Port Farms 2014

We had such a great day together as a family.  Something that I LOVE.
I would take a fun outing with the family over almost anything else.  I love quality time together.
It started out with T's basketball tryouts.
Lunch at TGI Friday's.
Then the whole afternoon spent at Port Farms.
The kids love it there.  They go non-stop the whole time.
The corn maze.
The slides.
The go carts.
The hay bales.
Corn hole.
Seeing the goats and bunnies.
Looking at the beautiful fall colors.  I LOVE THEM.
Hippity Hops.
Cotton Candy.
40 year old dancer dressed from the 80's.  priceless.
The hay bales again and again.
I can't forget the corn pit.
Heaven I tell you!  We were able to do it all.  Even if there were a million other people there that day.
We all came home exhausted and warn out from a busy day of playing hard.  The perfect type of day.

29

I turned the big 29.
It was a fabulous day.
Gift Certificate for a mani/pedi.  I have never had either before.  So excited.
I got to watch some Gilmore Girls on Netflix.  Why did it take this long?!
Didn't pass my glucose test. BOOO.
I talked with loved ones.
Had lunch with a dear dear friend.
Dropped my phone in the toilet.  Seriously?!
Dinner on the beach.  Chipotle.  AMAZING.
Watched the sunset as my boys ran and played.  AMAZING.
The boys rode their scooters as I walked behind them.
DQ blizzard.  Peanut butter cup.  A fav.
That weekend I got spoiled.
Dinner date at Firebirds.  Can I say blue cheese steak.
Visitors for the weekend.
A surprise ice cream cake.  So so sweet and yummy!  Thanks James and Laren!
General Conference.  Snuggling.  Relaxing.
29 started really really good.  I can't wait to see what else it has to offer.  I can tell it will be exciting!

Preschool 2014

We tried preschool last year.
It wasn't for us.
We tried preschool this year.
We were ready for it.
We love it.

Dear Lewis.
Your "2nd" 1st day of preschool was great.
You picked out your outfit the night before.  Your teal skinnies and shark/dog shirt.  You picked those out at the store all by yourself.  Quite the fashion guy!
You had your back pack ready to go for weeks.  Ninja Turtles of course.  It may even be bigger then you are.
Can you see just how excited you were?  You were so ready this year.  Asking daily when it was your turn to go to your school.
You were super confident when we got there.  You immediately went and found some toys to play with.
I had to stay and fill out some papers... The longer I was there the less confident you got.  Darn it.
You soon were holding onto my leg and didn't want to let go.
I looked you in the eyes.  Found you a fun toy and a friend/teacher to play with.  I told you I loved you so much and that I needed to leave now.  I said I would be right back to pick you up.  You looked at me with your bravest eyes and hugged me and said, "I LOVE YOU."  I turned and walked out the door.  Afraid to look back, but curious enough that I did.  YOU WERE JUST FINE!
Thomas was with me.  He was so nervous for you.  We had nothing to worry about.
I picked you up and took you for a donut at Fuhrman's.  You got a cake donut with white frosting and sprinkles.  I got a pumpkin spice.  We shared a chocolate milk.
I asked you how it went,  you said, "It was long, but I liked it."
We went to the park to play.  The weather was amazing.
You came with me to the doctors.  You climbed up on the bed with me and listened to the babies heart beat.  You went quite and held really still while while you listened to it.
I love that I got to have this day with you.
I love the big boy that you are growing into.
SO SILLY.
SO SWEET.
SO BRAVE.
SO GOOD.
You bring so much joy and happiness into our home.  You are determined and work so so hard.  We love you more everyday.

Shades Beach

Oh how I love a nice Sunday Drive.
Oh how I love a nice Sunday Drive with a beautiful destination.
Oh how I love a nice Sunday Drive with a beautiful destination with my men.
Shades Beach is just that.
We took a little hike.  Watched the sun set.  Caught frogs.  Played tag on the playground.  Threw the football.  Made a video.  Made memories.  Perfection.

PICNIC MACARONI

Often when Daniel is out of town we mix things up and take our dinner outside for a little picnic.
It is almost always mac n cheese.
The boys get to run around as they eat.
They don't have to follow table manners.  Picnic manners are much more fun!
It just tastes so much better that way and usually gets eaten better as well!
Small little traditions that randomly start are a favorite of mine.

BUILDING FORTS

The boys have loved loved playing outside and exploring.  

I have loved loved that they are old enough to play outside without me hovering.  

It is a blessed thing for all of us!

As soon as school gets out they suit up in roller blades, grab their helmets and play until dinner is ready.  They are in little boy heaven.  

Weather please stay nice so that we can continue this lovely routine.  Little boys need to play outside.  They need to explore.  They need to learn to use their bodies.  They need to get energy out.  They need to be little boys!  

This particular day I caught them building a fort for themselves and their buddies.  It was gently raining and they were trying to stay warm and dry.  I want them with me if we ever get stranded and need to find shelter.  I am impressed with their skills.

Washington DC

Over Labor Day weekend we packed up and headed to the amazing DC.
Seriously it was amazing.
So pretty.
So many things to see and do.  So little time.
Great company.
Good memories made.
We ran into a Panda Express.  Right outside our hotel!  What is not to love.
We also found a Wells Fargo.  Oh the little things that excite us.
Our hotel was very nice.
The boys got to ride the metro for the first time.  Soooo cool.
Traffic wasn't bad and free parking on weekends?!
The trip just wasn't long enough.  Even in the 1,000 degree weather.  The kind that makes it unpleasant to be outside for more than 2 minutes.  Good thing we had a lot of museums to visit!

We knew going into the trip that we didn't want to set our expectations too high.  We knew there was A LOT to see and do and that we weren't going to have enough time to do most of it.  We also knew that we have littles with small attention spans unless we are swimming in the pool!

I am glad we didn't expect to much and were able to just hang out, enjoy ourselves and be excited for whatever we did get to see.
We took one day walking around the national monuments on the mall.  Lincoln monument was a favorite.
Headed back to the hotel for a good swim.  What hotel has a lifeguard?!?!  Lew thinking he was doing cannon balls into the water was actually doing flips.  SOO cute.
Had some frozen yogurt before we snuggled into our beds exhausted.

The next day we woke up and headed back down to the museums.
We started at the air and space.  The boys loved it.  We made checklists and looked for special exhibits.  It held their attention for awhile!
Next the National American History Museum.  My favorite.  The first ladies dresses?!  incredible.  Also the American Flag.  amazing.
Popsicle breaks were needed!
Last but not least the Museum of Natural History.  By this time we were done.  We took a quick look at a few main things and then decided to call it day.  Not before the boys each found a stuffed animal they absolutely loved and had to adopt.  How do they always do that?!  They have a nice dad. That's how.  Lew a fox named Foxy.  Thomas a tiger named Tigey!

We drove back to State College that night.  Stopped for dinner in Harrisburg.  Ate at Panera.  Got scammed out of 7 dollars.  He had a pony on the freeway, what can I say.

The next day we headed out early.  Stopped for lunch at Primanti Brothers and stopped in at the Outlet mall for maternity shopping.  I think I was the only one excited about that!

Overall amazing experience.  I can't wait to go back.... We need to go back!