After we left Grace at college, we drove a couple of hours to Hershey, PA.  Rich and I had both visited the park when we were kids and Rich especially was excited to go back to the place of such fabulous childhood memories.  We went two days in a row so we could do everything.  The weather was gorgeous and there were crowds and crowds of people, but the park was big enough that it didn’t seem too bad.  It was fun to people-watch.  It was fun to eat chocolate.

I thought the flowers behind Rich and Caleb were so pretty.  (I took all the photos with my iPhone.)

(P.S.  Our anniversary is on Saturday.  )

We went on rides all morning and then went to the water park.  I changed into my suit, but stayed on the side lines in a chair and read a book, which was really the only thing I wanted to do at that point.  The kids were able to stay together as there was only one entrance and one exit out of this section of the water park.  Rich took a nap next to me (he can sleep anywhere) and then he took the boys on the bigger water rides.

This was when then came to the fence to complain about something.  LOL

The water was so cold.  Seth had trouble staying warm, but Sarah was like a fish and stayed in the water the entire time….over 3 hours of swimming and enjoying all the neat fountains, slides, and so on.  She LOVED it.

I was glad she had a bright bathing suit on….she was easy to spot.

There is a magic to amusement parks, don’t you think?

Cotton candy was on their bucket-list.

That night we went to a pizza place, it was much later than we usually eat (around 9pm). The kids were good and hungry and a little sunburned.  I was absolutely enthralled with the very old man I could see working.  This pizza shop was obviously a family affair.  So I slyly took his picture and felt like a sneak doing so, but I wanted to remember that someday when I’m 90-something years old, I can still work.  🙂

(He was busy putting new sodas in the cooler).

Never did a pizza taste THIS GOOD.  We ordered two and left with only one piece left.  It was thin crust, cheesy, hot, and perfect.

The next day at the park, we began our visit at the chocolate tour.

My mom has a little cookbook with this picture on the cover.  I used to love looking through it when I was little, just like a picture book for children, I would study each photo and recipe.  Years later, when I was a grown up, I was happy to find a copy of my own at a garage sale.

Of course I texted her this picture, too.

“eight wholesome roasted almonds”

chocolate, chocolate, everywhere

chocolate of all sizes

KISSES !!!!!

And then, back into the park for another day of riding on all the rides.  One of which was such a scary roller coaster that Rich went on it alone.  I let the kids get their face painted as we waited.

It was a huge mistake for Seth, because by the end of the day nothing was left of his Panda-face but the black around his eyes.  He looked like a zombie.

I think the zoo was one of our family-favorite parts.  We studied every single animal…snakes, owls, everything.  We thoroughly enjoyed it.

On a train ride together while the boys rode “the claw”.

She was soooooooo cute!  She had no fear whatsoever.  The kids were good sports.  It truly was a wonderful experience for us.

Merry-Go-Round with my girlie.

She was full of encouragement for this one last ride of the night; the Scrambler.  (I get nauseous on the spinning rides).

That night we ate at a diner next door to the hotel.  And I finally got a good picture of my darling handsome Seth.  He really is a mama’s boy and the adoration is mutual.

Tasted so good after a day in the park, especially the juicy fruit.

Caleb’s burger.

We went back for breakfast the next day and this is how they served my raspberry muffin–queen style.

so handsome.

On the highway we found ourselves behind a tractor trailer which was shedding feathers…white feathers…we were curious so Rich sped up.  It was FULL of chickens.

When we got home, David wanted a pizza right away.  I think he missed me pizza.