Recap of 2014 {part 2: Celebrations + Fun Times}

Let's continue on a recap of what occurred in 2014! In today's blog post, we will attend Mark Edward's high school graduation, meet an awesome Bible teacher, Ken Ham in person, and we'll visit the northeastern states!

May 2014 ~~ We celebrated Mark Edward's life and accomplishment of finishing high school! We had a homeschool graduation and an open house with nachos and cake! My mom's parents and my dad's parents were able to attend with us and even our great-grandmother could come! We had such sweet fellowship with GrandDad, Grammy, PawPaw, Grandma, and Grandma Tilly!

June 2014 ~~
Let's Race for Hope! My family and I volunteered to direct walkers & runners to the right direction during this fundraiser.  Sarah, Michael, and I enjoyed moving tables from place to place, setting up Juice Plus+ tables with Mom, etc. Mark Edward played in a worship band called Forgiven Still during the race.

  

We went to the Creation Museum the following week. On the way, Dad, Sarah, Michael, and I got a double doozie cookie at Great American Cookies. #lovethatplace I got to pretend like I was feeding a dinosaur at the Creation Museum while Dad snapped a photo of it! So cool!

Then, we toured the site of the future Ark Encounter, and walked out on the land.

And before we left, we got to meet president and founder of Creation Museum, Answers in Genesis, and Ark Encounter, Ken Ham, in person!!! He's an awesome Bible teacher and his teachings have impacted millions about the creation account found in Genesis.

Okay, Chicago, IL, ready or not, here I come! We're traveling to see Navy Pier, Lincoln Park & Zoo, watch a soccer game (USA vs. Germany) on the JumboTron, taste Chicago pizza at Lou Malnati's, ride in a taxi and an empty trolley ... and SOOO much more (like visiting Fair Oaks Farm & Dairy Adventure!

Me and Mom on the trolley in Chicago

Then, on our way back home, we stopped conveniently at the Albanese Candy Factory where the making of gummy bears starts! :)

You gotta get those delicious gummy worms at the Albanese factory!

July 2014 ~~
Visiting a circus sounds so much fun! It's something that I always was interested in watching one day. So, then, my family jumped at the opportunity to attend the Peru Amateur Circus with kids age 8-20 performing in Peru, IN.

We pose for a picture right before we head into the circus!

August 2014 ~~

"Color in 7 more states, kids, 'cause we're headed to all of the northeastern states including Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New York!" ~ says my family as we embark on another adventure to visit and travel to the states above! We went on a trolley, got a picture next to a life-size moose, tasted seafood, watched a practice tennis tournament with friends, visited Nubble Lighthouse in Maine, ate a restaurant on the shore.... and so much more! We even saw a concert of our favorite band Switchfoot, and ate a Greek food festival! Not to mention two stops at two different beaches! All of this was an early celebration for my parent's 20th anniversary!

6 items have been completed off of my bucket list:

• Travel to the northeast states! {Check!}
• Explore the city of Chicago! {Check!}
• Visit a circus and watch the performance live! {Check!}
• Tour a gummy bear factory! {Check!}
• Go to the Creation Museum as many times as you can! {Check!}
• Meet president and founder of Creation Museum, Ken Ham in person! {Check!}