Tyler the soccer player

California

My mom came to Utah to watch the kids while Jeff and I went to PA. I was then going to drive her home so the kids and I could have a vacation in California. My friend Shelby flew down the last few days. We couldn't leave when planned because of the early arrival of my new niece Penny so we didn't have that much time in Cali but even a few days is worth the drive when you can hit the beach!

La Jolla Cove

Madeline Catching a wave

Tyler sand surfing

Ashley working on a sand castle

Beau helping Madeline catch some waves

Court and I - yes I'm standing on my tippy toes because Court is almost 6 ft tall

Shelby and I riding the ferry to Balboa Island

Shelby on Balboa pier the water was so pretty- what a great day!

Having fun trying on some clothes

Meagan and Jeff go to Pennsylvania

Jeff had a conference in Hersey, Pennsylvania. We decided to make it into a 10 year anniversary trip. Jeff had never been to PA so we flew into Philadelphia spent a couple of days in one of my favorite cities and then did a road trip before the conference started. We had so much fun, we both love American History so we were like kids in a candy store. It was great to spend time together alone with out kids.

City of Brotherly Love

Independence Hall- I love this building. I love it for the history that took place there, the beautiful city it's in and the architecture is fab!

Elfreth's Alley this historic neighborhood is so cute. I just wish I could go inside all the cute little homes.

Breakfast with Ben don't mind if I do

So the Guide on our Indpendence Hall tour said this is most likely the actual chair George Washington sat in....too cool!

We were told by some locals that this place on Market Street has the best philly cheesesteaks, I would have to agree.... of course for Jeff hold the cheese.

I guess they don't teach you everything in Medical school - Jeff never learned not to put his neck into an alligators mouth.

Jeff with Betsy Ross - I think she liked him.... back off Betsy I put him threw 10 years of school so just keep to your flag making.

The Betsy Ross house- I love how it still looks the same inside and out.

Another view of Independence hall.... so pretty

This is "thee room". The room where the founding fathers came together and signed the Declaration of Independence.

I love the Georgian Architecture in Independence Hall this window is one of my favorites

Yo Rocky! Yes I ran up the stairs- no Jeff didn't - who is the real athelete of the family??

The Liberty Bell- this is an amazing visitors center.

Don't mind me Loyalist I'm just breaking this Patriot out of his shackles

Next stop Valley Forge

Valley Forge is so beautiful we even checked out real estate. Jeff and I watched the History Channel's Revolution a couple of years back so when we took a guided tour to the huts we were so impressed with our selves when we knew all the answers to the guides questions :)

This is where the men slept 12 men to a hut

A demonstration on loading the musket.... they got pretty good at this

Washington's quarters

This is the room where Washington received guest. Yes he was in this actual room and lived in this actual house..... I love it!

Off to Lancaster to stay at the cutest B&B and see the Amish


We couldn't park our rental car here!

The Amish country is so pretty and it's just so amazing how they live. Jeff said he liked it and would like to live like the Amish I said it was nice knowing you.


Jeff in the corn- so while we are taking this photo Jeff accidentally hits the panic button on the key chain causing the car to alarm and honk. Anyways I never knew how loud that actually was until we are on a quite Amish farm where they don't even have cars. I think they were happy to see us go. Sorry!

Next stop Gettysburg

Well we went from Revolutionary war to Civil war. Gettysburg is amazing it's amazing to imagine what happened on these quite farm fields. We spent a whole day doing a car tour and going through the museum and then we ate at an old home turned into a restaurant that was in National Geographic for having a room used in the underground railroad. I highly recommend a visit to Gettysburg.

Jeff looking out at the major battle field area

Next stop Jeff's conference in Hersey

Look at the cute Hersey kisses lights. The streets have names like Cocoa Ave.... my kind of place.

The Hotel Hersey is so pretty we loved our stay here - can't wait to go back



Hersey Gardens hope Jeff won't decide to go in to the water.... at least if he does I can throw that life preserver at him.

The Hersey factory is behind Jeff...the whole town smells like chocolate


Saturday it rained hard from all the hurricanes that were hitting the gulf so we took a visit to the Indian Echo caverns. We were about to go in and we got a call from Madeline telling us Autumn had her baby- early and she delivered her own baby in a car.


The Hotel Hersey - Such a pretty hotel

We are fans of Pennsylvania and can't wait to go back with the kids.