This one's for Ant Peggy :)

She's holding a new Rock Angel shirt & thinking of you. :)

Good morning, Philadelphia!

James and I were talking last night about how the worst part of traveling with kids is, well, traveling with kids. Bitty and Bubby have been troopers, but even yesterday they were showing signs of wear and tear. Today so far has been a bonanza of sore throats, stuffy noses, green snot and stuffy heads. So, while Daddy is off learning from a Photoshop deity, we're laying low. We did venture out this morning for breakfast and a trip to Walgreens for Benadryl (cross your fingers!...here are some fun shots of our walk. My hope is that they'll feel better after morning naps...we'll see. :)




The fountain wasn't green when we got here this weekend...hmm.



She's showing you that her shirt says "love", too. :)



Yup.



For you, Grandma!







Sorry...







That's our hotel on the left, City Hall on the right. Can't wait to get out there with the "real" camera!

-- Posted from my iPhone

All Funned Out...

Fallin' Back...in Philadelphia!

Our kids were soooo confused by the combination of traveling and time change...we've already been up for over an hour this morning. (Yep, that means we got up at 3:00 your time, Texas.) I'm too tired to provide a lot of narrative, so here are some highlights: we had a great, safe airplane trip. We were a little worried about containing Noble in an airplane seat for 3 hours, but we lucked out and our flight didn't fill up, so we sat in the back of the plane pretty much by ourselves. It was awesome! When we got to Philadelphia, the first thing we noticed were the leaves on the trees--we just don't see colors like that at home, so that was really awesome. Then when we got into town we were just overwhelmed by the people walking everywhere and the different, um, driving codes...it was pretty crazy for a while while we tried to adjust to what felt like pure craziness to us. But you know, you can't judge a city by the first half hour. In total contrast to the hustle, bustle and confusion of the streets, there are these amazing buildings...I've only seen places like this in the movies and on TV. (By the way, we watched "National Treasure" last night and it was TOO COOL to see the places we went yesterday and are going to see today!) The view out of our hotel window is absolutely amazing...if the statue of Penn was wearing a dress, we'd be looking right up it. Hee hee.

Our hotel is right by the Reading Market...yum!!

We're off to Dunkin Donuts to introduce the kids to Munchkins, then later our plans include a visit to Amish Country then more Philadelphia Historical sites...can't wait!

SuperDaddy!

Our Very Own Wild Thing...

Family Meeting!

Kayci has decided that we should have weekly Family Meetings. I'm not sure where the idea came from, but she's very into it. So last Friday we had the first Family Meeting, complete with name badges and a written agenda (made by Kayci. Keep up.). At first she wanted Family Meetings to fall at the end of the week so we could talk about the week that just finished...but now she's decided that we should have Family Meetings at the BEGINNING of the week so we can talk about what's coming up. She worked off and on during the weekend to prepare for yesterday's Family Meeting...and I had to tell her several times yesterday (even when her friends were here!) that the Family Meeting wasn't until after dinner and homework. Finally, the time came, and she revealed the centerpiece of last night's event: Pin the Hat on the Daddy. I'd seen it before, since I laminated it for her...but James was tickled to see his paper likeness. So tickled, he took it to work today to display in his cube. I'm sure you can all figure out who won the game...I'll give you a hint: Noble came in 4th, then me, then Daddy. The winner MAY have used her other hand to feel around a bit. I'm just sayin'.

Kayci's favorite part of the meetings, I'd guess, are the questions she prepares ahead of time. She'll ask us each the same question and she records the answers in a journal she's prepared just for Family Meetings. It's pretty cool, and pretty oh, she's gonna be too much like me, all at the same time. :)

Last night's Family Meeting revealed one thing: it's going to be a busy, great week. Hope yours is the same! :)

And please join us in wishing a belated Happy Birthday to Aunt Susan--please know that we've MEANT to call you each of the past 2 days. For whatever it's worth. We love you BIG! :)

A Case of the Wiggles

Yesterday Kayci had what I thought was her twice yearly dental check-up. I remembered James taking her last time because I had to do something with Noble and I really thought he took her this past spring. Um, no. Turns out, she hasn't been since a month after Noble was born...I was shocked that 18 months has passed. I've already gotten over that "mother of the year" feeling, thanks for asking. Dr. Moon informed Kayci that she has not one, but THREE wiggly teeth. One of her lower teeth should come out any time now, and she'll also be getting her first permanent molars in any time now. I don't know why, but watching her go off by herself (well, down the hallway to a glass room where I could see her the whole time) to get x-rays really made me sad. It was such a blessing to get to spend the day with Kayci yesterday, but at the same time I was very aware that days like that are rare. Things are changing...she's growing up, right before my eyes. I won't go on and on, as much as I'd like to...just feeling a bit melancholy. And lucky, which oughta cancel out the melancholy, right? :)

Kayci's first dentist appointment, August 2005.

Yesterday. Sigh.

Eek! A Monster!

This is Kayci's monster. Her name is Sue. :) (check out her shirt, Hannah!)

CItizenship Award

Last Wednesday, Kayci came home with a certificate and a *real* medal--she won the 1st Six Weeks Citizenship Award for her first grade class. :) We're so proud of her! Probably more importantly, she's proud of herself...she really prides herself on being "good" and following directions at school. That's our girl!