Friday: Lots of stuff going on.
Sabbath (Saturday)
Monday: Fort New Salem
Yes, the entire Pethtel family, even John, got to go on a family vacation. We took 6 days off to visit family and friends in West Virginia. We had a really nice time and it was hard having to come back to reality. We stayed with Pastor Dale and his wife Janet. They were wonderful hosts and we enjoyed our time with them. Xavier had a great time with them as well. He was very interested in their clocks, they have 3 different ones that chime or cuckoo. He learned about different types of birds, mainly due to the bird call clock and the many bird feeders around their house.
We also got into town just in time for the Apple Butter Festival. Gotta have our apple butter! Xavier loved the festival and talked about it everyday. Thursday night he got to listen to Bluegrass music and eat funnel cake, John had deep-fried oreos, and talked up the local town folk with his usual charm. (Needless to say my son is not shy.) Friday we went down to the festival before dinner and he got to pan for gemstones and play in the inflatable jump houses and obstacle course. He told us the obstacle course was a mini-American Gladiator course. On Sabbath, Saturday, we went to church and he told everyone and I mean everyone, how apple butter was made and was invited to ride in the parade on the church float and play chimes. Xavier has never seen a parade much less be in one. So, of course he said yes. After the parade he was able to jump in the bounce houses again, thanks to Aunt Sheila. (Mommy and Daddy weren't going to pay the admission price again.) We didn't go down to the festival the last day mainly because we had to meet family Sunday afternoon. I think we had had enough anyway, well at least Mommy and Daddy.
The rest of the time we visited with the Thorngates, Mike and Sheila, and old friends. We drove Xavier around and showed him the places of John's youth and were we met and fell in love. Although Xavier could have cared less about that fact.He got to see and play at the house John grew up in and the whole time he kept reminding us it was a small town, a very small town. (If you ask him if he wants to live there, he says no and he was just visiting for a little while.) We went out to eat a few times with Mike and Sheila and over to their place for a family get together. Xavier loved playing out in their yard with the little boys next door. We also got a chance to visit Fort New Salem. I never had a chance to visit while I was going to school in Salem and it is now closed to the public for repairs. But, Pastor Dale is on the board and has a key, so he took us around on a private tour Monday morning. Xavier really enjoyed the old buildings and getting an idea about how life was in the "old" days. We also stopped at the New River Gorge visitor center and checked out the large bridge. (I honestly think this was the highlight of Xavier's trip. He hasn't stopped talking about it.)
Addison was great on the trip. She hardly cried at all and was her normal sweet self. Everybody loved on her and thought she was definitely a Pethtel. (Yeah, my kids don't look like me at all.) Aunt Sheila spoiled her with new clothes and toys and lots of hugs and kisses.
Overall it was a great trip and we had such a nice time. But, life beckons and we had to get back to work and reality. Hopefully we will get back to Salem again, soon.
1 comment:
It looks like you had a lot of fun!
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