belated trip post...

So, a couple of weeks ago my family took a trip out east. Our destinations were North Carolina and Pennsylvania. One of my brothers lives in N.C. and we were going to a conference there anyway, so of course we had to see him. Then married sister and her family lives in P.A. Most of us hadn't seen where she lived and we hadn't seen Yoanna in a LONG time.

I had this problem on the trip with making these freak out faces. I think Addy and I were getting bored waiting for everyone else to load up.  Yes, we have awesome trips!!

 

When we got to the conference center in Ashville, N.C. I dropped off the guys because they had a luncheon to go too. Charis, Addy, and I went on a hunt to find a Starbucks. Thankfully, right before the trip my Dad bought "Roada."  Yep, even our GPS got a name thanks to him.

The conference was awesome and I learned a lot. It seemed to just fly by way to fast. I met so many new people and then had to catch up with all the ones from the year before.  If you'd like to learn more about the conference click here.

The conference center was so pretty. Some of us took a hike in the beautiful mountain behind it. This was on the way back. We decided to stay on the road instead of the trails. 

October is the best time of year to take a road trip across the US.

btw, Charis would want credit for this photo. :)

 Charis, Isaac, and I

After the conference we went to go see where my brother Isaac is living. A couple of days later we headed to P.A. with him along. We stopped at Fredericksburg, V.A. to see the battlefield. Since we had watched Gods & Generals it was very interesting to where the battle happened. 

 One of the houses, that is still standing, was full of bullet holes. It would have been creepy to there during the war.  The picture had to be taken from the window because the doors were locked.

Picture time again. (feels like we're always taking photos.) l. to r. Isaac, me , Titus, Addy, and Charis. This one turned out pretty good. Just felt a little weird getting your picture in a cemetery...

 Once we were done with the battlefield we took a walk downtown. I love downtowns and this one was really cute and old. Also, some of us had to stop at the local coffee shop. :)

Next stop is P.A., but it still 5 hours away. We had too say goodbye to Isaac because he had to go back to N.C.

Seeing my sister Kelsey again was so much fun. I spent an afternoon alone with her and that was when Yoanna warmed up. I don't think she liked everyone sticking their face or camera in hers.  The scenery in P.A. is very pretty...and different from Kansas. Some of us went rock/mountain climbing. At one point there was a rock slide on the side of the mountain which makes you able to see for a long ways.

There are rocks as big as you up there. 

They're also very, very beautiful.

Yoanna and I got some photos before I had to go home. Sad to see her go. I couldn't tell if she was.

 

Can't wait to see her again someday.

On the way home we stopped at Gettysburg. I'm standing on one or their lookouts. I told her to stop...

I never realized how much there is to see at Gettysburg. We only had about an hour and a half. Still, we only got through two of the stops on their tour. Either that means we're slow or just a lot of stuff to see. 

Addy and I in the same lookout.

Titus, me, and Addy in other memorial. This one had a tight spiral staircase built in 1907. 

I'm surprised they still let people go up in it.

Here, I found a picture on the web of what it looks like from the outside. Right underneath the dome where the square shape ends is where they let you go out on top. There are more memorials like it that we didn't get to see. 

After that they dropped me off at the airport. You see, I had to fly home earlier because of some things I had going on. The rest of them didn't want to leave yet that way I got to fly!!!!!!!!!  I LOVE FLYING!!!!!!!! I got stuck in Atlanta for 2 extra hours, which was great.  Do you like to fly? Or have you ever flown before?

Well, I've gotta stop now and get busy. Hoped you enjoy it.

~Susanna

packing?

I've been packing today, because I going to North Carolina tomorrow at noon...hopefully.   

At this moment I am feeling kinda like this...

but right now it looks worse than this...

My stuff is all over my bed, but soon it should be in my duffel bag. Obviously it's not going to get there that soon because I'm sitting here telling you about it. hmm... 

So, I'm going to N.C. to a conference and to see my brother!!!! I can't wait to see him again and go to the conference.  After that we're headed for Pennsylvania to see my niece!!!!! and my sister...and my brother-in-law.  Somewhere in between those two we will either see the ocean and/or Washington D.C. and battlefields, and whatever else we spot.  

If it were up to you would you either see Washington D.C. or the ocean??

I would tell you more but I think you know what I should be doing. :) Hopefully I will keep this thing updated while I am gone.  You all have a awesome Monday evening.

Oh, and if you want to see more about this conference I'm going too check it out here.

~Susanna

last week...

I've had one of the best weeks in my life.  My sister Charis and I went to Texas with a friend to spend the week helping a family get ready for their daughter's wedding this last Saturday. The whole week reminded me of exactly a year ago when my sister got married. We did about everything wedding-wise you can imagine.

 

One thing I need to mention is that this family loves dove chocolates. 

I don't think I've ever had so many doves in my life. In fact Dove could have sponsored this wedding because they were everywhere.

We did a lot of decorating and the place turned out really pretty.

I liked watching the cake being decorated. That was really neat.

The wedding went really well and I'm terribly excited for the couple. The food was just amazing. This picture is barely touching it.

The hotel we stayed at was very nice. We got a kick out of the waffle iron. One of the ladies said that this was the first time she was ever able to eat Texas. :) If someone would make one like that for Kansas, it would look like a broken waffle iron.

Although I didn't get a picture I thought I'd tell you that we stopped at Cabela's on the way home. When you stop at those sort of places time flies a lot faster.

I could tell you a lot more about the week, but that would take too long. Anyway, I need to get busy.

~Susanna

Lately...

The weather is terribly hot here and I'm sick of it.   I can't wait for fall.

It's too bad Kansas doesn't get any rain from the hurricane.

When the leaves change color, it is my favorite time of year. You can feel (and hear) the wind blowing through the leaves. I just want to spend all my time outside in that type of weather.

 

Maybe this year I can't wait for fall because I get to go out East in October.

Anyway, lately, I've been having fun playing around with this...

My Memories Suite 2 is a scrapbook software that I'm becoming addicted too. Well, maybe it's not that bad. You see, I got an email the other day from My Memories asking me to do a giveaway with this software. I first get to have fun creating layouts and cards to see how it works. So, make sure you stick around for this giveaway. It will be here in a couple of weeks.

Yesterday, I got my music for the Wichita Youth Symphony. I guess I decided I didn't have enough already to do this school year and got this on top of it. But, I like music and want to learn more about playing with people. Btw, they need one more flute. Anybody want to play? :)

This afternoon we ate lunch at the neighbor's (they also go to our church) with about 6 other families. Then some of us came over to our house to ride horses. Man! its way to hot for riding at 3 o'clock.

Tonight, we're going to watch a new movie, but my Dad had to go somewhere. We decided to be nice and wait on him. In the meantime Addy stuck in Fireproof. For as many times as I've watched it, I still find it interesting.  Especially the parts with Wayne.

 That guy is great. I can't wait for Courageous to come out. He isn't in Courageous that I know of.

Is anyone going to see it on the 30th? I'm thinking about it. 

Well, I better get myself busy...

You all have an awesome week. 

Hopefully by this time next week I'll be on my way to TX.

~Susanna

ohio trip

On the 19th of July I went on a trip with my grandparents to Ohio.

These are all random photos from it.

I took my Grandma to an OrangeLeaf...well, she paid.

 

She loved it, obviously.

To keep me from getting bored (when I wasn't driving), I did a picture scavenger hunt.

One of the objects I had to look for.   :)  The Kansas Capitol building.

I also had to get one of the Kansas City Royals Staduiam.

 

How about Chipotles?

 

The main reason for this trip was my Grandpa wanted to go to the antique tractor show in Ohio. They were featchering Oliver tractors, which he collects.  They had hundreds of Olivers there. It was crazy.

This is the kind of hay baler he worked on when he was 18

I liked this one. :)

I'll say one thing, Ohio knows how to make real sweet tea.  yum!!

Grandpa got my brother a cap, so I had to take a picture of it.

And then one of me.

You don't know how many times I tried to get a picture of the camera in my sunglasses. Crazy

on the way home we passed this truck with a load of steel. You really didn't want to get hit with that.

Here's the last picture. You've probably seen this if you've gone through Illinois.

~Susanna

going on a trip...

This week my grandparents are taking me on a trip with them. I'm excited about it because this will be the first time I've ever gone on a trip longer than a couple of days with them. So, I have a couple of guest post lined up for you while I'm gone. I hope you enjoy them and have a good week.

While I'm still here I thought I'd post a picture of my niece, Yoanna.

I'm going to get to see her for the first time in one week!!! I can't wait!!!

~Susanna