Pittsburgh trip - Pittsburgh Zoo

Two weeks ago we all drove out to Pittsburgh and spent the week visiting friends and family, and then attended our ten year college reunion at Geneva. It was a fun week, and we enjoyed having a whole week all together with Patrick.

We stayed at my Uncle Bruce and Aunt Margie's house for the week, and enjoyed spending time with them. On Monday we met my friend Erin and her kids at the Pittsburgh Zoo. We have had so much fun visiting so many zoos this summer and fall - the kids have been to the Roger Williams Park Zoo, the Denver Zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo and the Pittsburgh Zoo this year!

Caleb and Elijah watching the flamingos

It was a beautiful day to go to the zoo, and cool enough that a lot of the animals were up and active! We had fantastic, close up visits with the elephants and the penguins.

Checking out the fish

The kids - Emma, Elijah, Molly and Caleb

The zoo also has a cool aquarium, including some large sharks. It was Elijah's favorite part!

The boys had a great time running through the shark tunnel. It felt like we had the zoo all to ourselves!

A few more from Pennsylvania

Here are few more pictures from our trip to Pennsylvania last month.

Molly's cute new pumpkin hat that Bobbi made for her - Molly loves to wear it around all the time.

Playing with Roxy

Kids with their Bobbi

Kisses!

Molly's 15 month check up

Yesterday we took Molly to the doctor for what should have been her 12 month check up. It was rescheduled a couple of times and ended up being a 15 month check up instead. She is doing well, and growing a lot! She is 25 lbs 5 oz (I don't remember the % but in the 90s) and was 98% for her height (I didn't hear the actual measurement). I don't know why I'm always so forgetful when we're there, but I forgot to ask if those percentages were based on 12 month charts or 15 month charts. Molly is right on track with teeth, and walking, and is saying a few more than average words, if you are lucky enough to be around when she says them. Mostly she just says, "yeah!" She is learning some animal sounds and is quite the little climber. Molly is working on going from two naps a day to just one. She is starting to be a little bit more friendly with new people, and enjoys being silly. Molly is loving books and videos about animals, especially farm animals and pets. She is still very cuddly and loves her pacifiers and her Bobbi blanket. Elijah has a couple of special blankets, but he never carried them around with him or used them for comfort like Molly does. It is pretty cute, and useful to have something comforting to give her when she is upset, but I sure hope nothing happens to that blanket!

While we were in the exam room waiting for the doctor, Patrick measured Elijah too, just for fun. He was 41 inches tall and 39 pounds - the size of your average four year old, according to the doctor. According to this, that means he'll be about 6'6" at age 18.

Reading with Daddy

Still catching up - Philadelphia Zoo

A few weeks ago the kids and I got to spend a week in Pennsylvania visiting Patrick's family. We had a great time. One of the highlights of the week was our trip to the Philadelphia Zoo with Bobbi, Diane and her kids, and Lorrie and her kids. We saw lots of animals and the kids had a great time together. Elijah especially liked the reptile and amphibian house, where he and Zoie were carefully searching for all the little creatures. He is still talking about the gecko, chameleon, and tiny orange tree frog that he saw there. It was a fun day! Here are some pictures - for more check out our Picasa album, and Diane's photos here.

All the cousins! Brynn, Maiah, Zoie, Elijah, Evan, Rylee, and Molly

End of summer - playing at the park

Here are just a few pictures of the kids playing at the park. We had a lovely, warm sunny day on Monday that felt like the last day of summer. We made the most of it and had lots of fun at a local park that we found recently. I think we're starting to get to know our new town now, even though the kids and I have been gone more than we've been home since we moved.

Fall farm fun

This morning we met some friends at a local farm. The kids had a great time running around and seeing goats and farm equipment and fields and lots of pumpkins and produce of all kinds. It must really be fall now - we had to wear our jackets! It was a beautiful day though, and we enjoyed our little adventure.

Titus, Molly, Elijah, and Arlen

Molly especially loved the goats.

This backhoe was also a big hit.

What a fun fall day!

Colorado trip - hangin' out

Here are just a few more pictures of our trip to Colorado in August. The kids had a great time just hangin out at Nana & Grandpa's house and playing. We were all glad to get to spend some time with Uncle Stuart, as well.

Molly shared my Jamba Juice - yum! And now she really, really wants anything I have with a straw. Oops.

Being a silly girl

Playing with Uncle Stuart

Playing the guitar with Grandpa

Playing outside with Nana

There were several days when both kids were just worn out by the time we got home for naps.