Big Vaycay!

So we've been on several vacations, with family, with friends, but we realized that we've never done a vacation with just our little family, so....off we went!   The Moms Club I belong to sent out an email that they were selling group tickets to a small-child friendly amusement park called Dutch Wonderland, so with a discount in mind (and you didn't all have to go on the same day), a plan was formed.  We booked a hotel at a place called the Fulton Steamboat Inn that actually looked like a steamboat! (Steve thought it really WAS on a steamboat, so he was disappointed for a moment--sorry Stevo!)  We researched other things to do in the area and the plan was set.  Vacation, woohoo!

The weekend finally came!   After much preparation, we were off.

You must always bring many many distractions for a car ride over 30 minutes.  This was a 2 hour trip, not too shabby, circle stickers are cheap fun! 

 When we arrived we realized how really "in" Amish country we were!  It was very common to see a horse and buggy hanging driving on the road. So cool!  

We headed to Kitchen Kettle Village first.  We got to see some cool animals, goats, llamas, and roosters.  Addie stood her distance but Cole went right up to the baby goats

And even got brave enough to feed them! 

Milking a pretend cow was more Addie's speed ;) 

Cole was super serious about it! 

The rest of Kitchen Kettle village was shops and restaurants. It was the Rhubarb festival so we got to taste various rhubarb jams and other concotions. We had lunch there then headed off to...

Strasburg Railroad!  We got to take a ride on a real train through the Pennsylvania countryside. It was relaxing and beautiful. 

This is the nest of a bald eagle!!  The camera was SUPER zoomed in because it was far away, but that thing was BIG

I love my goofballs! 

The kids loved all the Thomas stuff there and we got them their first souvenir of the trip--cool conductors hats (Addie's was pink, of course)

Isn't this place cool?

Is this a steamboat? Nope, it's our hotel! The Fulton Steamboat Inn was made to look like a steamboat.  Really liked that place, highly recommend it! 

They have a big duck pond where you can feed the ducks...

And the piggy little fish. Who knew fish ate dried corn? 

This was the really cool playground at our hotel. 

And this was the really awesome pool at our hotel.  Did we mention we loved it there? 

We had dinner at the hotel restaurant and got the kids down to bed by 8pm.  So then Steve and I got to park our tushies outside of the bathroom until it was our bedtime. Thank goodness for books and wifi! 

The next day was...dum dum dum...DUTCH WONDERLAND DAY!   After breakfast at Panera we were off.  We got the very best parking spot that you could get and not be in the preferred lot. SWEET!   

The first thing we did when we got there was to meet Prince Michael and Princess Brook!  

Every candle Addie has blown out, every penny she has tossed into a fountain has held the same wish--to meet a real princess. Addie was THRILLED to finally have her wish come true! The best part? She got to meet the princess at a storytime later and told Princess Brook her name and when we saw the princess twice more in the park later that day she waved and said "Hi Addie"!! 

First ride. Addie was too scared but Cole wanted right in.  5 seconds after the ride started Cole started to cry and they had to stop to let him off :) 

Going in a car with mommy was much more his speed.

Apparently, this is a "quintessential" Dutch Wonderland photo spot.  Just realized we didn't have any soft pretzels while we were on our vacation. Darn, we'll just have to go back soon ;) 

Addie LOVES the carousel.  This was trip #1 on it. 

Cole and I did the log flume.  So fun! 

Okay, folks (you know, all 2 of you who still check this blog) the blog thing has been weird so I'll have to post the rest later.  Enjoy for now! 

Oh Hello March

I thought since it's March already...I thought it'd be a great idea to post about New Years :)

It really was a super fun day.  First, Steve made some Star Wars shaped Pancakes.   Impressive, no?  More impressive is the fact that Addie can appropriately identify the difference between the Millennium Falcon and an X-wing

Then we headed to the outdoor skating rink at the nearby Town Center.

3 generations of girls skating :)

Closer to the end of the day, Steve orchestrated the creation of New Years hats

But before dinner we took a walk around the neighborhood because it was a really nice day.

And then we had Thai takeout for dinner and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Since there was no way the kids would stay up for the ball dropping, we watched the London ball drop on the internet.  We did a countdown and everything.  It was super fun :)



and then the sugar from the ice cream kicked in and....well....just watch



It was altogether a PERFECT day.

Merry Christmas 2011!!

This year has been a good holiday season. We finally got lights up outside (around the big tree in front of our house, next year we'll actually trim the house), and we have a santa, tree, and menorah adorning our storm door.  We had a good Hannukah, having latkes at Gaga's house and lighting the menorah at home...sorry, but no photos to commemorate.  My bad!

For the Christmas festivities we headed north to New Jersey.  The kids were able to entertain themselves while I packed everyone up.  At one point I heard Addie say "MOMMY!! COME WITH YOUR CAMERA!"  So I dropped what I was doing and ran....  It was worth it :)

At Yaya and Poppy's house Addie baked cookies with Yaya.

If you ask Addie, you can never have too many sprinkles.

There was a lot of music played.

A lot of comfy cozy hanging around

The traditions continue with the hanging of their own ornaments on their tree.

The putting out cookies and milk for Santa

The hanging of stockings (Cole was cranky and tired, excuse his sour face)

Addie, on the other hand, was happy and wide awake.  We weren't sure she would go to sleep, BUT the minute we said "the sooner you get to bed the sooner Santa will come" she went down faster and easier than she has in months.  Ah, the magic of Christmas.

Addie woke us up excitedly at 5:30am...she went back to sleep, and so did Cole, on top of me and then on top of Steve. Not sure the adults got the same extra Zs...

The kiddos got to check out their stocking loot!  This Christmas lollipop tradition is Addie-inspired.  "Of course Santa will bring me another lollipop in my stocking"  Um...of course.

And can you believe we actually had BREAKFAST before tearing into all these amazing gifts.  How could these kids keep their hands away?  Restraint that I doubt we will see in the future :)

Cole LOVES Mickey Mouse--this was his present from Addie :)

Yaya got Addie a bridal gown and accessories for her dress-up box.  This picture is foreshadowing 20+ years from now...a blushing bride!

Digging into the gifts!

Hugs...

Books...

and Food...all make a great Christmas.

Doug, Alli, and Julie came down...how friggin' cute is that smile?

 and Julie got her Fancy on with some fashion accessories.  Show it, girl!

The kiddos loved snacking together...

....chilling on the ground together...

And playing "light sabres" outside together. 

It was a VERY merry Christmas. Thank you all for the amazing gifts!!!  XXOO