Please Touch Museum...Again

Except for one big trip to a toy store to finish up the boy's presents, I'm officially done our holiday shopping!! Our reward was a trip to the Please Touch Museum on Black Friday. Phil had an epiphany when he realized the toys on display behind glass were basically everything he played with as a kid. Old geezer!

There is a brilliant caption just waiting to be written for the picture of Cole with the goose. I guess I don't have it in me today....but if you think of one let me know!!

Thankful

We had dinner with the Kerpers and dessert with the Kleins. Although we just finished eating a few hours ago, as I write this I sit with a plate of leftovers. I love Thanksgiving!

One thing I learned is that trying to art direct a bunch of kids under 5 is never easy...

Cole and Logan each had their own interpretation of "smile"...



Aunt Jenn brought over the fixins for a gingerbread house...Logan and Ry had a deep conversation regarding their favorite candy.

By the time we got to Aunt Liz and Uncle George's house Cole was completely high on sugar. I'm not even exaggerating when I say he probably ate a minimum of 12 cookies. Of course the first thing he did was run over to the dessert area for another one.

Here he is rockin' out with Elmo...

Clapping to the music that plays in his head...


Going completely bonkers...

Did I mention he had 12 (or more) cookies??


We should have learned the first time, but something inspired us to try for another group picture. Didn't really work out, but Pop Pop sure looks smashing.

There is lots to be thankful for today. I'm thankful for Cole's hearty laugh. I'm thankful for Ry's silliness. I'm thankful that Phil shaved off his moustache. I'm thankful for sweet potato surprise. Love to you all - hope your holiday was a great one. Bring on the Christmas season!!

Random November Snowfall

We woke up Friday morning to a few inches of snow. It was so peaceful lying in bed all cuddled up in blankets and looking outside. Ry came in and I told him to look out the window...he saw the snow and said "oooh Santa must be here!"

All Tucked In

Soccer Practice

Weekend

Yesterday was Josh's 5th birthday party at Moonbounce Adventures. First of all - how do these kids keep growing up so quickly? The fact that he's 5 is slightly blowing my mind. Anyway, the boys had a blast. The party-goers were particulary impressed by Cole's ability to get completely covered with icing in T-minus 2 seconds. They insisted that I take a picture...I didn't have the heart to tell them that he basically looks like that 95% of the day.




Today we took off to the Please Touch Museum. They're now located in the old Memorial Hall and the building is absolutely amazing.

Life with an 18 month old is filled with a lot of "nos", so it was great to let him loose somewhere with essentially no rules. Both of the boys loved exploring and believe me, there is plenty to explore. There is so much to do in there that we didn't even cover half of it by the time they pooped out...luckily we bought a membership so we'll be back often.

My favorite part: A mini version of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (where Phil works) filled with fake medical stuff. Ry kept walking around to the fake babies saying "My dad will help you. He takes care of sick kids."

Oh Deer

Must have been a slow news day...there's not anything going on in the country today, is there? Instead of covering Washington, all Philadelphia networks were camped out in front of our building giving live updates.

Check out the hubub from work today...

P.S. The picture is totally false news reporting...it was a buck. Cue hilarious buck ($$) / QVC jokes

Move Over, Phelps

The best is his version of "cheese" at the end...

Rock The Vote

Okay I have to tell you about my voting experience. The short story is that I literally waited in line for 3 hours. The long story is a little more Coombayah so please read on for the gory details (maybe just gory to me...ow my feet hurt).

I drove past our polling place in the morning and at lunch - the line was out the door and down the street. I had a dentist appointment in the afternoon which meant I had to leave early anyway, so I couldn't justify being away from work that long to stand in the line.

SO - after my dentist appointment, I picked up the boys and brought them to my parent's house. With half of my face completely numb from novicaine, I forged on. I staked my place in line and there I stood.

Things to consider:
1. I live in a college town so our polling place is a dorm. Most of the other procrastinators were college students, and therefore it was quite a rowdy crowd

2. It was raining. A light drizzle that was just enough to make you pause before using electronic devices

3. I hadn't changed after work so I was still wearing heels. Worst decision of the day

Even with all of the rain and second-hand smoke, it was actually a great experience. There were a ton of volounteers offering candy, umbrellas, parkas, water, hoagies, pizza, hand warmers...you name it. All because they wanted you to stay in line to vote.

I learned a lot about my dear sweet line neighbors Chelsea, Enya, Kirsten, and Emily. While nibbling on soggy peanut butter sandwiches (keep in mind my face was basically numb so it couldn't have been pretty) they gabbed about their college tests and the drama of living in the dorms. When one of the candidates made her way though the line to say hello to voters, the girls went celebrity crazy on her. "OMG we're TOTALLY voting for you!!!!" You don't even want to know what they did when the news camera came by (they discussed flashing the camera guy but talked themselves out of it).

By the time I got to vote I was glad that I waited it out...I always feel a sense of pride when I step into the little booth. Someone behind us had dropped out of line and our gutsy Chelsea yelled after her "people in third world countries wait in line for 3 days to vote!!" You go Chelesa.

Go Phillies!

Need I say more? Phil was so excited that he didn't know what to do with himself. He just kept walking around in circles going "the Phillies just won the World Series." Then he made me take a picture of him next to the TV. These are memories frozen in time, people.

He even tried to wake up Ry so he could share the moment. Ry didn't seem too interested.

Go Phillies!

Bad Blogger

I know...I've been a bad blogger. Between the Phillies celebrations (Go Phillies!) and Halloween extravaganzas, I've been spent.

So let me catch you up on all of the Halloween festivities. When we last left off, we had attended the Halloween Parade and a few parties. After suiting up so many times, Ry decided he was over the fireman costume and that he wanted to be Bumblebee from Transformers. When I told him that I didn't have time to get him that particular costume, he told me to go to the Transformer Costume Store and pick one up. Makes sense from a 3 year old's perspective, I guess.

Needless to say, the fireman prevailed and he rocked it out. First stop was the parade at school. It was total chaos and there were people butting in front of me (pardon my elementary school jargon...they totally butted), but you can still soak up some of the cuteness. Keep an eye out for Ry - there are a few firemen. He is the one with the very solid march.

I was running back and forth like a maniac because Cole's class was parading on the other side of the building. My little nurse was adorable, although he seemed a little overwhelmed by all of the screaming fans.

So then came the actual Halloween night. Our neighbors had a little pre-trick-or-treating soiree to get some of the kid's excited energy out. And who busts into the party but twins dressed as Bumblebee and Optimus Prime from Transformers. I held my breath for a panic attack but Ry seemed okay with the situation.

Next stop...Thanksgiving! (How is it humanly possible that it's November already?!)