On Our Merry Way!

We decided there was no reason to kill ourselves driving out to OH so we started a couple of days early and wended our way through the states, stopping to do and see stuff.

The trip started off in hellish traffic leaving MA into RI. After we got past that spot it wasn't too bad.

Since our first stop was the Poconos, it was way easier to go over the new Tappan Zee Bridge.  If we can avoid having to go the George Washington Bridge, we'll gladly do that.  

First stop in the Pocono Mountains was Raymondskill Falls.

It was a short hike down to the viewing platform.  Russell opted to wait for me about halfway along the trail.

Definitely worth the hike!

This is the top half

And the bottom half.

Next stop was to take a pic of the Delaware River.  That's New Jersey on the other side.

Next was Bushkill Falls.  I'd been here when I was in 11th grade with my parents and I didn't remember it being THIS big and THIS touristy.  Of course that was nearly 40 years ago!!

Russell again opted to wait for me while I went on a short hike to take pics of 'The Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania'.  When I went as a kid, I had no problem hiking around the many stairs and platforms that go all the way down to the bottom and back up again.  Needless to say I wasn't about to attempt it.  The easiest trail was hard enough.  Plus I was still recovering from the hike down and back of the other waterfall.

This water fountain cracked me up.

He's so patient as I browse the shops and take pics.  He was just happy to people watch!

We continued west for awhile, finally stopping about 7:30pm in a town called Shartlesville, which name really cracked me up.  We were calling our hotel 'Bates Motel'.  It wasn't very comfortable and it was way overpriced but also the only hotel in the area so they can charge what they want.

First time I've ever seen a hotel front office that you can't actually drive to the front door.

*cackle*

I'm back

Hi all!  Sorry for not visiting anyone's blogs the past two weeks but we were out of town visiting our grandbabies!  I will be catching up with stuff because I had a 'Pennsylvania Bucket List' and we managed to hit all of it which was awesome!  We had a blast.  

Just some highlights for now:

Raymondskill Falls, Pocono Mtns, PA

Bushkill Falls "The Niagara of Pennsylvania"

Hershey, PA.  This place is seriously like going through Willie Wonka's factory.

Thought it was important to visit Gettysburg at least once in our lives.

American kitsch at it's finest.  I cannot recommend Mister Ed's Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium enough.  Located in Orrtanna, PA, this is well worth a visit.  It's about 30 minutes due west of Gettysburg.  Full disclosure:  It's across the street from an old Mail Pouch Tobacco barn.  When I did google streetview of the barn, prior to our trip, I swung the camera around and saw this directly across the street and made a written note to be sure and stop here as well.  Easily one of the highlights of the entire trip.

Arriving to both boys wearing the 'My Nonna Loves Me' shirts I got them a month or so ago.

Val arrived in OH a few days before we did and she went home earlier too.

 Trip to Jungle Jim's

Brothers bonding in Olive Garden

Casi's 27th birthday

Lots and lots of cuddling with this precious nugget.

Huge and awesome indoor flea market next to the casino.

Me loving on Mark

GAH!  Cutest. Baby. EVER!!!!!!!

Girls day out, to Jungle Jim's and the casino.

I love it when the three of us go out!  Jeff & Russell babysat the boys at the apartment while we were out galavanting around.  When we got back, we all went out to dinner.

Babby Mark turned 5 months old.

Dale's cheeks are flushed cause he was sick.  We babysat both boys that afternoon so Casi & Jeff could finally have some alone time out of the house.

Mark had his very first cereal.

Grumpa loving on Mark.

The new Tappan Zee Bridge at sunset the day we drove back.

We were gone for 8 days and it was really great to get home even though we miss the kids like crazy!