A "Buckeye-Blitz" Kind of Vacation

Last Tuesday, we made sudden plans to drive over to Dayton, Ohio for IHC. Greg and Aly had never been and I hadn't been since about 2001. We had a marvelous time seeing many friends (and family) that we hadn't seen in years!
We arrived in Dayton on Wednesday, around noon and made our way to the Convention Center by about 2:00pm. We were able to attend the G.B.S. Reception later that afternoon and the Evening Service, as well. By the time we got back to our hotel late that evening, Aly was so wound up she didn't go to sleep til close to 1am and needless to say Greg and I were pretty wore out by the time she did go down!
On Thursday, we joined many of our family members, that were also attending IHC, for a delicious lunch at the Spaghetti Warehouse. Again, during the day and evening on Thursday, we were able to see many people that we hadn't seen in a very long time and truly enjoyed the Mass Choir (300+ voices), as they joined together for the IHC '09 Finale. We've posted a video below for you to view of this amazing moment... some of the crowd had begun to leave, but the angelic music from the 300+ voice Choir and large, live Orchestra sent chills up and down our spines as we stood and experienced this wonderful music! Praise be to God for the liberty we now have in America to honor God in this way!!! (You will need to 'pause' our Penn Palz Favorite On-Line Music, to your right, in order to hear the video properly.)
The highlight of Aly's IHC part of our trip, was when she ate a late-night supper on Thursday, with her favorite cousins... La Rosa's Pizzeria is just the best with that wonderful sweet sauce! Those kids had a ball together!!!

On Friday, we decided to take Aly to the United States Air Force Museum for a little field trip. This was a trip that I'd also taken as a small child and it was fun to watch Aly checking out all those planes. This was an exceptionally interesting place to go at this time, being as big brother Wes, is in the process of joining the USAF! Aly really loved the little red remote controlled plane and thought it was her own because it was 'just her size'. After we left the Museum, we couldn't leave the Dayton-area without stopping by, Graeter's Ice Cream, for a yummy taste of their famous "Buckeye Blitz" dish.

We then drove down to Cincinnati for even more fun! We stopped by to show Aly my home-place from our G.B.S. days and see some of the new renovations that have been made on campus. We, then met up with Memaw and Papaw for supper at City BBQ in Hyde Park. No vacation is complete without something SOUTHERN, right??? We ended our little blitz of a vacation, by allowing Aly to play her energy out at a local city park, before the long ride home. She met a new friend at the Park, Cole, whom we found out attends church with our friends, Phillip and Dorcas. (Such a small world, huh?) We arrived back home in Indiana around midnight... pretty tired out but having had enjoyed our 'surprise' vacation very much!



On Saturday afternoon, I attended my first L.N.O. event, "An Afternoon Tea at The Ruby Pear Tea Parlor". L.N.O. is a new Facebook Group for local gals to have a chance to chill, relax, de-stress and just hang out with friends every other month or so. My personal menu was that of unlimited Dragon Pearl Hot Tea, a homemade Dark Chocolate-Orange Scone (served with Lemon Curd or Berry Spread), a huge Chocolate Covered Strawberry and two of their famous Fat Rascal Cookies. Did you know the only Tea Plantation in the United States is located near Charleston, South Carolina. HMMM, yet another southern touch to my week! Our L.N.O. 'Tea' was fabulous and I can't wait for the next event!
( Well, I have found there is always a way to 'capture a moment'... even when your camera battery is dead or the camera is MIA or just nowhere near where you are at the time... check out the pictorial view of our vacation here: http://picasaweb.google.com/thepennfamily2007/BuckeyBlitzVacation?feat=directlink ) Here's to another fantastic week for everyone and may God bless!

A Breath of 'Southern Sunshine' on A Cool Fall Weekend

Here are a handful of pictures of Aly's Play-Day today...
http://picasaweb.google.com/thepennfamily2007/AlySPlayDayNov102008# Last week was pretty uneventful, except that we were busy getting ready for the upcoming weekend.
It was an AWESOME weekend, too... Some of our Louisiana family were able to come up for a visit and as ALWAYS we had a BALL!!!
We began on Friday evening with an all-Italian homemade meal at Mamaw S's. Spicy Chicken Spaghetti, an assortment of yummy Herb Breads and Breadsticks, Salads and the whole nine yards! YUUMMM... Following the meal, everyone came over to "Penn Place" for a Fall-Themed 'Dessert Bar'. Pecan Pie, Sugar Cream Pie & Apple Fritter Bread. With a choice of French Vanilla, Caramel Praline or Butter Pecan, (and Bunny-Tracks for the kids) Ice Cream. We had an assortment of iced drinks (including Vernors, of course!) and Coffee, too. My personal favorite items of the evening were the Coffee Creamers: Vanilla Chai Spice and Cinnamon Vanilla Cre'me!
On Saturday, we had lunch together at Steak-N-Shake... an Indiana favorite for our Southern family, before the ladies and gents split up for an afternoon of fun! The ladies found ourselves at 'Old Time Pottery' and for 3 entire HOURS, too! The men made their way to Gander Mountain and Dick's Sporting Goods for a couple of hours. Later that evening, we all headed back to Mamaw S's. for a COLD Cook-Out of Pork Steaks and all the trimmings! Thanks, to the guys who cooked out in that weather! It was well worth it, that's for sure!!!
We had a great Sunday, not only at Church, but a relaxing day with family, as well! Another delicious meal only made the day better! Roast, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Sugared Green Beans with Bacon, Cornbread, etc., etc. (I'll not even go into all the desserts we had available!!!) Why is it when humans have a 'get-together', we think food is one of the necessary items, in order to have more fun? In reality, though fun, food really only adds more and more pounds to one's body and what is fun about THAT? LOL
Today~ Aly and I were having a 'Play-Day', a kind of a normal day for us, of "School" and playing together, so we decided to take 4 or 5 pictures while we were at it! (I posted a link above.) This due much to the fact, that we didn't get ONE picture taken during the busy weekend... funny thing is no one had a camera all weekend! (Not even Ronda or Aunt Diane!!!)
Oh well! As you can tell, we had an excellent weekend, with our without a camera and only wished they could've stayed for a month or two!!! The time flew by, but they may make another trip North during the Holidays?!?!? (We certainly hope so!) Hey, ya'll... it really was a "Breath of Southern Sunshine" to have you with us! We are sorry it was so cold while you were here, though! That's all just a part of being in the 'Northland', I guess! We look forward to your next visit and PRAY that we'll be able to make a trip South again, SOON!!!

A Busy Weekend Past and Another Ahead...

WOW! What a weekend we had! We decided to enjoy a "3-dayer" and had so much fun doing it!!! I suppose this was a way to DETOX us from our week of 'Depression'... LOL
We began our weekend on Friday evening with a 'Cousin-Pizza-Party' for some of those who were unable to make the trip South... On Saturday, we decided on a City-Wide Road-Trip... We had sunny blue skies for the entire day (all three days, actually!)... we HIT a few Yard Sales along the way... we made our way Downtown and 'walked' the Mall... stopped for supper (the menu even included Southern Fried Okra - YUM!)... and of course, Saturday wouldn't be Saturday without a stop at good ole' faithful Wal-Mart! All in all, we had a great day!!! We spent the day Sunday at Church, of course... had a lovely meal with friends... and found time to relax and enjoy God's Day while we were at it! Monday morning we headed out to pick up our Washer/Dryer... we also helped another family (in our Church) move a few items of furniture in and out of storage... we then grabbed a bite at Mickey-D's for lunch... we found ourselves at the ZOO for the afternoon and had a blast watching Aly try to figure it all out... by the time we made it home, it was time to put supper on the table for our friends - and NEW MEMBER of the "Indy-Mustangs", an Indiana Semi-Pro Football Team - I believe CONGRATS to be in order... we ended the evening with a wonderful Southern Pecan Pie -n- Ice Cream!
Now, that's one very busy 3-days, if you ask me!!! I 'GOOGLED' a few pictures online and created a Photo Album - of sorts - on our Picasa account. (If you care to view it... you can do so very easily! If you go to any of our BLOG Photo Albums *eg:'Daydreaming of Louisiana'* or BLOG Slide-Shows *eg:'Our New Home* below, they will automatically take you to the Picasa site, where you'll see our 'My Public Gallery'... then, just look for the Album titled, "A Busy Weekend in June".)
Well, it appears that our NEXT weekend will be equally as busy, we'll be joining our Community for a Yard Sale! If you think about us - on Saturday the 7th... say a little prayer that we'll have a good turn out.. great weather... make lots of money... tell others about Jesus... etc.!

Depressed in Indiana...

Just wishing, dreaming and wanting to be headed South with the family!!! While working through this slight state of depression, I've found several REASONS for these gray clouds in my mind and I'd love to share them with you! The photos below should allow everyone to feel my pain - if only for a moment! (*wink * wink*)
I'll take a second to fill you in on a little background of what is happening... My parents, Aunt and Grandmother are headed to Louisiana on vacation this week.

Daydreaming Of Louisiana

Well needless to say, with us having just moved and Greg's new(ish) job, we are simply unable to tag along this year! Now, there's no words to describe what just thinking about the South does for me - let alone the idea of BEING there. I was born down there, I have DEEP southern roots and my blood is as southern as anyone's!!! Maybe the words to this song will help you see where I'm coming from. (*SMILE*)

Maybe it was a dream last night
Or looking into my daughter's eyes
But my heart was sinking
Yeah, man, it got me thinking
About all of my yesterdays
Every minute, every page of my innocence
Wishing I could go back when
I was wild and free as the Mississippi
Playing in the sugar cane
A part of me is gone
I don't know when it slipped away

I guess I left it in Louisiana
Blowing in the wind
Hiding in the quarter
Gotta get back there again
To the sweet sounds of the bayou
Let it wash right over me
Make me whole again
Bring back that missing piece
That I left in Louisiana

Now, having shared my "melancholy" mood with you, I want to point out that I'm not even close to actually being depressed, only a tad bit "sentimental". I have many many wonderful memories of my days in Louisiana and I can't wait for Greg and I to take our little Alyson there someday (soon)!
I've been blessed beyond words with a wonderful husband, a precious baby girl, awesome parents, an incredible family, a new home, etc. - - - I wouldn't trade a single one - - - not even for a trip down South this week! (*BIG GRIN*)
Well, I hope you have enjoyed your little 'look into' or 'tasty treat' of MY wild and wonderful Louisiana (photos, that is!)...

Country Girl at Heart... You've Come a Long Way, Baby!

2 weeks old ~ November 2007

4 months old ~ March 2008

TODAY (while listening to COUNTRY music!)

We've decided to broaden Alyson's musical interests... we've gone from Lullaby's, Church Music, Toddler/Children's Music and Classical to COUNTRY!!! We were wondering what she would do with it and BOY! SHE LOVES IT!!! lol
What can I say??? I've always been a country southern girl at heart, so it only seems right that my little offspring would feel the same!!! After all, she has my southern blood running through her veins, right? It's what I've always wanted, a TRUE southern girl at heart for my very own! And of course, she'll soon be saying, "yes ma'am, no ma'am, yes sir and no sir", as well!!!
Oh well... We just thought ya'll might like to hear the latest in musical news as far as our Aly is concerned. We'll be trying 'other wholesome' types of music with her soon, but doubt very seriously that we'll have the same outcome as we have with COUNTRY! She's grinning and 'jigging' with it right now, as if she knows what "getting into it" is all about!!! lol
Obviously, this is our first BLOG of April and we're NOT looking forward to the April showers ahead, but we ARE looking forward to the May flowers that will soon appear!!!
Just a little FYI! We're also looking forward to getting into our house in ONLY about two weeks! We can hardly wait!!! Because of this move, our BLOGS may get off a bit, but we'll try to keep ya'll up-to-par as often as possible! Pray for us that the move will go smoothly - never tried this with an infant before!!! lol