Cape May New Jersey

Saturday afternoon it started to rain, and the forecast was more rain all week long. That isn't what I wanted to here for the kids' spring break, and John's vacation. We were suppose to be planting gardens. So with me being spontaneous and all, decided we were leaving the state of NH, and going to get some sun!! We packed that night, and headed out early Sunday morning. I didn't want to waste a day of sunshine. We got to New Jersey late Sunday night, and since all the kids were already asleep, we spent the night in the van. (YES!! All 15 of us in the van--believe me, it WON'T happen again!!) The next morning we got our yurts (I can't believe I didn't even get a picture of them--they are basically round tents with a door, and a skylight top.) They were so awesome. They had bunk beds in them, and a nice dry floor. Started out to be girls in one, and the boys in one. But because of the unfairness, we did take a couple boys in our girly yurt. Could spend hours telling you about it, so to make it brief, I will let the pictures tell the story.

After Cape May, we headed to Pennsylvania, stopping at Valley Forge. We camped in Grandma Barnhart's yard. All the kids had fun playing with their other Barnhart cousins for a couple of days. We managed to sneak away for a short bit, and took Hannah and Shannon to meet Hannah's little Amish girlfriend Susannah. They have been writing back and forth to each for about 2 years now. It was cute to see them meet after all this time. They are a lot alike, blond hair, about the same height, both cute as heck, and both a little shy. Susannah showed them both around her farm a little. She was in a purple simple dress with pin buttons, and a little black apron and bare feet, with her hair pulled up into a bun in back. Next visit, we hope to get them together again to play.

We had a wonderful family vacation together. It was nice to get a break, and just concentrate on the family, and not all the commotion that is happening around us all the time. And heaven knows that I needed the sun after yet another long New England winter. Now, back to reality--and loving that too!! And already looking forward to more little family trips to the beach, over night camping, and yet another trip to Pennsylvania in August for the family reunion.