Intercourse

I knew I could get your attention!!! Intercourse is an actual Amish community in Pennsylvania that we drove through while on our trip East. Horse and buggy are the mode of transportation in this quaint town but cars are plentiful because of the tourist attraction it is. Mainly people go there to see for themselves that there really is a town called Intercourse. Let's be honest - that's why we were there. They make Whoopie (no pun intended) Pie's for dessert and enjoy the simple life that no electricity affords them. We could learn a lot from them:)

The farms there were unbelievable.

It had rained the day before so it was to wet to do any harvesting. This is the only real sign of field work that we were able to see. If you can't tell what he is doing, he is hauling "sanora" (that is what our kids call manure). Impressive.

Talk about 'Barn Lovers' paradise!! Awesome, HUGE barns. Most places had two or three. Instead of a garage they had a smaller barn next to the house that housed a few horses and their buggy. These places were immaculate! Notice the clothes line. They have pully's so they can just wheel in the clothes and put more on at the same time. We also saw them mowing lawn with the old time push mowers. (My sisters will remember this as the ugly rusted piece of machinery that was out front by the pature that we always wondered what was. I think we even tried to cut toes off with it once?!?! Were mom and dad Amish in their first life???!!!)

One room school house. We saw a few different one's. This looked like a newer one. The shooting that took place a few years back that killed 6 (?) kids was not to far from here. We didn't actualy go there but they said they tore that school down and rebuilt.

Of course we had to get pics of Bovine!!

Sonnie's Tag

8 things I'm passionate about:
1. Matt (yeah baby)
2. Family
3. A good Pepsi
4. Finding a cure for cancer
5. Home Decorating
6. Quilting
7. Being a Mom
8. Canning produce from my garden:)

8 words or phrases I often say:
1. What the . . .
2. Ae you kidding me??
3. Good one Cletus
4. Kayson . . . what is in your mouth now??
5. Trey . . . Trey . . . Trey (usually looking for him)
6. Are the horses watered?
7. Have you done your homework?
8. Breathe through your nose.

8 things I would love to do before I die:
1. Take Matt to Lithuania
2. Take Matt to So. Utah for the Deer Hunt (this has been a dream of mine since we have been married - we have had neighbors from here beat us to it. One day it will happen:)
3. See my children marry and start families.
4. Build my dream BARN.
5. Take Matt to Alaska (since he has now missed 2 different vacations to this destination)
6. Go rafting down the Snake river.
7. Retrace our Honeymoon trip on Road Bikes. (Can't you see me now:))))
8. Have an imaculate yard. (ha, ha . . . I do dream of this!!)

8 things I have learned from my past:
1. If you have premonitions - check into them.
2. Chocolate sold @ the dollar store is not true chocolate.
3. Trust your heart.
4. Life is fragile. So love and be loved.
5. Believe in you!!!
6. I once loved food . . . and still do!!
7. Monetary possesions are just that.
8. It only takes flies 30 seconds to reproduce. (Matt tells me this isn't true but it is my opinion on this scientific matter)

8 places I would love to go and see:
1. Lithuania
2. Germany
3. North Carolia
4. Rikki
5. Nashville
6. Pearl Harbor
7. Nauvoo (again)
8. Washington D. C. (again)

8 things I currently need or want:
1. Everyone kicked out of Washington so we can start anew (and I don't mean with Obama or McCain)
2. Trey to quit eating my sunflower seeds.
3. Mom to call and say we have a new baby in the fam!!
4. Crystal and Merrilee to update their blogs
5. All the little birds out of my hedge. (If you've been to my house lately you know what a mess they are making)
6. A ride in 'Ol Blue. (It is our farm truck, born in the early 70's, rust galore, but I love to drive it because it confuses the kids. They don't know how to roll the windows down or how to pull on the handle to get in. Look how far we have come!!)
7. Chocolate
8. Kayson to have a nap

I Tag: Merrilee, Crystal, Rhonda, and Jillean

Grandpa's Funeral

Here are some misc. pics from Grandpa's Funeral. Many of you may have the same ones but I wanted to share what I have. It was great to get to see all the family and cousins that we don't get to see very often. We love you all!!

James Leak posterity - everyone but Jason, Samuel, and Juanita

Jordan - Gary - Matt

Gary explaining where the left-handed home run boundry for wiffle ball was @ the old homestead in West Jordan

Uncle Tom and Matt

Rikki - Jordan - Matt


Aynslee and Alisa

Ryanne

Kael - Grandpa - Jayden

The BIG APPLE

So most of you know we skipped out on our Alaska trip but we couldn't miss out on the perfect opportunity to have a live in nanny (thanks Grandma Platt & Aunt Merr) for a week and time off work. So we booked a red-eye flight to New York on Sunday:) We are having a great time and are so thankful for all of you that have made it possible. Although circumstances were not ideal, we were so glad to spend time with family before we left and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Some of the highlights of our trip so far include (but are not limited to:)):

Ground Zero and the World Trade Center Museum

The 7th Anniversary is in two days. It doesn't seem like it has been that long. I'm sure we all remember where we were and what we were doing the morning of September 11, 2001. There is a lot to see in the museum but this item stood out to me. It is a window from one of the planes.

This is a view from the top of the Empire State Building looking toward the WTC sight. The lights represent where the buildings stood. It was really awesome to see. I thought the moon in the pic was very fitting. Awesome, awesome, awesome!

We chartered a ferry and rode out to Liberty Island. Tours were full so we weren't able to go up to the observation deck. Turns out that was okay because Matt was so sick of people, he just wanted off the ferry and away from people. He talked with an Obama supporter that is headed to Washington to lobby for the Sierra Club. If any of you know Matt - you know she struck out with him in every direction!! We also swung by Ellis Island but didn't get off the ferry.

We tackled the Subway. What an amazing transportation system:)

Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange Building

Manhatten Temple

Yankee Stadium . . .

was built in 1923 and will be torn down this year. (To put this into perspective, it was built the year Grandpa Leak was born, 85 years ago). All the Baseball greats played here including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe Demagio, ect. The new Stadium is being built directly across the street. They are only having tours for a few more days so we feel pretty special:)

-David Letterman

-Central Park

-Time Square

-Rockefeller Center

We hope to make it to D.C. tomorrow and spend the rest of the week there.

In Loving Memory . . .

of James H. Leak

June 11, 1923 - September 2, 2008

We are so grateful for the legacy he has left behind and the great example he set for us all. We are so lucky for the times we were able to share with him and will always hold them dear to our hearts. We will miss you Grandpa-Great!

We LOVE You!