Alaska State Fair 2017

Another fair adventure is in the books.

It was cold, very cold,and windy, but we still had a ton of fun. 

This year I decided that I was going to see how many different things I could eat. 

I think I counted 17 total. 

I didn't eat the entirety of anything.

Mostly bites and sometimes a bit more than that but it was totally worth it.

My favorites were the spinach bread and the strawberry shortcake.

Which is amazing since I love Denali cream puffs so much. 

We had a blast and I documented all the food eaten. 

 Enjoy these other pictures as well.

 

Maryland 2017

(The following posts are compiled from several days of the Epic Maryland Adventure of 2017)

Marissa and I were conspiring together last week trying to find something we could do for Tracies birthday this year.

She turned 50 and has needed some extra love. 

We thought about a scavenger hunt and a mariachi band but they just didn't feel right. 

Then I said-"Why don't we just go?"

I don't even know why I said it.

It was going to take some serious hoop jumping to make it happen.

But through divine intervention(literally) Marissa and I hopped on a flight three days after I said those words and flew to Maryland.

Very few people knew.

It was important for us to keep the secret.

We pulled on to Tracies mile long driveway with plans made with Quayde to make sure the kids were away and we were giddy with excitement.

We giggled as we whispered to each other with the lights off as we drove down the driveway.

We parked by the cornfield and put on our T Rex costumes.

Oh did I forget to mention that fact?

T-REX COSTUMES!!!

 We ran down the rest of the driveway with music to play while we danced on her front lawn.

I knocked on the door and we started dancing. 

She came out with a confused look on her face and then started laughing. 

Ris and I did a dance fight and I chased her around the lawn.

We were trying so hard not to laugh because we knew our laughs would give it away.

Tracie was laughing so hard.

Then when the song was over we ran up to her in the costumes and hugged her.

We said, "Happy birthday sister!"

and she still didn't realize what was happening. 

Then we unzipped ourselves and she paused a minute confused.

Then she screamed.

Then she started crying so hard.

We thought we broke her! 

She said "You guys do love me."

And of course we do! 

 It was so awesome!

August Twenty Fifth

Samson Farms, where Tracie lives, is a magical place.

It is 500 acres the border a river that connects to the Chesapeake Bay.

It has farm, woods, and beach.

I love going there.

The mornings are the best.

Everyday I went out and listened to the birds and bugs sing to me.

The weather was so incredibly beautiful. 

On this day we went to the park and hung out with Tracie's homeschool group.

They had a surprise party for her which was so fun. 

 I'm not sure what we were listening to here. 

In the evening we escaped the house and walked down to the big house.

We sat on the porch, picked and ate apples from the apple trees and watched blue heron's fly by as we listened to the water from the river lap on the shore. 

It was an incredible evening. 

August Twenty Sixth

On this day we went to the Amish Farmers Market.

It was beautiful and amazing. 

I loved everything about it. 

We bought so much yummy food. 

I had the best peach that I had ever eaten in my life there. 

 We spent the next three days eating through our booty. 

 Oh! And that peach pie...

I can't even begin to describe the goodness.

We ate it with forks out of the pan and then had the rest for breakfast the next day. 

 That evening we escaped to Leonardtown where we got some amazing juices, saw a live band, watched a snake eat a baby squirrel and looked at the tourist/history things. 

It was a great time doing things together. 

August Twenty Seventh

We spent the morning at church, which was really good and then in the afternoon we drove down her driveway to the beach.

The weather was perfect.

It was breezy and sunny.

The sand felt so good on my toes. 

We sat on a log and just watched the waves bring in shells and rocks.

I found several pieces of sea glass, which was pretty cool. 

I loved every single minute of it. 

In the evening I went out on the back porch to talk to Matt.

It is the only place I had service.

I loved the sounds and the smells.

Every night I slept with the windows open while the cicadas sang me to sleep.

It was seriously the best. 

Last Day

There were lots of tears and Ris and I headed out to go to the airport Monday morning. 

I love these kids.

They had so much fun with us.

I had so much fun with them.

They are the cream of the crop people. 

I can't wait to see them all again. 

 After leaving there we did some shopping and then met up with my friends the Feltners in Alexandria for lunch. 

It was so good to see them again. 

 After that we had the most unwanted adventure. 

We got to the airport only to realize we were at the WRONG airport! 

We got a taxi, through heavenly help, and that driver got us to the other airport in just 31 minutes. 

It was really quite a miracle in so many ways. 

I was a bit fearful for my life with his driving but we made it and had time to spare. 

Then we got on the plane and enjoyed the first class treatment.

I am basically completely ruined now.

It was amazing. 

Warm nuts, hot towels, free media players, leg room, and amazing food! 

 It was a wonderful trip! 

Now I need to get some sleep.