced them to the play section.

 To tired boys from too much fun at the grandparents in NC.

 Uncle Gabe creating a rocket.

Aaron cheesing it up.
As it has been snowing and cold.  It is fun to remember when it was warm and they wanted to be outside more then inside and played hours in the water.  I will be bringing you some more warm summer fun.

Peanut Butter Fudge

I thought I would share my peanut butter fudge recipe.  I can't take credit for it.  A gentleman named Merv that I worked with in McConnellsburg made this fudge ever year.  He gave us the recipe the year before he died.  Since then it has been my job to make the fudge.

2 sticks of margarine
4 cups of sugar
1.5 ounces (3 Tablespoons) corn syrup added to evaporated milk to equal 1 cup
1 teaspoon vanilla
18 ounces peanut butter
7 ounces marshmallow creme

Melt margarine and add sugar and corn syrup/milk mixture.  Bring to a boil stirring occasionally.  From a rapid boil time 5 minutes.  Remove heat and add vanilla, peanut butter and marshmallow creme.  Stir until you can find no more white creme.  Pour into greased 9 x 13 pan.  Cool and serve.

Notes: Can double without a problem use a jelly roll pan
             Can add nuts if you like.
             Crunchy peanut butter can be used
             Evaporated skim milk works just fine
            Butter seems to affect the texture but it is still good.
             Have used some splenda in a pinch but never for the whole thing

Bible School Adventures

Last year at Andrew's school a gentlemen brought a race track to school that he uses as a ministry.  It is called word of life FASCAR.  He brings the track and kids bring their matchbox/hotwheel cars and they race.  At the end he presents the gospel message.  We used this event to build a 3 day bible school.  Our theme verse was Hebrews 12:1.  Our theme was running the race.  Our bible stories included Paul - perseverance;  Nehemiah -Team work; Gospel Presentation - Finishing the Race.  We used Auto-B-Good DVDs to supplement and reinforce the theme.  We had wonderful help to lead groups, lessons, crafts, recreation and music.

Here is one of the races in action.

 Here is Mom leading music.

Here are our group winners.  

The kids really enjoyed this adventure and 3 days is longer than we have been doing recently but it worked well.  We will see what next year brings.

Crispie Rice Treats

I am serious about my crispie treats.  They are easy and quick to make.  They happen to be gluten and nut
free which is sometimes important.  But I thought I would share a few things I have learned from my own disasters.

1/4 cup butter/margarine, 1 bag marshmallow, 4 cups crispie rice cereal, 2 cup fruity rice cereal

Melt butter and marshmallow. Add cereal.  Place in greased  9 x 13 pan.  Flatten.  Cool and Serve.

Now to things learned.

Marshmallow creme did not work for me as a substitute.  It didn't stick together.
10 Campfire(jumbo) marshmallows = 1 bag of regular marshmallows.
The combo of fruity and regular make them look cool and like you worked hard with very little extra effort.
Adding too much butter makes it more sticky.
If you don't grease the pan they will stick.
Everything in your body wants to hurry up and push down the treats.  But if you wait a few minutes (~5min) it will work much better.  It won't stick to everything.
A quart sized zip lock bag is perfect for pushing down the treats into the dish.  Insert hand in bag.  Spray palm side of the bag and flatten.  No sticking and works better than a spatula.
Don't have a zip lock bag use sprayed wax paper or spatula.
Cut shapes and decorate using icing - easy edible fun.

Always cut and serve and pretend you worked hard.

A visit from NC friends

 I was a working stiff this day but the family enjoyed a seriously good day with these NC friends.  They had so much fun together.

 Aaron and Hannah playing in the rocks.

 It is amazing to me how kids just play; they don't make it complicated.  Just hi you want to play...chase, rocks, ball or hide and seek.  We, adults, I think, sometimes complicate it.  But I am thankful for the fun that can be had.

Ryan and Andrew playing some basketball.  It was a great day.  Thanks for making the detour in your vacation.

Aaron's Birthday

We had a low key birthday for Aaron.  But we did get to have a train cake.  This is an idea that we saw in an old magazine.  It turned out pretty well we used small loaf pans for the mold. I think the kids enjoyed eating the stuff off the cake almost as much as the cake itself.

Good things come in small packages and that describes Aaron.  He is definitely not the biggest but he keeps up with the big guys.  He loves to be a monkey/acrobat.  He is kind and gentle and patient with others.  Occasionally whiny(no one is perfect).

 Enjoying his presents and Andrew helping.

I don't know if this will play or not but this is Nana teaching the kids to make noise with their balloons.