Hobelman Family

Washington DC

2010-10-09T23:16:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Maryland!

We did not plan to hit DC on a Saturday that is just how it ended up. Wow was it busy! We drove around the mall which took about an hour bumper to bumper. Snapped a few pictures and explained to the kids that we might not be able to actually get out of the car. Seth was really bummed about that because ever since he read The Lightning Thief he wanted to see the Washington Monument because it was in the shape of an obelisk.

And then we found it! The most awesome parking place we could find! We were at a stop light about to turn left when I saw a sign that read Buses, Bicycles, and Handicapped Only. That's right Handicapped! I wished my Mom didn't have to have one but I sure am glad she had one this day!

Lincoln Memorial

Seth having a little fun with the camera and his obelisk!

Between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial is The World War II Memorial.

Washington Monument

How cool is this! We found an air vent on our way back to the car!

The changing of the guards and the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.

This is the Amphitheater that is next to the Tomb.

Gettysburg

2010-10-09T16:18:00.022-05:00

We did a quick drive through Gettysburg, PA on our way down to DC.

On our drive I saw in the distance this lookout tower and had to check it out! Seth, Kaia and I walked to the top while Mom and Dad stayed at the bottom! Good thing too, cause that was a long way up!

Views from the top!

Posing with the cannon after our long walk up and back down the tower.

Intercourse, PA

2010-10-08T12:04:00.076-05:00

We stayed 2 nights at Bird-In-Hand Family Inn. We had originally planned on one night but the area was so great we had to stay another night. They had a really great indoor pool area! 2 pools and one large hot tub.

In the morning this is where we ate breakfast! Donuts are a good way to start the day, right?

If you stay at the Bird in Hand Family Inn then they provide a complimentary Amish Farmland Tour. More about that can be found HERE!

Seth and Kaia on the bus during the tour.

School House

We made several stops along the tour. This was at the home of a quilter.

This was like a general store and we were able to watch them hand dip the candles.

Outside the General Store there was a free petting area. Here is Seth with some baby goats.

This is a Bintrung.

My Dad loves trains so we had to make stop at the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg, PA.

Dad and Mom

Seth and Kaia

Kaia in her new Amish apron.

Inside the Choo Choo Barn.

A fire starts in this house and the fire truck leaves the fire station, stops, and then the fireman get out and spray water on the fire! How cool is that!

The firemen spraying water.

Circus

I love there little town!

If you are ever in Ronks, PA make sure to eat at Dienner's it is so good!

Yum, Chicken N Dumplings!

This is the best wheat bread I have ever tasted!

Hershey, Pennsylvania

2010-10-06T13:29:00.045-05:00

Welcome to Pennsylvania!

Overlook from the back of the Welcome Center.

You just can't travel through Pennsylvania without stopping by Hershey!

The kids saw that they could create their own chocolate bar so that is where they decided to spend their money. For $14.95 each these better be some great candy bars!

This is as far as they would let me go. If you went in even just to take pics you had to pay. No Thank You!

So I gave the camera to the kids and sent them into the chocolate factory to create some masterpieces!

Hair nets, Check!

Aprons, Check!

They start with a premade bar of chocolate that has edges for the filling you add.

You choose which additional candies you want added.

Seth chose chocolate chips. You know cause that's what a chocolate bar needs is more chocolate!

Kaia added chocolate chips and sprinkles to hers.

It gets filled with you guessed it, more chocolate!

Then it is off to the cooling tunnel!

Here they are with their finished bars.

New York

2010-10-06T11:25:00.048-05:00

We drove over the bridge and into New York looking for a place to pick up or last Great Lake water (Erie).

This is the water before it goes over The American Falls.

We drove on looking for a spot to access Lake Erie's water. Wow, they made this difficult! I am THAT Mom that would consider dangling someone over the rail to get the water but it was farther down than we could reach.

My mom saw in the distance a ramp so I walked over and scored our water!

We located Tully's on my Trip Advisor app. for lunch. The knife points to it on the map.

As we drove out of town I spotted this little candy shop and quickly made a u turn. It was so worth it! YUM!

My little Jelly Beans!

Love the personalities here!

Niagara Falls, Canada

2010-10-05T11:18:00.000-05:00

We entered Canada on October 5th, at Port Huron, MI.

Here we are in Niagara Falls, Canada!
After checking in the kids had to check out the indoor pool!

Here is the view of The Falls from our hotel.

We decided to walk down to a local Pizzeria for dinner.

After dinner we wanted to see The Falls, so we took a walk down Clifton Hill to see it. Clifton Hill is very touristy street that is full of lights and attractions. This is a picture of Ripleys Believe it or Not.

Here are The American Falls at night.

...and Niagara Falls

Maid of the Mist boat dock

On our way back to the hotel I stopped to take a picture of the Ferris Wheel on Clifton Hill.

...and of course to strike a pose!

The next morning we headed back down to the falls so we could beat the rain.
Here are The American Falls.

Horseshoe Falls

Overlooking The Horseshoe Falls

Dad and Mom

The sun peaked out and we got this amazing shot!

On our way down to The Maid of the Mist.

The launching of the boats.

Mom has always wanted to ride on The Maid of the Mist. So here we are all rain geared up to get on the boat!

The rain gear sucked!

It was really windy and kept blowing it off our heads so we gave up and just took it all in!

Kaia waving at Grandpa!

Really???

More Sun peaking through! Gorgeous!

They had recently watched the movie Big with Tom Hanks and thought this was so cool!

Kaia taking a break while waking back to the car.

Mackinac Island

2010-10-03T17:22:00.001-05:00

Wow, Mackinac Island has to be the most beautiful place I have seen!

Our day started out in Mackinaw City where we ate breakfast in the hotel and then headed to Arnold Transit to take a ferry to the island. It was very interesting to see the differences between the mainland and the island. One main thing I observed was that when they loaded the luggage onto the ferry from the mainland they used a motorized cart and when we got to the island they used plain and simple manpower.

The only motorized vehicles on the island are a police car, an ambulance which I didn't see, and a moving type truck. All other transportation consists of bikes and horses.

I didn't like the looks of these life rafts.

Seth inside the ferry.

Mom and Dad

It was a chilly that day but the sun was shining and I didn't want to sit inside the stuffy ferry so I rode on top with 2 other people. We sat on the front row so the wind was blocked by the windows.

The Mackinac Bridge from the ferry.

We were told that a horse drawn carriage ride was the way to go to see the island. There are the large tour ones that carry about 50 people that run $25 each or you can hire a private driver for $100. We went the private route and it was so worth it. The driver was so nice and told us all about the history of the island. She told us that she lives on the island all year and drives the carriage during the summer and around October when everything shuts down she is a full time paramedic.

Seth and Kaia on the carriage.

Traffic jam! LOL

The houses and landscapes are well taken care of and were so beautiful.

This is the main street that runs through town.

Those are the larger tour carriages.

The carriage took us right by The Grand Hotel.

After we finished the very chilly carriage ride around the island I turned to my Mom and said "They really should open a Starbucks on the island" (I was really craving a Chai Tea Latte) Well then I looked up and it appeared! WooHoo!!!

While Mom and Dad waited for the ferry the kids and I walked to the next street over so we could see some more of the island.

Emergency services building.

So glad we didn't miss the Town Crier!

Lake Huron and The Mackinac Bridge

The making of fudge! It seems that every other store sold fudge.

The way back to the mainland. They didn't last long on the top.

When I posted on Facebook that we would be in Mackinaw City I was told to make sure I tried a Pastie. I had no idea what it was at the time but I sure am glad I listened to her.

Click Here to if you want to know what a Pastie is!

I got the original beef pastie.

Before we left Mackinaw City, I had to collect our Lake Huron water. 3 down 2 to go.

Mackinac Bridge and Michigan's Upper Peninsula

2010-10-02T11:03:00.001-05:00

On our quest to retrieve water from all 5 Great Lakes we started our way up to Lake Superior. To get there we would have to cross The Mackinac Bridge. This frighted me a little bit.
When I was 17 my boyfriend, his friend and I were headed out to the lake and missed our turn. We drove off the road into a creek full of water. We knew we were looking for a gravel road so when we saw two reflectors we thought that was marking the road. We were 17 and in the country reflectors mark driveway's, roads and all sorts of things. I never thought that it would mark a creed bed. It was about a 15ft drop off and we landed upside down in the water. I was stuck upside down in my seat belt under water for what seemed like forever. The life flashing thing? Yeah, that happened.
I had never fully gotten over the fear of bridges over water. Until now!!!
My dad is a History Channel junkie, so when he saw a show on the bridge he thought it would be a great thing to show me and the kids. I was a little freaked out after that. I know that the shows play up all the bad stuff but come on. You really want me to drive on grates that I can see through??? I don't think so! While in Saginaw my Cousin Sharon told me everything would be just fine, and if I stayed in the right lane I wouldn't have to hear the humming of the grates. Oh, and the lady that was in the car that blew off the bridge and drown was in a Yugo and I have an Expedition so I would be fine. Wow, Thanks!

On our way to The Mackinac Bridge.

Everything was going great so far. My hands were gripping the steering wheel so tight just in case there was a wind gust I would be prepared. (It wasn't windy, it was all in my head)

THEN LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!!! THEY CLOSED THE RIGHT LANE! WHAT WAS I GOING TO DO NOW??? HOW COULD THEY, I WASN'T PREPARED FOR THIS!

The video camera was recording at the time and there were a few choice words for the road crew but it all worked out and I felt great. It wasn't as bad as I had envisioned it in my head. I have learned to live in the moment and just be. The ride back across was so much better. I actually let my Dad drive so I could enjoy it fully. I even let my kids stick their heads out the window a little bit so they could look down through the grates at the water. (I did it too!)

Sault Ste. Marie is at the northern most point of I75. This is the closest place we could get to Lake Superior.

I have found that The Great Lakes are not as easy to get to as you think. For Lake Superior we found a neighborhood that we could see the lake, pulled over and asked a man walking how we could get to it. He pointed to an alley that we could walk down.

...and told us we could park anywhere along the street. He was so nice!

The colors were so brilliant!

This is me collecting the water! OMG that was the coldest water ever!

Kaia

Lake Superior

It was super cold, especially standing in that alley. The wind was crazy cold! It is a saying to never say never. Well, I can say I will NEVER live that far north!

On our way back across the bridge!

Holding onto my camera super tight so I could get the shot!

This was in a gift shop in Mackinaw City. I love my kids!

This is where we stayed the night. This hotel is super nice and if you ever decide to take a trip up to this area I highly recommend this hotel!

The kids taking a dip in the indoor pool!

...next post will be Mackinac Island

Around Saginaw, MI

2010-09-30T20:15:00.001-05:00

Our home base while in Michigan was at my cousin Sharon's house in Saginaw. It was just outside the city and right in their back yard was a tree farm the kids loved wondering through. The funny thing was on the way they had to stop off at the raspberry patch and get their stomach's full.

Sharon decided to make up some Apple Cider Jelly and Kaia was all over that! She loves to help in the kitchen. I am sure she wished her mom (me) did more cooking.

About a mile down the road from their house was this farm that had this great selection of fruits and vegetables. I love me some butternut squash and was so excited when these were $1each! We bought 8 and they made it all the way home to Texas with us. (Once you see everywhere we were after this that will mean more)

Kaia and her gourd

Seth and his gourd

One night we went over and visited with our cousin's.

Kids playing in the "pool"

Jim, Linda(my Mom), Dennis, Tom and Sharon

The kids got a ride from Bob!

Kaia rode with her Grandma to visit all her relatives in the cemetery.

Holland, MI and Lake Michigan

2010-09-29T18:48:00.077-05:00

When I was a kid we visited Holland, MI and I still remember how beautiful everything was. I knew that I wanted my kids to see it too so we planned a day trip to see Holland and Lake Michigan! It wasn't the way I remembered it but we still had fun. Before we left Texas we knew that we wanted to see and collect water from all 5 Great Lakes and Lake Michigan would be our first one!

My mom watches "Diner, Drive-ins and Dives" on The Food Network and wanted to stop by Rosie's Diner on the way to Holland.

The kids love sitting at the counter!

After breakfast we drove to Holland!

Here he is explaining how wooden shoes are made.

Beside the wooden shoe factory they sell bison meat and told us that we could walk back and see the live ones if we wanted too.

After seeing the Bison and buying some bulbs from the other side of the shoe factory we drove to find Lake Michigan. Note...just because it says park on the gps doesn't mean it is a public park.

Being the rebels that we are, we drove right past the sign and found the lake. The Park reminded me a lot of the summer resort in Dirty Dancing but a lot smaller and since it was off season nobody was there!

Seth, Me and Kaia

Dad

Mom

Lake Michigan Great Lake #1

Ohio and Michigan

2010-09-27T15:59:00.061-05:00

After a week in Louisville we decided to move on to our next destination, but not without a little care package for the road! A big thanks to Chris for our 2 containers of homemade chocolate chip cookies! I bet I actually gained weight in Louisville from all his great cooking!

My cousin Chris and I

Not to far up the road we made it to Ohio! We noticed a slight change in temperature!

The welcome center going into Michigan didn't have a sign but when we arrived to my cousin's house we were greeted with a raspberry crunch! Everything was alright with the world then!

This is where all the raspberries came from. Fresh from their backyard!

We weren't there 10 minutes before my kids had buckets collecting more. I think more went into their mouths. I sure can't blame them! YUM!!!

More garden goodness!

They had a few pumpkins that they gave to the kids. How cool it get pumpkins from the source.

They couldn't wait to dig into their quill and ink set they bought from The Gateway Arch. We made some parchment paper from crumpled paper and stained it with strongly brewed tea.

Unschooling Rocks!!!

Yum!

Bronners

2010-09-27T10:31:00.039-05:00

While in Michigan we visited Bronners Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth. I remember visiting this store as a kid and again when I was pregnant with Seth.

The kids in the Nativity Scene!

I just love this!

Crazy Girl

I think he hung up on her for trying to kill his reindeer.

The nutcracker is trying to cut her.

This one was a little nicer.

We want this for our yard!

Mom, me and Kaia

Covered Bridge in Frankenmuth.

Indiana and Kentucky

2010-09-22T15:56:00.000-05:00

After we left the Gateway arch we were on our way to Louisville, KY to stay with family for a couple days. That couple day turned into a week. I guess time flies when you are having fun.

When we cross a state line we always stop at the welcome center to take a picture. It is cool to see the difference in each state.

Here is Indiana!

While in Louisville we went to Churchill Downs!

Here we are standing in front of the Barbaro Statue!

Here is Kaia trying on really expensive hats!

We were also able to go back to the stalls which was really a neat experience!

It was also pretty cool getting to see it from this side. It was beautiful!

We took a drive downtown Louisville and I just loved what they had done with these old bikes!

We stopped in to take a look around the Louisville Slugger Factory!

One of our day trips while in Louisville was to Elizabethtown to the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln! On our way we saw this tank on the side of the road so we stopped to take some pictures!

Gotta love the imagination!

This National Park was so beautiful with the hiking trails and the sinking spring.

This is the monument that was built to protect the cabin he was born in.

Here is the cabin he was born in.

My Dad and his cousin Joy.

Mom

Me posting pictures to Facebook!

Arkansas and St. Louis, Missouri

2010-09-20T15:58:00.073-05:00

My Mom, Dad, Seth Kaia and I set off on our road trip on September 20, 2010 with no time limit just destinations!

Our first stop was the Arkansas Visitor's Center.

Got Hoops?

Then we set off to see Graceland!

Here are the kids signing the front wall!

Kaia and I with our names on the wall.

We set out for St. Louis, MO to see the Gateway Arch.

We made it to MO. to a hotel where we had the pool all to ourselves, SCORE!!!

Day 2 we got up and set out to see the Arch! This was so Amazing!!!

View from the top!

The elevator (if that's what you want to call it) was a little scary, but I loved it!

I have learned to embrace the moment and just go with it.

Seth, Kaia and my Dad also had a great ride up!

As you can see there wasn't a whole lot of room in there!

Mom, not so much!

But she made it!

Here is a shot from the outside, if you look really close you can see the windows that you look out of from the top.

Seth and Kaia picked up this really cool quill and ink set from the gift shop under the arch!

If you have not visited The Gateway Arch you are missing out. It is something I can't wait to go back to!

Rethinking Everything Conference 2010

2010-09-07T09:59:00.003-05:00

This was our first year attending RE and I have to say it was fabulous! The kids wanted to live there! It was held at the American Airlines Training Center in Fort Worth. Since it was our first year we decided to drive up there on Thursday to get a feel for the place. The kids decided to take a dip in the pool.

While there we helped set up the Kid Village.

Seth wandering around.

Who doesn't love playing in shaving cream!

Sewing Room

Seth and a group of kids created their own Harry Potter Club. It wasn't on the schedule so they bounced around from room to room recreating the Hogwarts Experience!

Here they are on The Hogwarts Express!

One of their classes.

New friends!

Learning some Judo

Kaia at the Kids Bazaar selling her crochet jewelry.

Kaia is Awesome!

Beauty!

At the AATC there was an airplane cabin for training, they let the kids play in it and they had a blast recreating the in flight experience. I have to say with these two passengers they needed some extra flight attendants!

Practicing their CPR skills!

Seth found a new use for the oxygen masks!

The view while eating breakfast!

Kids playing a game called Gaga.

Here are the basics.

There are tables that are laying down to make a circle.

1. You can only hit the ball with your hands.
2. If it hits the knee or lower you are out.
3. After you hit the ball it has to touch something before you can hit it again.(somebody or the wall)

Kaia soaking up some morning sun!

Taking apart electronics.

Watermelon seed spitting.

Kaia learning some face painting skills from Susan.

Kaia and her first customer!

How would you live if you were free?

Lobby and check in.

A Little Less = A Lot More

2010-07-19T11:55:00.000-05:00

Feels like forever since I have seen my kids faces. They are always in something electronic (They take after me there). So today starts a week long journey for our family. We explained to them that we didn't have all the things they did growing up and that we were still happy. They just can't imagine not having all this stuff.

We are not going to extremes with it just a taste of what it was like.

Things we are trying out this week. These things are not set in stone, we are just making a conscience effort to find something else we could be doing instead!

DVR and NETFLIX
We are watching live TV, I have to say I hate commercials and I don't think my kids have ever HAD to sit through them.

COMPUTER
They are still able to get on them if needed to look up something but they are not spending all day on them.

HAND HELD GAMES AND IPODS
The DS is easy since they never play it but since I got my new Droid Incredible they have been using my Ipod Touch a lot.

Comments so far this morning.
Kaia "What did we do to deserve a week?"
"Did you have DVD's when you were a kid?'

Sewing

2010-05-13T18:33:00.003-05:00

I love to sew! I got hooked when Kaia was about 4. It didn't start with clothing though, it started with bows and the price people wanted for them. While I was searching the web for instructions on bow making I and ran across some boutique clothing but it was way out of my price range. So I decided to teach myself to sew! I have to say I made some really cute outfits! You can check them out here!

This is the first outfit that I made.

...and this is one my favorites!

Seth and Kaia's Ice Skating Performances Feburary 2010

2010-02-15T20:35:00.000-06:00

Seth and his partner Savannah skating their "Jolly Holiday" spotlight performance .This performance won them the Gold Medal at the ISI Love to Skate Feb. 2010.

Coach: Caroline Baker

Kaia skating to "Don't Rain on my Parade" (Glee Cast Version). She won a Bronze Medal at the ISI Love to Skate Feb. 2010.

Coach: Meghan Haynie

Level: Freestyle 1

Christmas in Kansas

2010-01-09T15:24:00.000-06:00

My First Knitting Project!

2009-12-01T13:49:00.028-06:00

I have been wanting some fingerless gloves for a while now. I asked a few friends if they could knit some for me but no one had the time, so I finally broke down and bought "No Rules Knitting at the Teen Knit Cafe".

It was so easy to understand and after searching and modifying a pattern I ended up finishing my first pair in less than four hours. Here is Kaia modeling them for me!

October Book Club and Graveyard Rubbing Activity

2009-11-09T13:07:00.005-06:00

Oakwood Cemetery

701 Grand Avenue, Fort Worth, TX‎

Halloween 2009

2009-10-31T19:22:00.006-06:00

Seth's 11th Birthday!

2009-10-23T19:49:00.000-05:00

Seth is really into Star Wars so his Uncle Kenneth surprised him with a trip to Star Wars in Concert! He had such a great time and they got to see the new Cowboys Stadium!

Texas State Fair 2009

2009-10-07T20:08:00.002-05:00

We LOVE The Texas State Fair!!! We love going every year with Grandma and Grandpa. Travis is usually working so it is just us and the G's. We have our favorite spots that we have to see every time.

Here is my Dad with an old engine. He loves trains!

I don't think we could get out of the Fair without a trip to the Little Hands Farm!

Here are a couple pics from 2004!

...and 2009

Wow!! Do they grow up or what? This year they had a set up for mining gold. Because it was a weekday the crowds were low and Seth and Kaia stayed there and listen to her tell them all about mining and the history of it. She was so nice to them and they were so interested in what she was saying we stood there for a least 30 minutes.

This year Big Tex had a huge model train set up at his feet. Whoever set it up did a fantastic job!

Oh Yeah! It was Bumble Bee!!!

BUILT FORD TOUGH!!!

Talk Like A Pirate Day!

2009-09-23T12:47:00.002-05:00

Co-op Day!

2009-09-02T12:53:00.001-05:00

2009-08-25T08:55:00.026-05:00

Every few months we have our friends from Spring visit, either we go there for a week or they come here. This time we visited the Fort Worth Water Gardens and the Botanic Gardens.

Sam Houston

2009-08-14T13:40:00.001-05:00

No matter how many times we pass through Huntsville my kids never get tired of seeing Sam Houston!

Channel 11 Studio Tour

2009-08-04T11:19:00.000-05:00

The kids sporting some free drinks at walmart.

2009-07-14T13:22:00.001-05:00

My first mobile upload!

2009-07-14T12:51:00.000-05:00

Here is our recent trip to Denver to visit family! We had such a great time and can't wait to go back!

Fruit Pizza

2009-06-14T11:55:00.001-05:00

Dallas Zoo with The Lindsey's

2009-02-26T11:40:00.000-06:00

Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T11:24:00.008-06:00

Every year we get together at a local Chuck E Cheese to celebrate Valentines Day with our homeschooing friends.

Sunday Bowling

2009-01-22T14:45:00.000-06:00

Kaia helping Daddy with his brakes!

2009-01-17T14:37:00.000-06:00