Homestead Gardens

Just a few pictures to share from my third annual "Breakfast at my house followed by trains at Homestead Gardens" event.  This year I served...

-Sarah's stuffed french toast

-Cherry Chip Scones

-Spiral Sliced Ham

-(and my friend, Chelsea, brought a fruit tray)

It was fun and delicious.  I didn't manage to take any pictures at my house this year, and our crowd slimmed before heading to the nursery to see the trains.  However, here are a few (belated) pictures for my friends to enjoy....

Strasburg Railroad and Choo Choo Barn

Paw Paw Rich is a bit of a railroad nut, so of course a trip to the Strasburg Railroad and Choo Choo Barn was in order which gave mommy and grandma a chance to do after Christmas shopping.

They had a picnic on the train.

The choo choo barn is a miniature train museum of ginormous proportions.  I love this Amish barn raising scene.

The fire trucks were "noisy."

Love this pic!

The "red rider bb gun of Christmas gifts"

Bouncy house!!!!!  Daddy's idea...

It's the gift that keeps on giving.

The static hair is just bonus entertainment for the adults....

Candy Lane

Once again, we went with my parents to Hershey Park for Christmas Candy Lane.  Once again, it was COLD!....but oh so fun.  

Camille was so bundled up that she could barely move!  I don't think she was even able to put her arms down to her sides.  Poor, sweet (warm) girl.  

Shedding some layers to do the Chocolate World tour.....free with chocolate at the end....always a hit.

Dad's gifts...

Perhaps you remember this post from last year...

Well, once again, dad was in rare gift giving form.  The above "arrangement" was for Patrick and me.  It had a certificate attached to it for the Wetlands restaurant.  

Lisa loves McDonalds ice cream and Issac's Restaurant (funky sandwich shop where the sandwiches all have bird names and their mascot is a flamingo), so he made these wooden versions of their logos and gave her gift cards.

Another creative year, dad!  So fun!

The BIG Christmas post...

Prepare yourself for LOTS of pictures!  I'm going to do a few other posts about activities or events from Christmas, but this is the big overview of Dec 24-25.  

The first big treat was having paw paw Rich (Patrick's dad) here from Oregon to visit for a week.

We invited over a few friebors (friends who also happen to be neighbors) to watch The First Noel.  Seriously, the cutest Christmas movie EVER!

Mrs Salada frequently ends up reading to my girls....and others who come flocking.

We made a birthday cake for Jesus.  My facebook friends assured me that it was not sacrilege to use a Devil's food cake mix for this project.  Adeline did the decorating.

We opened our family gifts on Christmas Eve morning because we saw both families on Christmas Day, and we thought it would be present overload for our young ones.  We were right...

Books and princess dresses (which a coworker gave me for FREE!) were favorites for Adeline.

Patrick made a video/picture montage for me from the past year.  It was FABULOUS! I'll post it soon.

I made a scrapbook for him of all the races he's done (starting in 2007).

Our Christmas Eve service was wonderful yet again.  I love our church.  Really, really love it.  I played my flute, and Patrick sang in the choir.  He also sang in this men's quartet and did a Scripture reading.

Grandma and paw paw brought Aunt Lisa on Christmas morning.

This highchair matches their table/chairs/bench set that my parents gave them last year.

The staff workers at Lisa's house went above and beyond to make sure we had a nice Christmas together.  The gifts they gave to each of us were so thoughtful.  The highlight was tickets for Lisa, mom, and me to see The Sound of Music in the Fulton theatre the week after Christmas.  I didn't take pictures the day of the show, so let me just say....IT WAS FABULOUS!!!!  One of the best shows I've ever seen.  It was fun to have a ladies' day out.

I also made a scrapbook for my dad of all the races he's done...

Melts my heart every time...

Books and puzzles....that's pretty much how we Rohal roll around here.  hee hee.

Then, late afternoon on Christmas, we went to Uncle Damien and Aunt Brooke's house.  Patrick's uncle was in the hospital (and very sick), so his mother flew to Florida.  We missed having her with us.

Uncle Bobby, Aunt Jenny, and Mikey

A little jib jab to entertain everyone...

Uncle Damien soaking up the love.

Time to get in pj's for the drive home

On Sunday, we headed to Pa after church.....more to come!