We made our annual pilgrimage to New York this year. What an adventure it was. We boarded a Megabus in Baltimore, a double decker bus and pulled into the Big Apple at 11:00 p.m. As the girls and I were waiting for Rob to meet us we were greeted by friendly New Yorkers. A fight between a man and women, I would call them a boy and girl by the way they were acting broke out. I moved the girls to a safer spot and called the police. While I was talking to dispatch she asked if there were any weapons I thought, "wow, I really am in New York." My little ones watched with huge eyes as the fighting moved to the street and taxis were honking and trying to make there way by these crazies. Finally the police arrived. More questions from my girls. Such as, "what do you do in jail?" I explained that jail is like time out for big people. They then started to ask if Rob or I had ever been in jail?

Just as the fight broke up Rob arrived and we hoped in a taxi and make a frantic drive through the streets of NY. I always tell Rob what a good driver he is when we are done with taxis rides in NY.

First official day of the trip I went with the kids to the Folk Art Museum, interesting work. Tried to rush the kids past some inappropriate paintings, but their eyes were still googling. That afternoon we took the Subway into Queens for some time at NY Hall of Science. The 3 block walk from the Subway stop to the museum is what I always pictured of Queens. I will take Manhattan any day. There were of course lots more questions from my girls. All three loved the Science museum, so many fun hands on activities.

Saturday was Madison's day. We headed to the MET, artist educators lead us on a tour, teaching the children about Landscape painting and Portraits. The children were then able to draw their own pictures. After the MET when ventured down to Dylan's Candy Store. An overpriced, showy candy store that kids go goo-goo for. I think I paid $7 for 15 pieces of candy. Welcome to NY.

Sunday was church at a Manhattan ward and then a walk through Central Park. It was a beautiful Sep. day and the park was packed. There were dogs and babies everywhere. Well, more dogs than babies. It was fun to stroll through the walking paths. We stopped at Alice in Wonderland statue, the pond, some large boulders (fun to jump on) and finished the tour watching Skate Dancing. It took me back to Junior high and skating at the local skating rink.

Monday was the highlight of the trip for my girls. Tea at the American Girl Doll Store!!! Madison and Samantha had been saving their money for about 5 months and wanted to spend it at this store. After 2 hours of browsing through they finally decided on a purchase. A wheelchair and doctor kit. Complete with crutches, arm/leg casts, wrap bandages, finger splint and an ice pack. After that purchase we headed up to the third floor and enjoyed pink lemonade, finger sandwiches and tarts. Their day was complete.

Tuesday was a ferry visit to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. I don't think my little ones had any idea how big the statue was. When we finally stood at the base of the statue they looked up in awe. By that afternoon we were all ready for home. We boarded the double decker and enjoyed the quiet drive back to Baltimore. Ready for next year??

Oh boy it's a ...

GIRL! We took the family in for the babies ultrasound today and there was a little girl in there kicking and moving around. Everything looks great which is what I was worried about. Placenta is where it should be, lots of fluid. Heartbeat sounded good, stomach and umbilical cord all looked well. It took the tech. a long time to get a good look at the spinal cord. There was one point during the visit that she said I may have to come back in a month if she could not get a good look. In true form with this pregnancy/baby the little gal was being difficult. Finally the tech. was able to get a good measurement. Now we are on a quest for a girls name. As usual that is proving difficult, more so now that we have three additional opinions to appease.

I attached a couple of pictures. The top one is a profile of baby girls face. Bottom picture is side of babies body with her arm sticking up.

Eating Doughnuts

Well...I woke up this morning with a craving. Doughnuts, not the gross grocery store kind but good doughnuts. I didn't want to wait for the dough to rise at our house so we headed over the the doughnut shop. Our original intention was to stop at the Amish Market, they did not open until 9:30. We then continued the drive up to Columbia where there is a Krispy Kreme, almost as good as the doughnuts that my Grandpa and I used to get at the shop on Main St. We do not buy doughnuts much, this was obvious when they girls walked into the shop and pressed their noses against the glass to watch the dough being fried and then counted how many doughnuts would go through the frosting machine at the same time. We let them each choose a doughnut of their choice and they went to town. After 1 dozen doughnuts were consumed I thought of how much they have grown and how quickly it has gone. Not to many years ago Rob and I would buy a box of doughnuts and throw half of them out because they went bad. Maybe I should not relate how quickly my girls are growing in comparison to how many doughnuts we consumed this morning!
Samantha commented, "when I grow up I want to be a doughnut!"
I said, "you want to be a doughnut?"
She got her sheepish grin and said, "no, I want to be a doughnut worker. Than I can have a doughnut everyday." Yesterday it was a flight nurse today it is a doughnut worker, not sure what tomorrow will bring.
The baby is doing well, we go in for the ultrasound on Monday. I hadn't felt it all morning, until I ate a crispy, sweet little bite of heaven. Two minutes later the kicking began, ahh the sugar rush.

Just some Randomness

Things are going well. Madison and Samantha have adjusted from the first week of school. Rob is home from an almost two week trip, so happy to have him here. No more trips for almost two weeks and then off to NYC. I am planning on riding the bus with the girls up to NY and spending a few days in the Big Apple. Samantha and Madison are most looking forward to a tea party at the American Girl Doll store, so cute.
I am just looking out the window watching Madison mow the lawn (push mower) but she is doing it all herself. It won't be long before Rob has taught them the riding mower. Now if I could just get them to mop the kitchen floor and cook dinner we would be in business.
Anyways, life is good. Kids are good and funny as usual. I wanted to share a few funny things that they have said lately.
All three girls were working hard at filling up a sticker chart. They finally filled the chart and I told them I would take them out to lunch and shopping for a little trinket at the mall. The night before "our date" we were deciding where to eat lunch. There were four places in the the running. I hate deciding where to eat and this was the girls day so I wanted them to vote and decide. Samantha said, "I'm just craving a nice shower and scriptures. We can decide where to eat tomorrow."

Aubrey, "Mom, your tummy is sure getting big."

Madison, "I want a baby brother." I commented, "you know how crazy some boys can be." Madison replied back, "I know, we will have a boy just like Mitchell Martin." (Mitchell Martin is a very close family friend of ours and one of the calmest, nicest boys I know!

First Day of School

My little girls hoped on the bus this morning and began their first day of First Grade. Where has the time gone? Yesterday they were able to go to the school open house and meet their teachers. I think it will be a great year for them. I could tell as we were walking the halls that they were a little nervous but I think in a few days it will all come back to them. They were both excited that their class rooms share a wall that opens to one another. First grade divides reading and math groups by abilities, possibly they could be together for part of the school day. Aubrey starts pre-school next week and then all my free time should start appearing, right?

Madison with her new teacher, Mrs. Gemmill

Samantha and her teacher, Mrs. Zarchin

My First Graders

Samantha ready and waiting for the first day of school

Madison ready for the first day