**TUE 6/11 Short Drive 87 miles -->Landcaster, PA, Oil Change in MH
We have put over 5000 miles on the motorhome now and it's time for an oil change. Since Chris was able to find a local mechanic who was confident he could fit us in and seemed reliable and honest on the phone, he made an appointment and that is what we scheduled our travel around today. We are thankful they were just as great and helpful as we hoped as we trusted them with the job Chris would normally do himself.
While we left the MH for a few hours, we took the Jeep and found a quaint covered bridge. It took some research for this born and raised San Diegan family to figure out why they are so special and why they are covered at all. *ha! Well, it seems the wooden bridges hold up to the weather much better when you keep the snow and such off of them.
Addisyn and I made a run to Target for necessities and food. We had to switch to a new brand of TP--one thing I feared (I know it sounds silly, but I'm being honest here). So we are trying Up & Up 2-ply (I refuse to use 1-ply and don't want anything too thick in the septic). On the way out we noticed there was parking for horse & buggies. And it was pretty funny seeing Amish ladies sipping Starbucks from their green straws at Target.
Tonight we started watching Star Wars with the kids at night. Another classic to introduce them to. Addisyn is not so into it, but Piper and Marissa are enjoying hanging out on the couch with daddy and learning the story and characters.
**WED 6/12 Amish Tour
We found our way to Intercourse and got whoopee (just so we could say that). This was our day to learn about how Amish live.
We started by watching a "4D" presentation about a boy who is of the age to decide for himself if he will be baptized Amish or go his own way. It was interesting how the character lived two lives back and forth between his friends and his car and baseball team, and his duties at home with his family. They used a film technique called "Pepper's Ghost" to portray the ancestors (our tour guide suggested it would make a great science fair project).
Myth correction--Rumspring is not just one year. There is no specified time, but they are of an age they can explore the "English" world (English = anything not Amish), and make the choice for themself. That is a big part of their religion, being Anabaptist means making your own choice to be baptized.
Sunday Milking is not actually a milking... Any idea what it actually is? We didn't find out.
We were amazed to learn they DO use DC (batteries), generators (gas), and propane to maintain light, heat, and refrigerator at home. The DeWalt battery "chandelier" was pretty cool. While it seems like a lot of extra effort to us to modify appliances and do chores the slow way, we do understand the value in it. Having access to electricity, cars, and even bicycles are all too fast and take you away from your family too quickly or easily. They have scooters with 20" bicycle tires they use to get around if they aren't using the horse and buggy. The streets have wide shoulders the buggies use, but it's still amazing how the cars and buggies share the road. We did take a buggy ride and pulled right into the lane of traffic so we could turn left to the other side. We also toured the schoolhouse--Chris sat in the front row in the little desks for the younger children. They only school through 8th grade. The small one-room school system has the advantage of older kids able to reinforce their lessons as they help their younger peers.
Amish only go to church only every other Sunday. They take turns hosting for their church/parish district. They bring the "church wagon" full of benches they fill in their barn, to accommodate the high numbers of people.
Amish and Mennonites (and modern people) all live in Landcaster, PA side by side. We didn't learn much about Mennonites so I had to Google my info... They are both Anabaptist (baptized by choice). Mennonites use modern technology "conscientiously." They drive, have computers, and modern houses. They don't draw the line in the sand like Amish; they are expected to use good judgement in when and how much they use them; I presume the family focus is similar. It was funny to see the lady with a white bonnet driving her minivan at the Costco gas station, or the young girl at the grocery store texting on her iPhone at the register while her parents checked out, and so I wonder how effective that system is. They wear simple clothes but allow patterns while the Amish wear only solid colors. The Amish houses look similar, but they are not wired for AC electricity.
Tonight we enjoyed our eating our Whoopee pie and catching fireflies instead of going to bed.
**THUR 6/13 School Day
We slept in again, til 9am. Nice.
The rain took a break this morning, schoolwork "recess" turned into PE--bikes & basketball (so Chris could have the MH quiet to himself while he made a client phone call). Karen took advantage of the rain delay and squeezed in a trip to the park around the corner with a workout track. Chris had to cheat on Jessica and get a haircut elsewhere.
School is nearing the end. We are making final week checklists to do before next Wednesday. Addisyn and Piper have paper packets to work on rather than so much computer programming. They can not be happer that the end is near!!
Um... the farting is getting out of hand... it wasn't me, I swear! Is it possible that it got worse this last couple of weeks? What toxins are in our little home!?
Oh, and so much crying.
And no where to hide.
I actually think it's good that we are in a small space to help force us to learn how to handle our emotions rather than hide and suppress.
**FRI 6/14 Hershey
We drove 30 min to go see a factory tour of the chocolate factory, and a good excuse to buy chocolate. I was a little disappointed that it was a cartoon like model of a factory rather than a REAL factory. I suppose it fits their business model of the FUN and realism might detract from that. It was still somewhat educational.
We didn't know what else to do there besides buy buy buy from the gigantic overpriced gift shop & candy store areas, so we let the kids pick one more activity and that was a 4D movie, which I mistakenly thought might teach us something about the factory, but alas too it was completely animated. But it was fun wearing 3D glasses and feeling the misters and grabbing the gold streamer that shot out from the ceiling at the end.
Our plan was to stop at the state capitol another 10-15 min away but we were all feeling capitol'ed out and tired and needing a break, so we skipped it. All the driving must get us tired. We didn't get back late but we have a hard time going to bed on time with the late sunsets and fun things to do like playgrounds and bikes and fireflies...
**SAT 6/15 Cherry Hill Farm
Even with the day's activity picked out by the kids, we still have a hard time rousing and getting moving in the morning. Chris is good at getting them motivated though, and today was so worth it! Today was way fun!!!! It was awesome having so many activities that are physical and active. I felt so rejuvenated and alive using my body for fun! Until we started melting from the heat... but a little shade in the corn pit and a cold drink kept us going. After some tips on technique, everyone got the bell to ring on the carnival game. And we learned about pullies. The apple cannon was hilarious! (I assume they use imperfect apples that wouldn't sell at the store, so there's really no waste.)
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