Presents from Pappy

We recently enjoyed a wonderful trip from the Papster. I'll make my "Thankful Thursday" to list the gifts Pappy gave us.

1. Eating out often, to avoid the work involved in preparing, cooking, and cleaning meals
2. Patio table with chairs and umbrella, as I had mentioned having wanted one for some time

Now the above to may seem plenty, but Pappy also gave the following:

3. A lap and tummy for Isaac to fall asleep on and stay asleep on for a couple of hours
4. A song sang for a fussy Philip
5. Many towers built for Wyatt and Isaac to knock down
6. Books read to two eager toddlers
7. Adoring words for all the babies
8. Patience with crying babies
9. Conversation, companionship and advice for the mommy
10. A promise to return in a month with Aunt, Uncle and cousins!!!

Sewing Project

I purchased the Kozy carrier on the front with Philip for $100. I like it so much that I wanted to give one to my niece, but the cost was inhibitory. So I found a pattern online, purchased some pretty fabric and made the one on the back for $13 and about one and a half hours.
An extra picture because Wyatt wanted to try it out:

It's a Bird!

It's a plane! It's Super Wyatt!!!!!

Is that Lois?

(Thanks, Pappy, for the old school cartoons!)

Knitted Project #2

I finally completed this very precious Peter Rabbit. I had to learn stockinette stitch, moss stitch, and more embroidery. I am proud that it turned out kinda like it was supposed to.

Happy Three Weeks!

How quickly they change!

Beautiful Baby Pics

Our Sweet New Little One

One Very Proud Daddy

Nervous Big Brother
Very Excited Siblings

Welcome, Philip!

Obligatory Nine Month Photo

May 2008
January 2007
September 2005

This Past Weekend

I had planned on mowing the grass while Thom was working this Saturday, but instead we took a spur of the moment road trip. We drove up to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and checked into our hotel. It was right in the middle of gorgeous rolling hills with farmland; very peaceful and quite the respite from our usual hustle and bustle of city life.

We changed into pants, as it was quite a bit cooler up there and headed to Strasburg to ride the choo choo train. It was a blast! Wyatt wanted to do it again and again!

Our EngineAll Aboard!

Tickets, Please!
No, he's not leaving us. We're turning around.

Then we decided to grab some dinner. Our menu was the following:

Your Starters
Chow Chow
Pepper Cabbage
Bakery-fresh Raisin Bread
Crusty Rolls
Your Entrees
Made-from-Scratch, Golden Fried Chicken
Roast Eye-Round of Beef
Chicken Pot Pie with homemade noodles
Plain & Fancy's Own Baked Sausage
Served With
Real Mashed Potatoes with Gravy
Egg Noodles with Browned Butter
Dried Sweet Corn
Green Beans
Desserts & Complimentary Beverages
Sour Cream Apple Crumb Pie
Wet Bottom Shoo-Fly Pie
Vanilla Ice Cream
Bottomless Lemonade

Although some of the spices were a little funny to me, the food was awesome! I expected a bit more German influence in traditional Amish food, but was pleasantly surprised that I didn't have to eat sauerkraut and sausage. Shoo-Fly Pie is incredible! This was all eaten at a table with other families. Dishes were passed around Thanksgiving style. It was a lot of fun!

We went past the horse and carriages, back to the hotel and played on their playground until dark then crashed. The next morning we got up early (the kids woke me at 5 AM!!!), had the complimentary hotel breakfast which included a buffet of eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, scrapple and onions, toast, oranges, cereal, oatmeal and grits. We checked out of the hotel, then headed to Philly! We managed to arrive downtown with minimal map help (like I said, spur of the moment) and parked. We got tickets to Independence Hall and got to walk where Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams.... all discussed and signed the Declaration of Independence.

(Side note: at this point our camera died, so we weren't able to get anymore pictures. Grrr!) We saw the original Declaration, Constitution, and Articles of Confederation. We walked by the Second Bank of the US, the Carpenters' Hall, a policeman who told us the best Philly cheesesteak was at Campos' just down the street, got a sandwich and sat down at the Betsy Ross' house to eat. We enjoyed a short skit and a delicious Philly cheesesteak, then headed past the Quaker house to the Christ Church burial ground where Ben Franklin and family are buried. We then walked by Liberty Bell and headed home. After a short break, we watched the sun set on the Lincoln Memorial, then ate chicken wings. What a day! From Lancaster County to Philadelphia, through Delaware and Maryland to DC, to Alexandria and back home!
I would say we're recuperating today, but Isaac got me up early and with 17 days left, it's official: I'm nesting - the yard needs mowing, bathrooms cleaned, laundry, basement finished, guestroom readied.......

Happy May Day!

It's a few days late and this is as close to your door as I can get, but here's me ringing your doorbell, leaving these, and running away!