Ice Cream Trail

Yesterday I packed up the Cousin Crew and we went on an ice cream adventure. It took us nearly six hours, but we visited five creameries on the Ice Cream Trail. The kids (minus Timmy) loved taking turns as my navigator. Unfortunately, each one managing to miscommunicate the GPS directions, resulting in our becoming disoriented and extending the length of our quest. The kids were so happy and excited that becoming lost was fun instead of frustrating.

Country Frogs

Yesterday I decided to take my niece and Robby to the State Museum while Timmy and my nephew went to the climbing gym. The State Museum houses a planetarium which was hosting a special presentation on the Apollo 11 moon landing. The presentation was fascinating!

After the show, the kids explored through the museum for about two hours before we decided to head home. Our day was relatively low-key, but the temperatures are so hot that outdoor activities are prohibited. My leg is developing significant swelling in the heat which is making wearing my prosthesis both painful and exhausting. I am wrapping my limb in icepacks every night just to relieve the ache and the soreness that developed by walking throughout the day.  

In the evening we went back onto the Ice Cream Trail, heading to a rural county about 45 minutes from my Mom for our coveted stamp. The weather was fine during our drive through the country to the dairy, but it felt like a monsoon opened up as soon as we began our trip back home. Between the stark darkness of the country, the winding rural roads, heavy rain, and frogs jumping all over the road, the ride home was miserable. (Well, it was miserable for me. The kids had a blast counting all of the suicidal country frogs.)

Archery

With my niece at work and Timmy at my Mom's friend's pool swimming, I took the opportunity to take Robby and my nephew on a mini-adventure. Robby has been asking about taking an archery class for years, and with the heat index in the 100s and a new Groupon posted for a class, I thought it was a perfect time. Jake and Robby were thrilled with their archery surprise, and both were surprisingly good!

Unfortunately, my car overheating in traffic on the way home definitely overshadowed the excitement of our adventure. I'm hoping that the issue was caused by us being stuck in traffic, not moving, with the air conditioning cranked on high for 40 minutes. As soon as the indicator began to beep, I pulled over and turned the car off. 

Unsure about what to do, I turned to Google. Following the instructions, I popped open the hood and waited for the engine to cool down. After about 20 minutes the temperature returned to normal so I decided to try to drive home.  

Despite the hot weather, I followed the internet instructions and kept the heat on full blast.  After driving for 20 minutes with the engine temp remaining within the normal range, I decided to turn off the heat.  Again, we had no change on the indicator. Eventually, I rolled up the windows and turned on the A/C.  We drove the remainder of our 30 minutes in cool comfort, with my keeping an eye on the engine temperature. Thankfully, the needle never budged.

I'm really hoping that the car overheated because it was idling in traffic with the A/C cranking. Fingers crossed!

Ghost Hunters

Yesterday was another fantastic day, filled with Aunt Peggy Adventures. I love summertime when all of the cousins can spend time together without the stress of school assignments and deadlines. The giggles and squeals throughout the day have done wonders to heal my anxious and nervous demeanor. 

We began our day by going bowling. With the Kids Bowl Free program, every cousin is able to bowl two free games every day. Even though none of them are particularly skilled at the sport, they all enjoy playing. With the help of bumpers, Timmy was even able to play along with the big cousins.

After bowling, we headed out on the Ice Cream Trail. Our destination was an hour away, but the kids entertained themselves by singing songs and telling stories. Of course, Timmy chimed in with a spirited rendition of Baby Shark at every opportunity. 

When we finished dinner, the cousins went out to ride bikes (one of Timmy's favorite activities) before the big kids piled into my car for our final adventure of the day. (Timmy stayed back with my Mom because he was too young to participate.) We headed to Gettysburg and went on a ghost walk.

We didn't see any paranormal activity, but we had an excellent tour guide who spun wonderful stories for our hour walk through the town. The kids were entranced by the stories and I think they all have a stronger understanding of the Civil War. After the ghost walk, we stopped by a local ice cream parlor (because there is always room for more ice cream) and the scooper told us about a haunted bridge just outside of town. 

As the story goes, Confederate soldiers were hung from the covered bridge after the battle. Their spirits continue to haunt the bridge, especially at night. According to the scooper, the hauntings are so strong at the bridge that cigarettes placed on the rails will turn without wind. Once the Cousin Crew heard the story, they were begging to investigate. I plugged the bridge in the GPS and we headed to the small covered bridge.

I don't smoke so I refused to buy cigarettes for their paranormal experiment. Thankfully, we were not the only visitors to the bridge, and we quickly found a family with a pack of cigarettes to test the tale. After staring at a lit cigarette for a few minutes, the Cousin Crew screeched as the cigarette moved 180 degrees. Needless to say, they are convinced that the story of the haunted bridge is true. 

Amusement Park Happy

Over the past few years, Robby has struggled with amusement parks. He used to be able to ride all day, but as he has gotten older his ear condition has begun to impact his equilibrium. We spoke to his doctor about his amusement park queasiness and on Friday we gave the suggestions a try.

For the first time in four years, Robby was able to ride all of the rides at Hershey Park without becoming sick!  He spent the entire day riding with his cousins, leaving him simultaneously tired and over-the-moon. While the big kids were riding the tall coasters and adult rides, Timmy and I spent our time on the smaller amusements. My little thrill seeker was delighted when the Cousin Crew returned to the kiddie rides to retrieve him. 

In retrospect, I think that their sudden interest in riding with Timmy was simply a ruse to gain access to my disability fast pass. Realizing that they would receive front of line entrance if they were riding with me, Timmy was part of the package. Regardless of their motivation, Timmy loved going on the rides with his cousins.  

I had the foresight to take the same motion sickness medication recommended for Robby because I suspected that the kids might figure out my riding benefit at some point during the afternoon. I always get sick on the rides, but the motion sickness medication definitely helped. We went on the log flume ride seven times and I never became ill.

After a long day at Hershey Park, we spent Saturday swimming in the pool of my Mom's friend. It was our first time swimming this summer and we all thoroughly enjoyed being in the water. Since I am in a temporary prosthetic situation, I was weary about wearing my leg into the pool. I opted to remove my leg entirely to avoid damaging the prosthesis.  The cool water felt wonderful again my limb, which was mangled and bruised from trudging through Hershey Park in obscenely hot temperatures.  

Tonight I have another Cousin Crew Adventure planned, but first I think we'll hit the ice cream trail. We are motivated to receive all of our stamps.  Have a great day!