Animals, Water and FOOD!

We just returned from our family vacation to Holmes County, Ohio (Amish country) and had such a good time!  We stayed at our favorite hotel, The Amish Door Inn and had the greatest suite with kitchen, jacuzzi tub, and private patio.  It was perfect for our family of four!

View of the country side from our private patio

Enjoying the day on a buggy

We spent countless hours in the Inn's pool.  TJ got brave enough to start jumping in to John's arms and Noah just loved being pulled around, kicking his legs and trying to drink the water!  

Doesn't he look like a water skipper?!

The best thing about visiting Amish country, in my opinion, is the food!  Lots of broasted chicken and tons of sweet desserts!  My absolute favorite are the rhubarb/strawberry fry pies.  Yum!

Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum!

As we did last year, we again visited Rolling Ridge Ranch Animal Ranch.  I think it's better than going to a zoo.  It's great having the animals come up to the wagon and letting TJ and Noah interact with them.  Noah loved watching the animals!  I loved watching him reach for the animals.  TJ had a good time throwing food to the animals, he was too afraid to let them eat from his hand.

This ostrich was hungry!

Noah loved looking at the animals

They really like their food!

TJ had a good time too!

We then went to my most favorite place in Holmes County, Hershberger's Farm and Bakery.  I stocked up on fry pies, jams, and doughnuts while John, TJ and Noah petted and fed the animals and marveled at Big Ben (the biggest horse in Holmes County).  Then we stopped at the Christmas store and wandered through the trees and lights!

One large rocking chair! 

Noah loved looking at the lights

CHRISTMAS!!! 

When we got back, Noah and TJ both had their first swim lesson at our local Y.  TJ pretty much hated it!  He just want to swim and play with daddy, but the instructors had other ideas.

Noah, on the other hand absolutely loved it!  We did the hokey pokey, ring around the rosie, and many other singing games to get the babies use to being in the water.  I'm glad that Noah loves the water, I think it will be great developmentally for him.

TJ just wanted to play!

Noah LOVED his time in the water!

Here we are all singing "The Wheels on the Bus" while the babies go in and out of the water