Indiana and Family Time

We made it to Indiana July 5th around 6:30 and it had been a long day of driving.  We got within a couple of miles from Aunt Darlene and Uncle Terry's and had to stop for a train, so Matthew was happy about that.  The next day we went into Walkerton and watched for trains and saw this engine that just happened to cruise by:)

We got to meet this cutie pie, Lydia, but not her new brother who didn't make an entrance to the world until we were on our way back to South Carolina:(  We will have to meet him on our next visit!

We went to the 4H Fair with Aunt Darlene, but it was sooooo hot we didn't stay long.  Long enough of course to have ice cream and bring home some giant Cinnamon rolls:)

We spent a lot of time at the table catching up on everyone especially since the heat was so intense we just couldn't do much out doors!

We had a good time catching up with Whitney and trying to scare that baby out of her before we left!  We obviously failed:(

Matthew and Cousin Kyle rode out to get a whiff of the mint fields that were being cleared and we went to check out where a lot of large pipes were being brought in that were being stock piled to obviously do a large project in the future.  We will have to check in to hear about that one!  Also, Cousin Kyle was a great entertainer from rides to swimming to just being a great host:)  Thanks Kyle!

Matthew found out that Whitney and Nathaniel live with a set of railroad tracks running along the back of their property, so that was another hot afternoon, but eventually sucess and he saw a train!

The weather cooled off a little after a couple of days so we headed out for a early hike to Potato Creek State Park.  It was a pleasant morning and as you can tell the kids were thrilled about getting out for some exercise:)

      Aunt Darlene setting up for the family get together, all smiles as usual and always getting things done!

Cousin Kyle set up the Croquet set so we all played a few rounds:)

   One of our handsome nephews TJ, and his beautiful wife, Pam, but somehow we missed their precious Emma who is off playing croquet so isn't in the pic:(

               Couldn't get enough of that cutie Lydia, we threatened to bring her home with us!!!

Our gorgeous niece and her sweet family, husband Nathaniel and little Lydia! 

Our other handsome nephew Jason and his precious family which we were also excited to meet their newest addition little Illa(sp. sorry)and to see how big the boys have gotten since we were there last!

                          Matthew of course found things with wheels to ride on and to play with!!!

Matthew also enjoyed Shelby who since our last visit has gotten quite a bit more mellow with age:)

We love our visits to Indiana and we love our Indiana Family, can't wait to visit again!!!!!!!!!!!!

4th of July Heritage Trains and Tweetsie

We started our vacation on July 4th and of course it started with a day of trains:)  We headed up to Spencer, NC, to see the 20 newly built Heritage Locomotives being shown for the Norfolk Southern 30th Anniversary.   They were colorful and impressive, to see trains that have never been on the working line was very different.  They were all under the age of 3 months!  I only have a few of them pictured, but we got pictures and videos of them all, it was a colorful scene to say the least!  After Spencer we headed over to Boone, to of course ride Tweetsie and see the fireworks.  We spent the night there in Boone, NC, before starting our drive to Indiana:)

                                               Notice he has on his train shirt for the occasion:)

                                                          The green one is Illinois!

        Now we are at Tweetsie, we didn't take too many pics as we have been here and done that!

        Tweetsie seemed so small after all of those huge Diesel Engines we saw earlier in the Day!

                                                                   Now off to Indiana!

Train Ride in June

We of course started out June on a train hunt which lead us once again to the Transportation Museum in Spencer, which another week later lead us to this train ride.  It was fun to do more than just look at the train for a change and we all enjoyed this little ride on one of the oldest Steam Engines still around and in running condition:)

 The older men who volunteered to help and assist were all super nice!

Beach Trip

We headed to the beach last week and really had a nice time.  My Mom went with just the kids and myself for four days.  We shell hunted every day and on the last day Matthew found this beauty, and then turned it over and sadly there was a little creature living in it.  It was exciting to see it, but he was sad because it was the most beautiful shell we found over the four days we were there.  The weather was perfect!  I don't think I have ever been to an East Coast Beach and didn't break a sweat, but I didn't!

The hotel had all kinds of pools, Jacuzzis and lazy rivers, it was nice but a little too crowded during the day:(

!

Of course we went to the Aquarium 

We also went to Wonder Works, which was fun, but a lot like Discovery Place at home.  We had a good time and enjoyed trying some new things we hadn't done. 

A little sand castle and pyramids were built:) 

North Carolina Transportation Musuem

We went up to the Transportation Museum again because they had a Rail Fan day and several trains on the tracks.  Matthew of course was in heaven:)

This below is in the cab  of the Norfolk Southern they had on the track that you could take a very short ride, which we did twice!

I didn't ride on this little thing but it looked like fun:) 

I do get a little nap in on these little rides and this one was air conditioned so I had no complaints:) 

This was the second ride in the cab and Matthew got to blow the horn.  That was the prize of the day and this was just before we left so he was happy, happy!