Happy Birthday, America

Since Jose is working on building his acting career, we have both decided to hold off on any week long vacation.  He is using most of his time for his filming and I just take a day off here and there.  Since the 4th of July fell on a Friday this summer, we decided to take Thursday off so that we could have a mini-vacation to PA to visit family.  I had taken Karley in the previous weekend and Bub had to work, so it was just Jose, myself, and Cameron on the ride in on Thursday afternoon.

Friday morning Jose and I took Karley on the bike trail that my hometown is none for.  It's one of those things that I took for granted growing up and didn't venture out on more often.  This turned out to be a teeny-tiny adventure for the 3 of us.  We barely made it up the hill and Karley was "tired" and "dizzy".

Here we are before we set off to tackle the trail.

Being the awesome mom that I am, I fully bribed my daughter with ice cream and lollipops if she just made it to the bridge.  We made it!  And with every peddle back to the van she told us she wanted ice cream, the chocolate one.

This is the view into my hometown.  It was a beautiful day for a ride.  I do miss the county life.

 Someone was very tired and didn't want her photo taken anymore.

After our ice cream treat, we headed back up to my parent's house for some homemade pizza and playtime with the cousins.

Ben and I have a race to the top of the hillside.  I didn't win.  :(

This is the view from the top of the field behind where my parents current live.  

Here is the hill that we all just raced up.  The kids wanted to race again, I just rested at the top.  Oh to be young again.  

The sunsets at this place are amazing.  My camera doesn't do it justice to the view that we actually get to take in.  This will (hopefully) be the last time I will see a Coon Hollow sunset.

It's just not the 4th without ending the day with a campfire and s'mores.

Right after Aron was told to hold his marshmallow up or he will catch is on fire....this happened.

Jose and I started out the 5th with a bike ride down a part of the trail that is just below my parents place.  We had a nice little ride, just the two of us.  He wants to conquer the 10 miles to Ohiopyle the next time we come in.  I need to be in better shape before that happens, and need a much more padded seat.  ;)

After breakfast we headed up to my Uncle Wally's for a cookout.  My cousin brought in her dogs.  Karley liked them, but only if they were listening to her commands.  lol

Nathan is the best cousin ever!!  He took all the kids for a spin around the block in his Mustang.  They loved it.  I'm just glad that he didn't go Dukes of Hazzard with them in the car like he did earlier with my husband and brother.  

Gommy's first selfie.  I miss this woman!!!!

Karley wanted in on the selfie action too.

For our trip home we stopped at my Uncle Skip's house.  While I was inside talking with my cousins, Jose took the kids outside on the deck.  The next thing I know, I was being told that my daughter was in the hot tub.  I guess she "jumped" right in.  I'm glad my uncle doesn't care about having naked pre-schoolers in the tub.  

Karley and Tesla having a blast.  I think they were in here for a good hour or more.

On the way back to Ohio we stopped at Pappy's work to give our goodbye hugs and kisses.  I made a small pit stop and when I came out my Dad was putting on his gear and heading into the gun safe.  Next thing I know we were heading outside to a stand for Cameron to have his first clay pigeon shooting lesson.

Cameron did one shot and that was enough for him.  Dad was up next.

I hadn't planned on shooting seeing that the last time I picked up a gun was about 6 years ago and that was just for target practice.  I have only atempted skeet shooting twice before and it really wasn't my thing.  But when in Rome.  I ended up getting 3/4.  Not to shabby.

Thanks, Daddio!  Perfect ending to a great trip.