East Coast Trip - Family Time!

It's hard to believe that a month has passed since we enjoyed time at Tricia and Mckay's place!  I'm determined to complete the blog update about our East Coast trip this week because memories fade quickly for me without words/pictures.  We arrived the evening of Saturday, May 27 - in time for a yummy pasta dinner and later an adult-only walk through Trexler Park.  It was so exciting to pull into their driveway - Jessica and Thomas were outside anticipating our arrival.  Felt like Christmas morning to see my brother and his family because we just don't see each other often enough!  To spend time in their part of the country was an added bonus.  It's the first time Aaron and I have been able to take our family to where they are living.  We love to catch up when they come west every few years but it was awesome to see what life is like in their "neck of the woods" for a change.

Campus at Lehigh University

Sunday morning we attended 9am church with Tricia and the kids.  McKay had high council responsibilities in other wards so we didn't see him until later that afternoon.  There's a shortage of piano players in Tricia and McKay's ward so singing along with iPad accompaniment isn't uncommon for them.  Tricia was pretty excited to have a piano player in tow so I happily played the hymns for sacrament meeting.  Being Memorial Day weekend, the bishop had selected the robust patriotic hymns so it was an added bonus to have the piano and not the iPad.  Tricia taught a wonderful lesson in Relief Society while the kids attended their various classes with cousins.  Later on we enjoyed another terrific meal when McKay arrived home - sweet pork tacos and all the fixings.  That afternoon we visited the Lehigh University campus and drove all around the area.  It was funny to find a Taylor student-housing building on Price Street - we were driving and didn't get a pic.

Anna, Thomas, Jessica, Quinn, Elsie - in front of campus church building

The main library with spiral staircase and stained-glass windows was locked up - bummer.

McKay and Heather - administration offices?

Jantzen, Cameron, Quinn, Thomas

Anna, Elsie, Jessica, Brinley

Anna, Jessica, McKay, Thomas, Cameron, Quinn, Brinley, Elsie, Aaron, Jantzen, Heather

Graduation was a few days earlier so the campus was sparse.  In fact, I don't recall seeing students anywhere!  Only when we visited McKay's office did we see a fellow faculty member.  The kids especially enjoyed sampling the caramel/chocolate hot cocoa from a machine in the faculty lounge.

Back at their place, McKay served up a tasty berry pie type dessert he'd sampled at Costco the day before.  Gotta love Costco samples!  The cousins played night games while the parents enjoyed uninterrupted patio talk time.  The weather was perfect and we all stayed up pretty late knowing no school/work the next day (Memorial Day).

Writing my weekly Sunday night email to Tanner.

Memorial Day ended up being a bit wet and rainy but that didn't stop Mckay and Cameron from taking Aaron and Jantzen on a mountain bike ride.  They loved the adventure while the rest of us stayed closer to home.  Tricia and I covered a variety of topics during our 'talk time' and the cousins kept themselves entertained for hours.  We explored more territory, spotted several covered bridges and walked through another beautiful park in their area until the kids were hungry (again).  I joined Tricia and McKay at Wenger's grocery store - and liked it very much.  We grilled burgers and again stayed up way too late listening to McKay tell stories.  The kids thought he was very entertaining. I couldn't remember half of what he told - even though I lived through it!  Good thing for journals/blogs.

Aaron and Heather

McKay and Tricia

Dinner time

Cameron was born September 21, 2003.  Anna was born December 17, 2003.  I don't recall where this giant stocking came from but when these two were babies, we put them in it and snapped a few pictures while at my parent's Murray/Kristeldell house.  All these years later, Tricia had the stocking packed with her Christmas decor.  She was able to convince these two to try it on again for size.  Ha-ha!

Anna & Cameron - 13-year olds!

Tuesday, May 30 - it was back to work for McKay and back to school for their kids.  We packed up and left their place that morning and continued our adventures.  Fortunately, we were able to spend one more evening at their house (Friday, June 2) before flying home.  We absolutely loved this part of our trip and are so appreciative of Tricia and McKay's hospitality.  It was a real highlight during our time back east.  Thanks guys -we sure love you!