The Beaven Family hits PA!

And to be honest, I'm not sure either one will ever be the same! We looked forward to this trip for months and were SOOOO excited, though if we'd known all that had been in store for us we may have gotten on that plane with a bit more trepidation!

Lorry picked us up at the airport in Baltimore and was our first stop in PA. I hadn't seen my sweet Sarah-baby since their visit in March and was thrilled with what a big girl she'd become. I was a bit worried that she would be in a full blown stranger anxiety phase, but she didn't seem to mind one bit and acted as though she had spent everyday of her life with us. She is the perfect baby to have a long distance relationship with... She doesn't hold it against me at all.

Marshall made himself right at home with Caleb's more than adequate Lego collection.

And Abby made a new friend in Amber a "new to them" dog who is finishing out her days at Lorry's house. She's older than the hills and appears to have some dementia going on, but is as sweet as could be. If you make eye contact with her, she's your best friend and will just lean on you to remind you to pet her. Just don't try to hand feed her. Her jaws sound just like a gator's closing!

It warmed and broke my heart simultaneously to see how well Abby did with her youngest of cousins this trip. Both Sarah and Lauren gave Abby an opportunity to appear so much older than I want her to have to admit that she is...

The first Saturday we were home, we went to visit my dad and his wife in Mountville. Marshall brought along his handy dandy notebook and cool pen to make some drawings.

Sarah was happy to look out the back door and smile.

Marshall would ask quite often if he could hold Sarah and loved finding ways to make her laugh.

After yet another of Grandma Bonnie's deliciously prepared dinners, we went outside to play. The kids love running up and down the hill in the backyard and Chance the dog was more than happy to join in on the fun!

Right after this picture was taken, our string of bad luck began. Amelia's hand "somehow" got squished between some rocks Marshall was pounding together. She started crying and I darted up the hill to get her and on the way back down got my foot caught in one of those triangular shaped dog leash holders, causing both she and I to drop to the ground. Thankfully we fell in slow motion so I was able to brace myself for the fall and avoid flattening her like a grape. :) I hopped right up and took her in the house and sat her at the bar. I turned around to get her some ice for her hand and when I turned back around we noticed she had her beautiful blonde hair hanging into a lit candle. Aaargh! Thankfully we were able to get it out before it lit on fire! ;) So basically in a span of just a few minutes, she got her fingers crushed, was dropped from 5 feet in the air with her mother trying not to land on top of her and we almost lit her hair on fire.