it has all the bells and whistles

This past Saturday, we were able to check an item off of our bucket list.

We went to Steamtown.

It's a National Park/Historic Site.

A museum all about steam locomotives.

Their history {mostly specific to the Scranton area} and how they work.

They have about a dozen real-life period-time train cars you can go on.

There's even a working steam engine you can take a {20 minute} ride in.

Mike and I have visited a few times, but we've never been with the kiddos.

Annaleigh was in her glory {seeing as she has a growing appreciation for Thomas the tank engine}.

John David is a laid-back 9-month-old.

So for him, he was happily unaware.

But we knew.

And it was great.

So glad we were able to do this before we make the big move to New York.

And I'm REALLY going to miss the sounds of those trains.

{You hear them loud and clear from our house.  One of the greatest sounds ever.}

p.s. I ran for the first time today.

Ever in my life.

About 2 miles.

Which took me about 45 minutes.

People say they feel close to God when they run.

I agree.

Because the whole time I was thinking,

"Dear God, I think I'm going to die."

pre-internship bucket list

I've been keeping a mental bucket list for a little while now. Things that I'd like to do here in NEPA before we set-sail to Rochester, NY.  Some of these things we've already done...I'd just like to be able to do them one more time!  Here they are, in no particular order:

• Eat at the State Street Grill on a Friday night
• Take a 'wow-worthy' photography shot of the Scranton Electric City Sign
• As well as the "Times-Tribune" sign
• Visit Sesame Street Place (although, if we don't get some sort of crazy-good-deal-coupon ((which Living Social had at one point and I missed the boat on that one!)), we aren't going because they are crazy-high-priced-tickets).
• Visit the Crayola Factory
• Eat lunch or dinner at The Banshee (best tasting authentic Irish food other than in Ireland)
• Take Annaleigh to the Steamtown National Park

Considering this is a mental list, I have this nagging feeling in my brain that there are more things that should be listed up there.  oh well.  If I think of them, I'll come back and add it.  sound good?  no pressure, right???

Until then I'd like to...

photo credit

Hey.  Don't you judge me!  Instead, join me.  It would be fun.  Of that I'm sure.

50°

Partly sunny.

Windy and cool.

It's sad that we are back to wearing jackets.

  

{simple things sunday}: love found at the parade

3/10/12  the love shared between a boy and his daddy

I've created this mental bucket list titled, "Things to do in NEPA", before we leave for internship.  I probably should write it down {on this here blog} so that I will be sure to do all things we want to do before PA becomes a memory **sniff, sniff**.

This Saturday, was one of those things.  The Scranton St. Patrick's Day Parade.  Apparently, it's one of the largest St. Patty's Parades in the entire U S of A.  Crazy!  To think that we live here!  And that one of the largest parades tromps right through our little ole downtown square!  

The reason it's considered the largest?  It takes approximately 4 hours (FOUR HOURS!?!?) for the parade to run it's course.  Insanity?  I think so.

But it's SO MUCH FUN.  (regardless of the intense amount of drunkards who make their way from all over the country to attend such a spectacular shindig.)  The Irish/Italian and all other drunks didn't even bother me.  It was the giddy junior-high girls and the 7 year old boys.  I'm dead serious.  

The girls were holding balloons, squealing and running toward me while I was walking, and near knocked JD's head off as I held him.  And the boys near kicked me in the shins each time I ran to get a tootsie roll, for Annaleigh, as they were thrown from the floats.  So who cares about the mindless and mild drunks?  I wanted to punch those kids in the face!  

Besides the suppressed, un-Christian-like, aggression towards the kids, it was a blast!  I thoroughly enjoy family time, in any form.  Don't you? 

Annaleigh's favorite parts were the fire engines {it was her favorite fire-fighter book come to life!} and the "horsies".  The girl is obsessed with horses, these days.  So sweet.

JD slept most of the time.  When he wasn't sleeping, he was being kissed on by his family {evidenced in that sweet, sweet picture up there at the top...melt. my. heart.}.  So I'd say he enjoyed himself, too! 

Mike and I enjoyed watching Annaleigh's joy, most of all.  Isn't that the greatest?  To see your kiddos enjoy life??  At least it is for us.  We don't stop smiling and laughing with them as they find happiness in the small things of life.  And isn't that what this post is all about?  The simple things??  It's true.  Our joy is a result of their joy.  The smiles.  The coos.  The light in their eyes.  There's nothing on earth that can compare.

Heaven is probably like that, I have no doubts.  Joy in the seemingly insignificant.  Seeing it all as a part of a bigger plan.  To glorify God.

Here's a picture collaboration of our {heavenly} joy on Saturday.
Won't you smile along with me as I reminisce in the simple things of our Saturday?
These make me smile all over again....

linked up with Rebecca here: