The Big Apple Part 2

On our second day in NYC you would have thought we would have been exhausted.  But we just kept going.  We started the morning by being part of the outdoor audience at the Today Show (we even saw ourselves on screen).  Then we headed to Radio City Music Hall to see the annual Christmas Spectacular show with the Rockettes.  Then we jumped on a bus tour of downtown, stopping at Battery Park for a view of the Statue of Liberty, some tasty lunch on the water and a brief moment at the monument where the Twin Towers stood.  And finally it was back to the ferry for the ride home.  Luckily we beat the end of the Jets/Giants game so the traffic really was pretty good going home.

The Big Apple Part 1

What a month it has been.  So many places, so little time it feels like some months for us.  This weekend we met up with our friends Dave, Theresa, and Madeline in Wilmington, DE and then headed the rest of the way up to NYC for an overnight trip.  We parked at Weesauken, NJ just across the Hudson River from Manhattan and then got to take the ferry over to the city.  The weather was perfect for December.  Low to mid 50s and sunshine the entire time.  On Saturday we toured the city.  We hit Times Square, 5th Avenue (with a stop at the American Girl store for some new outfits for Lily's new American Girl Doll), Central Park (including Strawberry Hills - the memorial near where John Lennon was shot), then back to our hotel and to John's Pizzeria for dinner.  We finished the night off with a trip to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree at night.

Craft Club Grows

This last week it was just Lily and I all week while Chris caught up with his work mates in Seattle.  We had a great week but I was a bit overwhelmed when our weekly craft night grew by two very active young boys.  Wow.  Good thing it only lasts an hour.

Our second annual trip to Hershey, PA

Last year our friends from the beach all decided we should make a trek to Hershey Park in Pennsylvania in November.  Well, we avoided the lines, got great rates on the park and hotels and had such a great time last year that we decided it should become an annual event.  This year we decided to stay at the Hershey Lodge (instead of the Hershey Hotel) like last year, but we had just of great of a stay.  The girls had a fantastic time.  Of course Lily brought her friends Sarah & Rut.  Then we were joined by our beach friends Dave, Teresa & Madeline.  To add to the fun, the weather was absolutely perfect with sun and mid 60's.  What more could we ask for.

Craft Club

After watching some Disney Jr. show, Lily decided she wanted to start her own craft club.  So she set out to pick a day of week, make invitations (including parental forms) and then set off to invite her neighborhood friends.  Now every Tuesday after school for 1 hour, Lily hosts a craft club.  Which sometimes turns into a karoake/movie club, but it always starts with a craft.

Halloween - Trick or Treating

Because Halloween fell on an actual Saturday, it was a day of fun filled adventures for us.  We started off Friday night with a party at the Little Gym (working on our high bar).  Then first thing on Saturday morning we hit Chuck E. Cheese where Lily promised they would be giving free tokens away for Halloween, but I think she was pulling my leg.  We owed her a trip for getting all her second grade spelling words correct though... so what the hay.  Then we hit a community party at Lily's friend Giannas house.  And then finally finished up trick or treating at our house.  Wow....

Halloween - Party 2

Next up was a party at our friends in Virginia.  It was a hoot with all the kids.

Halloween 2016 - Community Party 1

I never realized what a busy time fall was until having kids.  We started the parties and festivities out with a great party in our community.  Followed by some play dates and some serious cookie making fun.

Columbus Day Weekend

After having Lily's birthday party on Friday night, we were lucky enough to have our friends from Delaware (Dave, Theresa and Madeline) join us for a weekend of fun in D.C.  We love being tourists and showing people around our great city.  On Saturday, we got to enjoy a metro ride into town (highlight for the kids), touring three Smithsonians, swimming upstream in the million man march, fantastic lunch at Oyamel and then a nice evening at home.  On Sunday we were back up early for a trip to the National Zoo then it was off to Tysons Corner to enjoy lunch and dessert at the American Girl Cafe.  Madeline and Lily were in absolute pink girl heaven.  Then we got back home in time to get all our fall decorations up (thanks to the little ones helping).  It really was a fantastic weekend.