...a bit dark but, at least it is centered.
Jul 8, 2012
Jul 7, 2012
Visitors
The beginning of June brought us a few visitors. First (June 4th & 5th), our old neighbor from Naperville, John Trelo. He was in town for business and he let us cook him dinner for a few nights. It is always great to see John. I wish I had a picture of him with the girls, they really took to him...especially after he went to the store and brought back 5 bags of candy.
Second (June 6th -8th) my cousin Chad. On Thursday the 7th we packed a lunch and Chad took me and the girls to the National Arboretum. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful place! Abby's favorite part was the koi pond were you were able to feed the koi.
I really enjoyed the bonsai exhibit. It reminded me a lot of my grandma who created and sold bonsai.
The National Herb garden was also spectacular.
I was a little dissapointed with the children's garden but it was a great place to eat our lunch.
After the arboretum Chad drove us through his old college campus, beautiful!
It was a pleasure to have Chad with us for a few nights, it had been way too long since I had seen him!
Next, off to Ocean City, Maryland.
Second (June 6th -8th) my cousin Chad. On Thursday the 7th we packed a lunch and Chad took me and the girls to the National Arboretum. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful place! Abby's favorite part was the koi pond were you were able to feed the koi.
I really enjoyed the bonsai exhibit. It reminded me a lot of my grandma who created and sold bonsai.
I was a little dissapointed with the children's garden but it was a great place to eat our lunch.
After the arboretum Chad drove us through his old college campus, beautiful!
It was a pleasure to have Chad with us for a few nights, it had been way too long since I had seen him!
Next, off to Ocean City, Maryland.
Happy Birthday Maya
On June 8th little Miss Maya Rogers turned 1! We miss her and can't wait until the day we get to see her again but, in the meantime...
Build-A-Bear
For Abby's birthday she received a gift certificate for Build-A-Bear and finally, on June 2nd, we were able to use it.
The gift certificate was for $30 so, I wanted to come up with a way for Abby to understand how much money she had to spend. My solution, count out 30 playing cards and every time she wanted to get something she would have to give me the playing cards until she didn't have any left. I was very happily surprised that she did a GREAT job! In the end I paid under $2, taxes.
When we first got to the store we walked all around so that she could see all of her options. As we were walking around she found a Tinkerbell outfit that she really wanted. Next, it was time to pick out her animal, she chose a bunny. She wanted other things too but between the bunny and the outfit her playing cards were gone and she understood that she didn't have anymore money to spend. I was so very proud of her!
After Build-a-Bear Abby HAD to try on some hats...
The gift certificate was for $30 so, I wanted to come up with a way for Abby to understand how much money she had to spend. My solution, count out 30 playing cards and every time she wanted to get something she would have to give me the playing cards until she didn't have any left. I was very happily surprised that she did a GREAT job! In the end I paid under $2, taxes.
When we first got to the store we walked all around so that she could see all of her options. As we were walking around she found a Tinkerbell outfit that she really wanted. Next, it was time to pick out her animal, she chose a bunny. She wanted other things too but between the bunny and the outfit her playing cards were gone and she understood that she didn't have anymore money to spend. I was so very proud of her!
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| kissing her bunny's heart and getting it stuffed. |
 |
| giving her bunny a bath |
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| all dressed |
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| naming her new friend, Sumbly. |
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| taking her new friend home |
Memorial Day Weekend
For Memorial Day weekend we all jumped in the car and drove to Pittsburgh.
After we checked into our hotel our first order of business was to get a Primanti Brothers sandwich. For anyone who doesn't know what Primanti's is...it is a famous sandwich restaurant that originated in Pittsburgh in 1933. There are many variations of the sandwich but it consists of meat, an Italian dressing-based cole slaw, tomato slices, and French fries between two pieces of Italian bread...YUM!
After our sandwich we did a bit of driving around through the Pittsburgh neighborhoods. One of the reasons for our trip to the Burgh was to look through neighborhoods and at houses to see if Pittsburgh is someplace we could live when we grow-up. As we were driving around we ran into Jim's cousin Missy. It is always great to see her smiling face!
After our drive we headed back to the hotel for the evening. Unfortunately, we didn't have a restful evening. The 4 of us in one room does not equal restful conditions. It takes a long time to get the girls settled down to bed.
The next day, Saturday, we checked out a few more neighborhoods and spent some time at a local park.
After we finished looking at houses for the day we drove into the city to...
Kera had fallen asleep in the car so just Jim and Abby got to check out the field.
After the Heinz Field we went over to Pittsburgh's National Aviary. The girls loved seeing all the great birds. Jim used to work across the street from the aviary and said that it was recently renovated, they did a great job! Most of the birds were free to roam around their environments and we could walk amongst them.
After the aviary it was time for a late lunch at Penn Brewery.
Last time Jim and I were in Pittsburgh the brewery was closed down. We were very happy to discover that it had been reopened.
After lunch we drove through a few more neighborhoods and then headed back to the hotel. On our way back Jim noticed that this really loud car was following us a bit too closely. He told me that a hillbilly was following us. It was funny when we discovered that is was actually Jim's cousin Damien. He joined us in our hotel for a nice visit and a few beers.
After another unrestful evening, the girls didn't go to sleep until after midnight, we were heading out to check out a few more homes and we discovered the car battery was dead. Good thing we have family near by, Jim's cousin Rick came to our rescue.
After our drive through the neighborhoods we headed the zoo. The Pittsburgh zoo is fantastic. It is the perfect size for kids with short attention spans. They even had a brand new baby gorilla there, SO CUTE! The only problem was that it was an extremely warm day and of course, Kera wanted to be carried.
Thank goodness for sprinklers...Abby got SOAKED!
So soaked that we had to change her before heading out to eat.
We ate a Church Brew Works, one of our Pittsburgh favorites. We were looking forward to their pierogi pizza but unfortunately their pizza oven was out of order. It was still a good lunch regardless.
On Monday morning we did our last neighborhood drive through before heading over to Jim's family's house. It is always so much fun being with the Rogers! they are always so warm and welcoming.
After one last unrestful night in the hotel we met Lizzie and Missy for breakfast before driving home.
Our visit to Pittsburgh definitely had it's fun moments but as a whole it was very stressfull. It is really hard when the girls are not on their regular nap and eating schedule. Jim and I have decided that from now on we, when we stay in hotels, we will be staying at am Embassy Suite hotel so that we are able to put the girls down to bed in a separate bedroom.
It was also very informative. There are some fantastic homes in Pittsburgh! I don't know of any other housing market in the United States that you can buy a unique old home at these prices. One negative, the taxes there are crazy high, It gives Jim and I a lot to think about!
After we checked into our hotel our first order of business was to get a Primanti Brothers sandwich. For anyone who doesn't know what Primanti's is...it is a famous sandwich restaurant that originated in Pittsburgh in 1933. There are many variations of the sandwich but it consists of meat, an Italian dressing-based cole slaw, tomato slices, and French fries between two pieces of Italian bread...YUM!
After our sandwich we did a bit of driving around through the Pittsburgh neighborhoods. One of the reasons for our trip to the Burgh was to look through neighborhoods and at houses to see if Pittsburgh is someplace we could live when we grow-up. As we were driving around we ran into Jim's cousin Missy. It is always great to see her smiling face!
After our drive we headed back to the hotel for the evening. Unfortunately, we didn't have a restful evening. The 4 of us in one room does not equal restful conditions. It takes a long time to get the girls settled down to bed.
The next day, Saturday, we checked out a few more neighborhoods and spent some time at a local park.
After we finished looking at houses for the day we drove into the city to...
Kera had fallen asleep in the car so just Jim and Abby got to check out the field.
After the Heinz Field we went over to Pittsburgh's National Aviary. The girls loved seeing all the great birds. Jim used to work across the street from the aviary and said that it was recently renovated, they did a great job! Most of the birds were free to roam around their environments and we could walk amongst them.
After the aviary it was time for a late lunch at Penn Brewery.
Last time Jim and I were in Pittsburgh the brewery was closed down. We were very happy to discover that it had been reopened.
After lunch we drove through a few more neighborhoods and then headed back to the hotel. On our way back Jim noticed that this really loud car was following us a bit too closely. He told me that a hillbilly was following us. It was funny when we discovered that is was actually Jim's cousin Damien. He joined us in our hotel for a nice visit and a few beers.
After another unrestful evening, the girls didn't go to sleep until after midnight, we were heading out to check out a few more homes and we discovered the car battery was dead. Good thing we have family near by, Jim's cousin Rick came to our rescue.
After our drive through the neighborhoods we headed the zoo. The Pittsburgh zoo is fantastic. It is the perfect size for kids with short attention spans. They even had a brand new baby gorilla there, SO CUTE! The only problem was that it was an extremely warm day and of course, Kera wanted to be carried.
Thank goodness for sprinklers...Abby got SOAKED!
So soaked that we had to change her before heading out to eat.
We ate a Church Brew Works, one of our Pittsburgh favorites. We were looking forward to their pierogi pizza but unfortunately their pizza oven was out of order. It was still a good lunch regardless.
On Monday morning we did our last neighborhood drive through before heading over to Jim's family's house. It is always so much fun being with the Rogers! they are always so warm and welcoming.
After one last unrestful night in the hotel we met Lizzie and Missy for breakfast before driving home.
Our visit to Pittsburgh definitely had it's fun moments but as a whole it was very stressfull. It is really hard when the girls are not on their regular nap and eating schedule. Jim and I have decided that from now on we, when we stay in hotels, we will be staying at am Embassy Suite hotel so that we are able to put the girls down to bed in a separate bedroom.
It was also very informative. There are some fantastic homes in Pittsburgh! I don't know of any other housing market in the United States that you can buy a unique old home at these prices. One negative, the taxes there are crazy high, It gives Jim and I a lot to think about!
Jun 15, 2012
Deutschland!!
Our very good friends Frank and Manuela sent the girls GREAT Deutschland soccer shirts. The girls loved them!
Abby has worn the shirt a lot especially to her Friday soccer class. Thank you so much Frank and Manuela!!
Abby has worn the shirt a lot especially to her Friday soccer class. Thank you so much Frank and Manuela!!
Sandy Point State Park
On Saturday, May 20th we headed to Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis. It is on the Chesapeake Bay and has a beautiful beach.
It was fun walking in the sand with the girls...
Kera especially liked the beach!
What she liked the best was chasing after the birds...
Abby was not a big fan of the sand and water. She would much rather play on the playground...
...and walking on the trails.
It was a very fun morning!
It was fun walking in the sand with the girls...
Kera especially liked the beach!
What she liked the best was chasing after the birds...
Abby was not a big fan of the sand and water. She would much rather play on the playground...
...and walking on the trails.
It was a very fun morning!
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