Oh, Brother...

O my, I do love my brother...he says the funniest things :D



It started out as a conversation about our parents returning home from Europe and how we've eaten while they've been away...not horridly, but there has been a bit more junk-food in the house since they've been gone (in our defense, mom did buy most of it for us before she left). We both decided that we're ready to get back to normal eating habits (ya know, more salads for dinner and all that good stuff). I jokingly mentioned that I have to be able to fit into my bridesmaid's dress for a friend's wedding in 2 1/2 weeks (don't worry Ashlee, the dress still fits fine ;D). Jacob replied that he thinks it would be funny if I didn't fit in the dress.

Me: "Oh, that would be awful!"
Jacob: "But it's a once in a life-time thing. It would be awesome to say that you didn't fit into a dress that you needed to wear for a WEDDING! (see, this is where guys and girls differ; even if that ever did happen, what girl would go around telling people about it? Guys on the other hand, find it FUNNY!)
Me: You have got to be kidding me."
Jacob: "No, I'm totally serious!You girls pass up so many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. For instance, Angela, Ashlee, and Chloe have all missed perfect times to do something totally out of the ordinary."
Me: "What are you talking about?"
Jacob: "How funny would it be if when Peter, Daniel, or Jonathon got down on one knee and asked her to marry him, she said no?!"
Me: "WHAT!? That'd be awful!"
Jacob: "Yes, but funny. I'm not saying she reject him altogether, but maybe just hold off on him for 5 days or so and then 'change her mind'. Or, she could just say 'no' for an instant-just to see his reaction- and then say 'yes'."
Me: "Oh really, and what guy would want to marry a girl who would do that?"
Jacob: "I would! If my girlfriend (if he ever gets one that is, and after this post, that's highly unlikely :P) did that I'd still marry her. You know what would be really funny, if I asked her to marry me and then if she said 'are you serious', I'd say 'no', hahahah."


...and that's why I love my brother :D He's never serious, and therefore always making me laugh.

Of cousins, covered bridges, and candy sticks

This past weekend I was SO excited to get to spend some time with a few of my cousins, one of whom I see very seldomly. We met in a town called Newton Falls (which gets its name from the waterfall there, just so ya'll know...it took me a while to figure that one out, lol) where we had dinner and went for a walk in the park. It was a blast, complete with blowing bubbles, gummy worm eating contests, and laughing so hard that soda just about came out of our noses.









The next day, we went to a covered bridge not too far away (which just so happens to be the same bridge where one of my uncles proposed to my aunt!).


Jessie!!!!!!!!!


inside the bridge- I really like this one :)




complements of Jessie!

We enjoyed taking some pictures there before heading to the general store to pick up a few things.




YUM!


Jars of penny candy- this was a favorite when we were little...we awould always bring along a few dimes or nickels when we went to this store so that we could get some sweets :D


We passed quite a few Amish buggies on the way there, not an uncommon sight around here, but something which I've never attempted to photograph (the Amish believe that taking pictures breaks the 2nd commandment about not making a graven image, so you have to be careful about doing so. That's why all these pictures are from behind :D). While I was looking over these pictures, I was thinking about the simple way in which these people live. Most of them don't have cell phones, cars, or televisions. They live as a community, helping one another out when a barn burns down or a baby is born. They're quick to forgive and turn the other cheek. Their ways intrigue me...maybe it's because of the fact that this is the way in which my great grandparents grew up. My dad's family is from Lancaster, PA an area very populated with the plain folk. My grandpa grew up Mennonite before marrying my grandma and moving to Ohio when my dad was a baby. It's so strange to think that they once lived in a world so foreign to me. Anyways, that was my random though of the day :)