A Night with Girlfriends

I need way more of these in my life.  It’s hard to justify the money and leaving my kids and husband (not that I mind the time away – I just feel bad not being there to help with bedtime and dinner routine)  but the occasional times I do go out with girlfriends it’s SO NICE and I really have a great time.  So I was thrilled to have an excuse to do just that when my friend Karly came back into town after having moved at the beginning of the summer.  We went and had a delicious meal and then came back to my house and stayed up way to late (3 am) talking, talking and talking some more.  Love my Pittsburgh girlfriends :)

A Taste of Philly.

A couple weeks ago Ryan had a work conference in Philly.  The boys and I decided to tag along.  Was it worth it?  Was I glad I went?  Yes.  Was it a fabulous, relaxing weekend?  Anything but.  It was pretty much exhausting especially since I was riding solo most the weekend with the two little munchkins.  We weren’t able to do a whole lot since the babies kind of cramped our touring style, but I don’t think I would have ever seen Philly otherwise, so for that reason, it was worth it.  I’ll take of taste of a new city when I can get it over nothing at all…even if it’s just a sample.

They put us up in a swanky Marriot hotel right in the middle of downtown which was helpful.  The first day the boys and I hit the town and didn’t last long window shopping before I realized I’d better find a park.  So that’s where we spent most of the morning.

We came back to the hotel for naps and then spent the afternoon exploring the hotel.  We rode the elevator and escalator countless times, discoved the various lobbies and conference rooms, and examined (tried to play with) the house keeping supplies.

That night we went swimming.  Always a crowd pleaser with the Harris boys.

The sleeping situation was the worst part.  Lincoln ended up in the bed with us both nights.  They both woke up multiple times coughing and crying.  It wasn’t good.

Sunday we were able to get out all four of us and see some sights for a few hours.  We saw the Liberty Bell.

We toured Independence Hall (The room where our founding fathers wrote and signed the constitution and declaration of Independence)

We went through Betsy Ross’s house.  She’s the lady who sewed the first American Flag –the one in the dress holding the flag. :)

And a couple random pics of Sawyer in between tours.  He makes the most expressive faces. 

Wish I could have seen and done more but it was good to get a taste.  Cool city.  Lots of History.  Check it out if you get the chance. :)

New Camera–Pictures in the Park

We got a new camera and tested it out at the park.  This is what we got :)

Boating in October

Our friends the Jensen’s took us boating last weekend.  That’s right, October 9th and we’re out boating.  Hope this warm weather lasts!  We went on the river 5 minutes from our house.  We only went for a couple hours because it was late and I didn’t know how long the boys would last.  But they did great.  They were mostly just quite and still….just taking it all in.  There were a lot of new sounds and sights to observe being on a boat for the first time :) The Christensen’s came too.  They are some of LIncoln’s favorite people.  Emily & Ty are his nursery leaders and Emily works at the daycare at the gym.  Now they’re his boating buddies too!Lincoln’s jacket was just a hair too big.  Not the safest, but dang cute.  It was all we had.  He was great about keeping it on though!Ryan hadn’t been wakeboarding in three years.  But he got up and did great.  I went earlier this summer with the Jensen’s but before that it had been three years for me too.  Way too long.Captain Chase and his Dad Chad.  This little guy has been boating since he was an infant.  He’s a natural.Ty’s turn.  He and Chad are super good wake boarders.At one point towards the end we hit a wave and the four of us got soaked up in the front, especially Sawyer.  The water was really cold so we stripped him down, borrowed one of Chase’s hoodies and wrapped him in a towel.  That’s why he’s not wearing his life jacket.  I know…not the wisest, but it was cold and he was freezing and we were almost done.Good times with great friends.  Summer went by way too fast but I must say this was an excellent way to end it :)