End of Summer Fun 2008

After the farm fun this summer we got to cram in a few more things before we headed back to FL. Because I was still suffering from back pain, the boys got some "Daddy time" and got to do some really fun things.

Jeff and the boys went to Williamsport,PA to see the Little League World Series Stadium and museum. We have passed it many times on our way to the mountain but somehow have never stopped. This was the year of the visit and the kids thought it was pretty cool but they thought the field "looked small"! They all picked up some tee-shirts and hats and had a great day. They also had a fun day at the mountain riding 4 wheelers and just tooling around up there. Owen finally got to put his "road sign" up that he made himself last year on his favorite trail which he named Triple Creek. Next all the "boys" headed up to Jeff's hometown of Bloomsburg, PA to meet his childhood friend Scott Johnson and his family. They met at Scott's parents house which Jeff grew up next to. They met Scott's kids and his sisters kids and played in the local creek all day. Jeff said it was really meaningful to get everyone together and to see all of the kids in the creek that he and Scott use to go to when they were growing up.

Our niece Chrissy had her sweet 16 birthday party while we were home. We helped decorate for hours and help put together the NYC skyline for the theme of the party. We all had fun and I even was able to lie on the floor and "help" decorate. The next night was the party which was fun and interesting all at the same time. Let's just say that it has been a while since We've been to a high school dance!! Jeff and I felt a little like chaperones, but had a good time.

We finally headed back to Orlando August 3rd on the auto-train. We decided to go home on the auto-train because I still wasn't able to sit or stand for extended periods of time due to the back/leg pain I was still battling. The auto train was a great little adventure and I was able to lie down the entire way home. The kids thought it was awesome to be eating and sleeping while we were traveling home. We all were happy to arrive home safely. As a bonus we lined up to watch our car be taken off of the train and out of 139 cars ours was the second one to be pulled off! Boy were we happy!!!

Pifer Farm Fun 2008

Summer wouldn't be complete without a weeklong visit to the Pifer family farm with PaPa Joe and Anna. This was another great year of learning and growing at the farm.

To start Grant quickly learned the lesson about the electric fence--he tried to crawl under and got a big surprise! PaPa Joe and Anna kept Owen and Grant for over a week while Mommy and Daddy went to Pig in the Woods(well Daddy went this year...Mommy was in bed with back pain.)

Owen and Grant pretty much get the run of the farm and can do just about anything they want while they are there. Joe and Anna are extremely attentive and patient with the boys. This year they got to go tour a real coal mine and actually "dig" for coal. This was pretty cool because we have some coal miner blood in the Pifer side of the family. The boys thought it was a hoot! Owen and Grant had fun seeing all of the relatives at the family reunion, got to tend to all of the farm animals, make ice cream, collect eggs, pick raspberries and blueberries, go on picnics, pick vegetables in the garden, work in the woodshop, play with cousins, drive the tractors, mow with the riding lawnmower, shoot cap guns, BB guns and Owen got to shoot a real .410 shotgun this year...just to name a few things they did.

The boys always seem like they have matured years by the time we see them after their week is over and PaPa Joe and Anna seem "pooped" after it is all over too! Everyone always has a great time and it is sad to say goodbye. We thank everyone in "Punxy" for the great time we all have each year!

Hershey Pary & Knoebels Grove 2008

Once again this summer we paid a visit to our favorite amusement park Knoebels Grove. Every year we go with Jeff's family and ride the rides and eat the incredible food there! The kids LOVE it there and so do the rest of us. Grant and Owen are very adventuresome riders with the exception of Owen who we found out this year gets very sick on rides that go around and around.

This year we added going to Hershey Park to our list to visit. Jeff's sister, Kim and I took all 4 kids to Hershery Park and quite frankly had an absolutely wonderful day. I was a little doubtful because I was recovering from a bad bout of back/leg pain and being 5 months pregnant. I think we were there for 12 hours but somehow we still thought it was fun! Thanks to Owen and Grant's cousins Chrissy and Cody and Aunt Kim for making Owen and Grant feel so special and big!

Piggies in the Woods 2008

This was our second annual "Piggies" weekend where the kids come up to our mountain to try their hand at being campers for the weekend.(they have no idea that we are actually grooming them to someday take over the "Pig in the Woods" weekend when we are no longer able---a long, long time from now!!!)

This year was as usual action packed. The biggest hit was the zip line Jeff and Clayton "rigged" from one hill to another. It was 500 ft. of cable which Clayton brought up to the mountain and it was about 30 ft. off of the ground when it was set up. The kids went first and each one seemed a little apprehensive but after the ride decided to do it again and again. The adults (except myself of course) went next and really seemed to like it too. I think it will be seen again on the mountain next year!!

Other fun we had was the usual, 4 wheeling all over the mountain, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, swimming in the lake, catching crayfish in the creeks and Grant lossing his first tooth!

Everyone had an awesome time until it poured rain the last night at about 3 am and lasted until about 8am. There was no warning it was going to rain and everyone had something outside their tent that wasn't waterproof! We all dried out and packed up for the ride home and decided that it was all worth the trouble! Another great summer weekend to talk about until next year.

Summer Fun in Waynesboro, PA 2008

After our vacation in Hilton Head we drove to visit my parents house in Waynesboro, PA. We had some good old clean fun while we were there. My brother Adam took the boys and Jeff and I to where he works to check out some of the big equiptment he works on. Jeff and I actually got to drive an excavator and work the loader. The boys got to sit in the drivers seat of many of the large equiptment there and climb all over everything. It was quite a thrill!
We also took a day or two to go to the nearby orchards to pick sour cherries and blueberries. I have to say it was very memorable. It was the most beautiful morning and the cherry trees were so georgous. I think everyone had a great time that day. We took home our pick and my mother and Dad and I made 2 batches of homemade cherry jelly, which turned out so delicious!! I also made 2 cherry pies, a cherry crisp and a blueberry pie! We all ate like kings for the next several days.
While we were there I got to see my Grandparents and several of my aunts and uncles to top off our visit. It was great to see everyone and see what they have been up to.

Hilton Head Island, June 2008

This years family vacation was at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort. We had a great week filled with family and fun. Owen and Grant enjoyed spending time with their cousins Chrissy and Cody and Cody's friend Colt. Owen loved feeling like a big kid with his teen age cousins. He learned to master "Guitar Hero" with Cody and Colt and actually became pretty good. Grant loves hanging around his cousin Chrissy and being her shadow! We had a elaxing time hanging at both pools and riding our bikes to the beach. The adults even got a night out without kids thanks to Chrissy, Cody and Colt. The adults got to see a play about Buddy Holly and a nice relaxing dinner. WE look forward to next years adventure whatever it may be!!

Summer Fun- Jackson Hole/Idaho Trip

Mid June Team Pifer made our 1st family trip out west to Jackson Hole ,Wyoming and to Driggs, Idaho with Jeffs Mom. We had a wonderful time there dispite my back and leg pain that I was slowly recovering from since early June.

Jeff's Mom invited us to come out and see the west she so loves. While we were there we toured Jackson Hole, Jeff and the boys hiked almost every day (and even in a snowstorm), we went to Yellowstone Nat. Park for an entire day with a guide and Jeff and his Mom went fly fishing on the Snake River. One of the most exciting things that happened while we were there was that Jeff's Mom bought a cabin in Teton Springs! Looks like we will now be returning for many more visits to come since we have a place to stay! We are so excited to make many more memories there. It is such an interesting and beautiful place. Anyone up for a visit with us?!