Lancaster County, PA

October 15, 2015October 15, 2015Leave a comment

Oct 14, 2015

Yesterday we went to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There we stopped at a few Amish stores and looked around. There were all sorts of homemade items for sale at the stores we stopped at. As we were driving around we also saw a very neat steam engine train. You could go on train rides but we were holding out for a buggy ride!

After eating a family style Thanksgiving type meal at a place called Plain and Simple (which was supper yummy, buy way too much food) we got to go on a buggy ride behind a horse. It was cool to see how their life style is so much different from ours. Our buggy driver informed us a little bit about the Amish life. Their life seems so much more simple but hard work! The men milk the cows and do the farming while the girls cook and clean all without the use of electricity. We got to play with some cute kittens as well. They had a lot of work horses pulling buggies that we saw along the road.

The horses that pulled us where named Jake and Sid. Jake got a little more distracted by things and was a little bit more eager. Over all they both did super well and it was very fun to go on that ride.

Here is Jake and Sid

We played with all the kitties hanging out by the barn.

After the ride we headed to a Walmart for a few groceries then went back to the camper and made kitty cocktails to eat with some of the treats we bought. It was a fun day filled with new experiences.

Here is the parking at the Walmart that we stopped and bought some groceries at.

-grace

The Liberty Bell and The Mint

October 14, 2015October 15, 2015Leave a comment

October 13, 2015

We woke up in Sussex, New Jersey. We got up and headed down the road to a bagel bakery and deli that our friends told us we needed to go to before we could cross the Jersey boarder. We got some breakfast bagels with Talyor Ham. They were yummy!!! Thanks Gamps! Then we drove to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to go see the Liberty Bell. It was a couple hours of driving but it was worth it. When we got there we had to go through security. I was surprised that it was free to get it to see it! We got a picture and moved on to the next thing.

We walked to go see the U.S Mint, Which is where they made coins. There is only two Mints in the U.S and the other is in Denver. When we got there we had to go through security again! We went up the escalator to see the factory. I learned that it starts out as a coil then they stamp out the shape of the coin. After looking at the factory we went to the gift shop we got a few things them moved on to the next thing.

After doing all that we were hungry so went to a place and had some pizza. When she brought out the pizza it was huge! We all got our own slice. After having some pizza we went back to the RV and drove to Coatesville, PA at a campground.

-Greta

Pleasant Acres Campground

October 13, 2015Leave a comment

October 12, 2015

Today, we spent the day at our campgrounds. We played with the horses, sheep, goats and birds that live at our campground. Burka had a fun day with one less tooth in his mouth.

Ryan and I were met with a high school class mate of Ryan’s and her husband for a wonderful meal. It was great to catch up and get to know you better Darbi and David. You are a blessing! Thank you for making time after a busy weekend to hang out with us for a bit!

NYC busy day 3

October 12, 2015Leave a comment

We started our day yesterday by sleeping in. Everyone was very tired from the late night in New York the day before. After everybody got ready and showered we headed out to High Point. High Point is a memorial not far from our campsite that honors New Jersey Soldiers that fought by land and by sea. My dad was a little, okay… a lot freaked out because it was pretty high up. There where a lot of stairs in that building. After High Point we made our way over to an Ethiopian church. We mainly went there because Hannah has to write a report about an cultural experience that she attended. Even though we could not understand anything they where saying, other than the often “hallelujah” and “thank you Jesus”, it was pretty cool. We could not stay for the whole thing due to Amanda having to be to the airport. So we quietly left trying not to make a scene, which is kind of impossible for our family. So a lady followed us out to say bye and we explained to her that we just had to go to bring Amanda to the air port. We felt a little better knowing that they didn’t think that left because we didn’t like it. After getting out to the parking lot we realize that someone has parked their car behind our car in the street. My dad maneuvered the way out. He said its a good think he has practiced turning a car around in our garage just in case he would ever need to know how to do it. Then we made our way to the air port. We said our last goodbyes to Amanda as my mom walked her into the air port. After that we headed into to NYC for the night tour on the bus. (I was against it for the record.) I have definitely had enough of the city for a while. When we got to the bus line and boarded the bus we realized that we should have brought some warmer clothes. After we boarded we drove around the city. We even went over the water on the big Manhattan Bridge. That was another thing that my dad could have gone without. After a long cold bus ride we went home. Most of us kids slept on the way home. After getting back to the camper we all tucked in and went right to sleep.

Here are some picture from High Point, New Jersey

We were so glad Amanda joined us for the weekend!

This was the awesome Ethiopian Church we went to.

Our night tour of Manhattan. The last picture is one we took over the double decker bus ride over the Manhattan Bridge.

Here is a Video that I put together of videos that my mom took over the last few days.

-Grace

New York Necessities

October 11, 2015October 11, 2015Leave a comment

October 10, 2015

Yesterday was our last day in the city. We woke up a little later today due to the fact that everyone, especially our little Burka boy, was exhausted from our busy day the day before. My mom and dad told us that we couldn’t experience New York without experiencing the statue of liberty, so with that we made it our first stop of the day. We boarded in Newark, NJ since it was much less busy than the New York side. Compared to my parents 4 hour first experience a few years back, it took us about 20 minutes to get onto the first cruise ship. We stopped at Ellis Island first. We initially wanted to see if we could find the record of my mom’s Grandpa Tinus. Upon arriving we realized that you couldn’t actually look though the books, so we went into the museum part that told about the different tests that each foreigner had to pass to be allowed into the U.S. The whole time this was happening, we couldn’t stop thinking about how crazy it was for 13 year old kids such as Tinus to arrive into this huge building on a ship and be examined to make sure they were able to be let in, only to be put on a train going in an unknown direction to hopefully find a job and somewhere to stay until their parents were able to afford the trip. We only got through a small amount of this building by the time we had to leave to get back onto the ship to go to the statue of liberty. Upon arriving Buche says “wow its way bigger on Disney Infinity.” We looked and admired the statue, a few of us unsure what we were to be looking for, took the typical tourist pictures and got back on the cruise ship to get our car and head into the city. Our initial plan was to shop when we got there; after all, we are in NYC. But, after our first store my sisters and I realized we were not as rich as we had imagined and could not continue shopping. Although by the time we realized this was something we couldn’t do, my dad, Greta, Buche and Burka had already made their way to Ripley’s Believe it or Not in an effort to keep away from “boring shopping.” As we were brainstorming what to do while waiting for them, it came up that my sister, Hannah, has been asking to pierce her triples and cartilage along with Grace asking for a nose piercing for quite awhile now and my dad, against piercings and tattoos, has not quite budged. Of course, us sisters have to stick together. When the subject came up to me, I knew it was something that would be fun for us all to do together and a memory that we wouldn’t forget. We together convinced my mom and dad and started looking at reviews online of the best piercing shops. We found that a place called Studio 28 was the best reviewed, and started walking there. After going through an ally and up a set of steep stairs that had my mom worried at first, we arrived at a very well put together tattoo shop. My mom approved, and soon my sister grace and I had nose rings and Hannah had 3 more holes in her ears. By the time this process was done, it was time to eat. My dad met us there with the other kids and left it up to me for where I wanted to eat. Since I’m a horrible decision maker, we stopped for cheesecake so that I could collect my thoughts. My dad ended up making the decision that we would go to Lombardi’s Pizza in little Italy, The first pizza joint in America. After waiting for an hour in an absolutely amazing parking spot on the street right outside, we got to eat. The pizza was well worth the wait and I would wait again any day. We were stuffed, hot, and ready for bed. We made our way back to the camper about and hour and a half away and all of us kids fell asleep in the car. I love my family, and can’t wait to spend my last day with them today.

-Amanda

Eliis Island Photos

The Statue of Liberty

New York City

Lombardi’s Pizza, Little Italy – NYC

The New York Experience

October 10, 2015Leave a comment

October 9, 2015

Yesterday was the first day of New York. I joined my family at about 11 pm on Thursday night. After the flight my mom was waiting at baggage claim for me, and the hug I received is believed to be the biggest yet. We started our day quite a bit earlier than I usually do in my dorm at home in Mankato. This means about 9 o’clock. Although we are visiting New York for the weekend, we are staying at a farm that reminds me much of our home in Alexandria. There are ponies, goats, sheep, chicken, a donkey and wild deer there. We left the farm and made our way, about an hour and a half drive, to New York City. After driving in the city for about 20 minutes looking for a parking spot, my mom was stressing out and in need of someone to take over the wheel. At a stoplight that was backed up my parent’s switched spots and my dad then got us to a parking ramp with only a few close calls. Immediately after walking out of the parking ramp we experienced New York City. There were bus services all around us that wanted to sell us the “best” tour around, and notifying us that “all the other ones are scams”. Being my dad has a short fuse of patients and we intended on getting a bus tour anyway, he didn’t hesitate to say yes to the first man who talked to us. Other than the bus tours, there were people dressed up as characters from the boys favorite shows asking to take pictures with tip jars strapped around them. While my dad was figuring out how exactly the tour worked that he had just bought, we got on the bus to see it first hand. Our tour guide, cheesy and annoying, showed us around the city. We saw Uptown, Downtown, Midtown, Soho, China town, Time Square, Madison Garden Center, Statue of Liberty, The Empire state building and just about anything more that you could imagine. After the tour, my dad was eager to teach us all about the One World Trade Center. We went there with good intentions of learning, and although we did that, I think a few of us left light headed and ready for some food. Out of all places in New York to grab some food, the choice was made to eat at T.G.I. Fridays. Shortly after, we found ourselves back on the tour bus to make our way to Times Square. On our way there, a downpour happened. Although we were given plastic ponchos, I think it’s safe to say we all ended up rather wet and cold. As my dad says though, McCleary’s don’t quit. We kept going until the end of the day. My sisters, mom and I enjoyed shopping at Forever 21 as that is all we had time for due to the 4 floors. We intend on doing some more shopping tomorrow. We left NYC for the day and I was exhausted. Not only did we get up earlier than usual for me, I did not get to take my typical 2/3 naps a day. Falling asleep in the car has never been so comfy. Although I miss my friends and boyfriend at home, this trip with my family is much needed and I am so lucky to have the opportunity to see all of them in a beautiful city for the weekend.

Amanda

Middleboro, Massachusetts to Sussex, New Jersey

October 8, 2015October 9, 2015Leave a comment

Oct 8th, 2015

Today was quite uneventful. We drove from Middleboro, Massachusetts to Sussex, New Jersey. We stopped for gas and a red box but that’s about it. Our camp site has some animals that I took the boys to see. There are goats, sheep, ducks, and some mini ponies. The best thing that happened yesterday was that Amanda joined us! She’ll be blogging for us a few times over the next days.

-Grace

Boston, Massachusetts

October 8, 2015October 8, 2015Leave a comment

October 7, 2015

Yesterday we spent the day in Boston, Massachusetts. Our friends from home, Mary Lisa and Sarah have a cousin that lives in Massachusetts that we connected with and she so graciously took us on the “Freedom Trail” and more. We started our tour in The Common with the “Make Way for Duckling” statues. We have ordered the book now, and can’t wait to read about the reason for the Mother Duck and her Ducklings to be a fixture of the Park.

The Freedom Trail is a brick line path that leads through the city of Boston. It has historical sites all along the way which tell the story of how our Nation was started back in the American Revolution. There is something pretty honorable about being able to walk the path of the Revolutionary period in American history.

While on the trail we saw the Massachusetts State House.

And Park Street Church.

And the Granary Burying Grounds where some of Ben Franklin’s family is buried as well as others like Samuel Adams and the victims of the Boston Massacre.

We saw King’s Chapel.

We saw the Benjamin Franklin Statue and the Boston Latin School.

We did a scavenger hunt in Old South Meeting House.

Old State House was fun to see with the Unicorn and the Lion displayed on the front of the brick building.

This is a picture of us standing the the site of the Boston Massacre.

We also saw Faneuil Hall and the house that Paul Revere lived in as well as Old North Church. It was fun to sit in a pew box in Old North Church and ponder the lanterns hanging in the bell tower… “One if by land, Two if by sea”.

In the Old North Garden we saw these dog tags on display honoring fallen soldiers from the Iraq – Afghanistan war.

Our tummy’s were never hungry. We ate a scrumptious Italian lunch and we got to experience a authentic Boston cannoli. So good!

These 6 glass towers are a Holocaust Memorial.

Our last stop on the freedom trail was the USS Constitution. It was really neat to be standing on not only one of the 6 first ships that were commissioned and that started the US Navy but the only ship of those 6 still remaining. It is also the oldest sea worthy war ship left in the world and is scheduled to sail again in 2017. We got in a piece of the “Ironside” history from an active duty US Sailor. The USS Constitution got it’s name because the sides of the ship was constructed with 7″ of white oak next to 7″ of live oak and 7″ of white oak. When the ship was in battle the cannon balls that were hitting it either stuck in the sides of the ship or bounced off. The US Sailor shared the story of making the USS Constitution and it’s first battle against the British in 1812. Ironside has a 33 – 0 record.

On the USS Constitution, the kids hoisted an American Flag up. We will proudly fly Old Glory at home and remember our day on “the Ironside”.

We the met up with Chadyn’s husband Paul and went to get dinner. It was so good and so fun! We love new experiences! We ate Shabu-Shabu in Chinatown.

So, we left Boston today with a heart full of respect for the history that was made so many years ago right there where we walked. And a thankfulness for new friends. Thank you Paul and Chadyn!

Here is a video that Grace put together of our days in Massachusetts. We really are so proud to be an American. We love this land. God Bless the USA.

Playing with the Pilgrims

October 7, 2015Leave a comment

We started the day in Middleboro, Massachusetts. We headed to Plymouth, Massachusetts to see the Mayflower II. We walked on the ship and started on the top. We saw one bedroom on the top floor. We then moved down to the next floor. This floor had a couple of beds. Some of the beds had rooms and some were just lying on the floor. There were a couple actors throughout the ship acting out parts and answering questions from visitors.

Here’s a picture we got with one. The people acting out the parts had really thick accents. Next we went to the next level down and we saw the cannon that they would shoot if there were pirates following them.

After we looked at the Mayflower II, we moved on to the Plimouth Plantation. Yes, that is how they spelled it. We learned that they spelled things phonetically at the time of the Pilgrims and there was not just one way to spell things. There was also a lot of actors here. In the Wampanoag tribal area we tried playing with the toys the Indians played with. We tried to play a game made out of bones, but it was really hard. We went in a long house which they living in at wintertime with extended family. I learned that it can get up to 80 degrees with their fire and how they built it! We went inside many other houses too, which were their houses for the time other than the winter and they lived in these with just their immediate family.

After learning about the tribes we moved onto the village. We saw the Fort. The Fort is where they would shoot cannons if there were intruders. They were friends with the tribes but they were still scared that they would attack them. They build a big fence around the village to keep others out. The cannons in the Fort can shoot over a mile away. The ocean is right by the village so if there were pirates they could shoot them before they got on the land. We looked in the houses and in one the boys’ even played a game called 9 man morris.

After looking at the village we went to the barn. There were a couple goats there. By the time we finished all of that we were hungry so we drove over to Cape Cod. We ate at a restaurant called ‘’Land Ho.’’ My mom had a hot dog with sauerkraut and pumpernickel bread. And, since we are in the sign business it was cool to eat in a place that displayed signs everywhere! It was very good and we would have never known about it had we not had such a nice friend, Chadyn who lives here and told us it was yummy. Thanks, Chadyn!

The last thing we did today was go see the sunset on the other side of Cape Cod. It was really pretty. When we were done looking at the sunset we drove back to the RV in Middleboro.

-Greta

Kennebunkport, ME and Portsmouth, NH

October 6, 2015October 6, 20151 Comment

Yesterday we did a lot of shopping. There where cute stores in Kennebunkport, ME and Portsmouth, NH. It was also my moms birthday so we went out to eat at Ri Ra (an Irish Pub) I made my mom a bracelet with beads and a little stone. The stone was her birth stone. I also bought her some black licorice. Over all it was a pretty fun day! Even though we seem to all be getting a cold. This video is a few clips that we have taken over the past few days.

-Grace

	Carrie Thomas on Washington D.C third day
	Linda linde on Kennebunkport, ME and Portsmou…
	Linda linde on Henry ford museum!
	Linda Linde on Out of sorts in Omaha
	Linda linde on There’s no place like…

McCleary Kids

doing life together

Lancaster County, PA

The Liberty Bell and The Mint

Pleasant Acres Campground

NYC busy day 3

New York Necessities

The New York Experience

Middleboro, Massachusetts to Sussex, New Jersey

Boston, Massachusetts

Playing with the Pilgrims

Kennebunkport, ME and Portsmouth, NH