4th and 2nd Grade

It's that time of year again to begin school.  Cameron is going into 4th grade and Mason into 2nd grade.  The boys had the best summer ever in my opinion and now all they want is no homework.  Too bad.  School is here and all the parents are happy their children have to go.  I expect 4th grade to be difficult for Cameron and 2nd to be easy for Mason.  Let the fun begin.

Chocolate World

Chocolate World, I believe the name says it all. After a long day of Hershey Park what better way to end the day.
We took the tour of how chocolate is made which we all seem to enjoy. It helps that they give you free chocolate at the end. After the tour you head to the gift shop for some t-shirts and all the giant candy you can buy. I couldn't resist getting a few.
Then the calling came. Our stomachs were empty and I had to fulfill a promise I had made and that was to get the boys ice cream so we decided to make the rational decision to have it for dinner. Cameron picked an ice cream sundae with two scoops of chocolate ice cream and one scoop of mint chocolate chip. Top that off with whip cream and three cherries and he had a mountain to eat. Mason picked a chocolate sundae and I had to get a peanut butter and chocolate shake. I then ended up eating all of mine, finished off Mason's and tried to help Cameron finish his, but I had my fill. Thank you Mr. Hershey for filling our bellies and hearts with such goodness.

Hershey Park

A trip to Hershey is not complete without a visit to Hershey Park. We arrived when it opened and did not leave until in closed. What a day. You start out by measuring you height and finding what candy you are based on that. Cameron was a Jolly Rancher and Mason was a Hershey Bar. When we entered the park Cameron and Mason worked out a system to switch turns on what rides they wanted to go on so everyone was happy. There were several sections just for kids and since the boys were not into the big rollercoasters it was great to go from one ride to the next. Their favorite ride was the Scrambler. Since the lines were short that could go on the ride and get right back in for another turn which they did several times.
After we tackle the park it was off to the Boardwalk to take in the water rides. The lines were longer so we did not go on too many. I took Cameron on one and Mason on another before heading to "Tidal Wave". It is a roller coaster that Cameron and I did several times that makes a big splash at the end. The water park closed early so the boys hit a few more rides and we even did the ferris wheel twice. Great views from up there. As the park was closing and the boys were on rides I snuck into the shops and bought them a present. Cameron got a Hershey and Mason got a Kiss. Who knew they would like them so much. After the park closed we had more stop and that was Chocolate World which conveniently is next to Hershey Park.

Hershey Musuem

Learning about Milton Hershey was very interesting.  The man was quite remarkable and you can and will see his generosity for many years to come.  In 1918 he donated 60 million dollars to start a school.  Can you imagine what that would be worth today.  He transformed the town of Hershey into a beautiful area full of parks, schools, and numerous recreational areas.  His school is over 10,000 acres and is bigger that the town of Hershey itself.  He even gave money to orphaned boys and started new way of life for them and continues to do that to this day.  A few unique facts I learned was that he went bankrupt once from buying a candy box from his father.  His first company was making carmel, but he knew chocolate was the future and boy was he right.  I think many people and taste buds can thank Milton Hershey not just for his money, but for his caring and giving.

Hershey Gardens

With over 500 rose bushes, a Japanese Garden, and lots of unique and beautiful plants I was enjoying all of Hershey Gardens.  The boys were not that impressed (except for the butterfly house) and quickly started dragging their feet, but that did not stop me from taking it all in.  The orange and yellow roses were exceptionally fragrant and make me miss having my own rose garden.

Scooters in the Countryside

I have been talking about riding a scooter for years now and since we would vacation to other countries Stacey always advised not too but since she found this place I had to get on them.  It was great riding thru the Dutch countryside and seeing the Amish ride around in their house and buggy.  I passed a few of them on my fast 35 mph scooter and even went thru a single lane covered bridge.  The funny thing was trying to avoid all the horse droppings in the road.  I am not sure I will get to ride another one again, but I enjoyed it immensely.  I even took the boys for a spin.  They told me to slow down and held on tight.   WHEEEEE!!!