It Takes a Village... and Some French Toast!

I absolutely love the area I grew up in! I don't know that there is a prettier area in all of Pennsylvania! It has so much going for it! History, Green-Space, rolling hills, beautiful stone homes and red covered bridges, site-seeing and last but not least it has my family!! 

Washington's Crossing Area - just pure historical beauty

So Lu and I made the 2 hour trek to good 'ol Bucks County to visit my parents and extended family. I go home once every month or so depending on the time of year. But nothing compares to Bucks County in the summer. (Except maybe Bucks County in the Fall!) It just explodes with childhood memories, the smell of honey suckle, the sound of cicadas and so much more! I seriously want to burst just thinking about it! 

My cousin and his girlfriend were in town so my aunt had a little gathering for him. It was great to see old family and friends and catch up! 

Today was an outing day with my sweet toddler! And it all started because my mom was out of eggs and bananas (Lucy's breakfast staples) so... that was our cue! Time to go OUT for breakfast (hands down one of the top fives in my favorite things to do!) 

 So we headed to a Bucks County Gem: Peddler's Village in Lahaska, Pa!

Our first stop was "Buttonwood" restaurant which used to be, many years ago, "The Spotted Hog" restaurant. I worked there through high school and college and just love stopping back in from time to time to see how it has changed. Unfortunately they no longer offer breakfast... just a continental for the guests of the Golden Plough Inn. (You can stay in one of hundreds of rooms scattered on the property - they are situated above all the shops and each are unique! So fun!) 

We were directed to Nancy's Village Café just across the street. 

It was the cutest little restaurant! We had the whole place to ourselves... seeing as it was barely 8:00 am. (We like our breakfast as soon as we wake up, mmm kay?!) 

But having breakfast across from this sweet thing was just bliss.

Lu is rockin' the left-over-strawberry-jam look. 

Seriously - that french toast was bangin'! I haven't had french toast that good in a long while. Cinnamon-Raisin Frenchy Toast Goodness! (Oh and eggies for Lucy... who ended up eating a lot (most) of my French Toast... who could blame her!?) Yup... it was just me and a toddler with enough food for 3 adults. So? 

We needed to walk all that off! 

I love the village because it is quaint, pristine and reminiscent of a Victorian Christmas Village. Or maybe what it would have been like living in Colonial Times... except with all the modern conveniences. You gotta really experience it to know what I mean.

Gorgeous right!? Don't YOU want to go on a walk through there!?

The morning's weather was perfection so we really had no choice but to soak it up together!

Lucy thoroughly enjoyed asking "What's that?" to everything we passed... it was quite educational for her and a little exhausting for mom. 

Lucy:What's that?
Mom: The 454th lamp post. 
::pause::
Lucy: What's that? (SAME LAMPOST)
Mom: smh

hashtag conversations with a toddler.

We stopped by Knobs N' Knockers which is our favorite store in the village because my brother owns it! If you are in the market for any fine, decorative hardware and in the area stop on by and ask for Matt (Tell him his favorite sister sent you!) or check them out online. Matt knows his stuff and the shop has a lot to offer! 

hashtag peek a belly

Gorgeous surroundings with the prettiest little thing ya ever did see! (and her naked doll. I TRY to keep clothes on it. I swear!)

Lucy saw the ducks and didn't want to leave that little spot for a long, long time! Glad those rocks were there or that child would have been IN that water! 

It was a perfect weekend trip to Bucks County! I loved seeing family and taking Lucy to some of my old stomping grounds. Going out with a toddler can be a challenge. Lucy isn't quite able to just walk and run on her own, so it can be slow-going. I think the temptation is there to just rush her or pick her up and keep on moving. But there is so much joy in seeing her do it on her own and explore using her own two feet! There was no one there while we walked hardly, so I let her climb, crawl, and walk as slow as she wanted! It really was great, and something I should do more often! There seriously are no words to describe getting to watch her see things for the first time! What an awesome adventure motherhood is!