"Hop on Pop" to Haikus

Rosamond Gifford Zoo was a nice afternoon trip with Gramma and Pa in New York.

We went to the Dinosaur BBQ to pick up yummy wings after the Zoo. And after 2 weeks of being home, we've already broke open the bottle we packed for later. Going there reminded me of our second apartment in Syracuse. The single dad who lived upstairs, Louis, worked at the Dino BBQ as a cook. His apartment was adorned with Elvis memorabilia and always smelled, appropriately, of barbecued meat or some spicy kind of cooking. We would often hear him yelling at Dallas (or "Peanut-butter Pants" as he commonly referred to him), his 4 year old son, as he stomped around above us. Kayli was just about two years old then and she seemed so little compared to Dallas. It's crazy that it feels like just yesterday Kayli was there in that apartment reading "Hop on Pop," giggling at all of the little expressions on the characters faces in the story. Now she has so many other sisters that follow after her and she can write Haikus that are amazing like these that she wrote a few days ago:

Winter

Snow-men come alive

Snow gracefully floats from above

Skaters dance their way

A Rose

A soft scarlet red

Clear droplets on it's petals

Ready to be picked

Niagara Falls

Fierce waves crashing down

A rainbow in the heavens

Smiles in the sun

This last one was inspired by the girls extended stay with Gramma and Pa in New York. Kayli and Tori got to visit with them for an extra week while we took the younger three out to DC and then home again. Gramma and Pa had only the seen the girls a few times a year until this week long trip. So naturally, they unleashed all of that build-up of non-spoiling from the year throughout the week. The girls went camping in Canada and saw Niagara Falls from down below in a boat, from behind the falls, and the fireworks above the falls of which they photographed with their new disposable cameras. They also made tie dyed t-shirts, bought Build-a-Bears, visited an alligator and bird observatory, had a campfire with smores, saw HighSchool Musical on the stage, had haircuts, bought new outfits and did virtual makeovers with Gramma on the computer. Three weeks later, we are still attempting to come out of the debriefing stage of the spoiling extravaganza for one girl but the other was debriefed in less than a week. The girls will never forget all the special times they had this summer. It's great to have grandparents who really want to get to know our girls and their different personalities and interests.

Summer Vacationing

We visited with both sides this again this July. It was fun but too much time in the car with a newborn and a potty-training two year old (who figured out that if she insisted that she had "to go" then Daddy would reluctantly stop and she was free of the carseat for a few minutes). And yes, she would "go" every time she told us with no accidents the entire trip!

Aunt Mary and Uncle Lee's house was great for our BBQ and pool party! We used to do that all the time when I was a kid. Life is so different without family living close to you. It was so nice visiting with everyone and watching other people enjoying our kids as much as we do.

After reaching the 30 year mark, I have realized that our time here is not as long as it used to seem. I enjoyed soaking in every minute of time with both of my grammas. 

Visiting with Greya usually involves some sort of an extended talent show performed by the girls. She loves watching the girls perform their antics, applauding their many talents and reminding their mom of her past achievements. Greya got lots of time with Olivia during the trip too, I think it was her favorite part and I liked the break too.

Non has the most interesting stories to tell about her childhood as the youngest sibling with three older brothers. I really hope she takes the time to write them down and pass them along so that my girls and their kids will know what a spunky, fun person she was and continues to be!

We were so grateful for the time we were able to spend on our visit and look forward to the next time.

Patriotic Pals

Olivia and Corinne for the fourth of July!

Knoebels

Firework Watching

Corinne and Olivia watched their first fireworks together!

Livi loved watching them and kept her eyes on them the entire show!

 

The girls loved eating their red shoelace licorice and watching the show while snuggling in the blankets. Naomi decided that she had to go potty in the middle of the show. Since we are still in the potty-training mode, we know that when she says she's gotta go, she really has to go! There was no where to take her because we were in the grass in front of the mall, which was now closed. So I just pulled the stroller around and had her squat behind it so that the people behind us wouldn't see (you can actually see her in the background behind Nate and Ann). She giggled and exclaimed, "I peed in the grass!" to everyone after she was done. Thank goodness two-year-olds don't hold onto the same level of modesty as they get older! Although, from what I have seen from friends with boys and even a male traveler on the way home on 95, peeing the grass can be a fun sport for any age.....thank heaven for little girls!

July 4th Park Day in PA

5 Beautiful Girls!

Sydni enjoyed watching Grandad and Uncle Nathan fixing the kites. The guys loved flying their kites despite the problems with the strings. 

The girls played on the playground and picked flowers after a little kite flying!

Uncle Nathan, Aunt Ann and cousin Corinne played too.

Corinne is such a little doll sporting her blue and white stars for the fourth!