Checking in

	Annabelle’s bus buddy was missing her so her dad asked if we could meet up at Idlewild one evening. I left work a little early and we headed up about 5 o’clock. Pizza and popcorn for dinner is good for you every once in awhile. ; )
	Silly girls.
	Annabelle rode the Spider for the first time. This is not a ride my stomach will handle but I permitted her to ride with Hanna & her Dad. Imagine my complete heart failure when after the ride started I saw her in a car of her own! As it turns out she is *exactly* at the height requirement so they would not allow her to ride with another adult and child, so she was in a car to herself. As pictured, she loved it.
	We rounded out the evening on the Merry-Go-Round. Who knew they turned the music off 15 minutes prior to closing?

After an evening of dance recital we all slept late and had a lazy morning at home. 73 degrees and sunshine was too hard to ignore so we headed up to Idlewild for the afternoon with Nana. 

Determined to be a star of stage & screen at every turn Annabelle volunteered to be part of the presentation at Confusion Hill. She looks as if she is suffering from stage fright but actually she was thinking hard.  The quick fire questions and heavy accent of the presenter had her brain on overdrive. 

In the interest of keeping things chronological I'll post the only picture I took the night of the dance recital. It was busy, 3 dances for Annabelle and 1 for Mom.  We spent a good deal of time changing, waiting, dancing and then changing again.

It was a great show.  Annabelle was so nervous to do the cartwheel in her tumble routine after a mishap at dress rehearsal (she fell and landed on her cheek) but it turned out just fine.

I do want to scan the professional pics we had taken, I'll come back and add them soon......

and so yes, there they are
and the ones of us together.

	For the final Daisy activity of the year Annabelle helped collect money & canned goods for the local Food Bank.
	Then at the end of year picnic they held a “bridging” ceremony, next year she will be a Brownie.

	Before heading home on Sunday we went to a local farm for ice cream, goat feeding and some play time.
	The see-saw looked as if it could barely hold my little lightweights, but it was fun.
	We were lucky to get to spend some time with Jenny this lovely morning.
	This is absolutely my favorite new picture that Aunt Charlotte took of Annabelle feeding the goats. Thank you for capturing her beauty.

	We headed east to spend time with Zachary over his 3rd birthday and to *finally* meet Mr. Miles who is now 10 months. We loved visiting Frank & Charlotte at their new home.
	Unfortunately Zachary & Miles were under the weather so they did not make the trip to Dutch Wonderland with us. We *loved* this amusement park.
	The kids had fun meeting Duke the Dragon. There were no lines at all on this 73 degree, not sunny, not rainy, not humid, perfect to be at a park weather day.
	We rode roller coasters.
	and took a ski lift ride that gave us an impressive view of the whole park.
	and learned the proper way to milk a cow. Hey, when in Lancaster……
	We took an ice cream break
	and watched the princess show.
	We pretended to be Amish.
	They both said the kids Whip was a favorite ride. Nate was pretty upfront with the attendant “I’m going to scream like a girl!”
	Of course, a whirl on the Merry Go Round before we left.
	While Annabelle was enjoying the beautiful scenery on the way back
	Nate didn’t make it too far down the road.

	Nate was thrilled to attend his spring Field Trip with his school friends, a nature walk at a state park netted us some valuable information about birds, flowers and trees. The park ranger explained about maple syrup and encouraged the children to “hug the tree if you love pancakes”.
	Clearly Nate & his BFF were not thrilled to stop playing long enough to pose for a picture. We did not plan the matching outfits, it just happened that way.

	Our annual Memorial Day parade and picnic with Grandma Joyce dawned chilly and overcast, we still had a lovely time.
	We were glad Aunt Karen & Uncle Kurt could join us this year.

	We had our 1st visit to Idlewild this season. Annabelle couldn’t wait to go swimming in the ball pit.
	It was the perfect blend of cool mountain air and warm sun.
	Annabelle’s latest passion is acting on stage. We went early to watch the Thomas production because she wanted front row seats
	just so she could assure she would be in the show.

	We are so blessed to have to opportunity to keep this tradition up every year. Nana had the giggles.
	My girl, she is so photogenic.
	Me & Natey Noodle. This was the *only* one out of at least a dozen photos that came out, he is not the most patient for posing, or when he does it’s the “Chandler” smile.
	My resolution is to get these printed and in the scrapbook by the end of June. And last years too.