Anderson's Birthday Party

In the middle of July, 

in the middle of Charlotte, 

in the middle of two CONCACAF Gold-Cup soccer games, 

among 60,000 soccer fans, 

we celebrated Anderson's second birthday with some of our favorites.  

They battled the crowds and the heat, 

drove around for 30 minutes looking for a parking spot 

and came to eat cupcakes and hatch dinosaur eggs with us.  

We were so blessed by their presence. 

Anderson had no clue that the party was all about him.  

He was content to survey the scene with Goldfish and grapes 

while big friends and 'baby' friends played around him.  

He did love the cupcakes and enjoyed hearing and singing 

his favorite song, "Happy Birt-day!" 

And hopefully he felt celebrated and loved.

 His safe, happy place.

Waiting for his dinosaur egg to hatch.  

There were 32 of these ice eggs! 

They were a big hit, but the big kids were not patient enough 

to let the heat or water melt them to reveal the dinosaurs 

and took to smashing them on the ground.

 Birthday Boy surrounded by friends

Thoroughly enjoying his cupcake

 The perfect present from the Millers

Sweetness

Preschool Easter Egg Hunt

CW Egg Hunt

The first Egg Hunt of the 'season'

...where the eggs were plentiful

and the neighbors were friendly.

 Egg hunting is serious business

 ...and best done with a friend!

Dog Gone

When I was little, I left my favorite, prized stuffed animal, Pooh Bear, at my Grandpap's house in Pennsylvania.  This was long before the days of car phones, cell phones, or guaranteed next day delivery services.  Knowing the turmoil that would ensue from discovering the loss of my favorite toy, my Grandpap got in his car and drove at speeds over 90 MPH down the Pennsylvania Turnpike to catch up with our family's red 1972 Ford 500, flag us down, and return my beloved friend. I can imagine his proud, sheepish grin of being the hero who saved the day.

Flash forward 30 years...

A sunshine-filled 4-mile walk with Aunt Tessa Bug; a stroller loaded with snacks, water, toys, and the occasional big brother taking a break from 'scooter-ing;' a date filled with content boys and sisterly conversations. Anderson either zoned out or pigged out in his comfy seat, but there were a few times when a book or a cup was ejected from the stroller; luckily we heard or saw it happen and scooped it up mid-stride. After about an hour and a half, we made it back to the car after walking, stick collecting, and lessons about blind spots, and got home and got busy making dinner.  Randomly Anderson mentioned "Dog Go," but I didn't think much about it until we got back in the car a few hours later and I could not find his dog.  I knew it must have been lost somewhere along the walk and started to panic; it was already dark, and even running, I knew I couldn't/shouldn't cover the distance by myself. Andrew armed me with a cell phone and flashlight and planned to meet me a 1/4 mile down the greenway with the car.  We extended our meet-up point by another 1/4 mile and there, illuminated by our headlights, was "Dog Go" - sitting patiently and properly on a bench, waiting to be found.  The dog was not gone! 

An anonymous 'hero' had found him and propped him up - making our rescue mission successful!  Within five minutes of reuniting Anderson with his pup, Anderson was snoozing peacefully in his car sear with his treasured friend.  So thankful for a happy ending, fresh air adventures ... and guardian angels of beloved stuffed animals!

Sky Top Orchard 2014

 Through the rain and fog,

we found our way up to Sky Top Orchard

for a Sunday field trip.

We took a risk with the weather forecast,

but managed to have fun with some sweet friends

even though the rain came right as we finished picking.

We were sad to miss the great views,

and only got to wave to the "amimals" as we walked by,

and would have gotten forever lost in the foggy bamboo forest,

but the kids {and adults} had a great time.

 Favorite Friends

 These two were just a little excited to pick some apples!

We first searched for our favorite apple from the tasting table,

the Cameo, and only found one way up in a tree.  

The shrill screams of excitement for that one apple were incredible.  

We knew if we managed to somehow get it,

the kids would be happy and our day would be successful.

It was beyond Alekzander's reach, even lifted high above Daddy's head,

but after Andrew's superb climbing skills, 

we shared that one apple out on the hillside among at least 

8 children and possibly 6 adults.

Luckily we soon found some other varieties where the picking was plentiful.

Before the sky opened up, Alekzander managed to pick

10 pounds of Pink Lady and Jonathan apples.

 We also bought {accidentally} a whole peck of

Honey Crisp apples for a grand total of 30 pounds of apples

{which happens to  be 8 pounds shy of Alekzander's weight 

and about 8 pounds over Anderson's weight}!

Love making memories as a family...

and so thankful to have crazy, amazing friends

who do this crazy, amazing life with us.

SYR :: Zoo

We got to meet up with some good friends 

and explore the Syracuse zoo.

We saw lions, tigers, bears, raptors, birds, 

deer, monkeys, elephants and more.

Anderson was all about animal spotting.

{Tigers, Penguins, Monkeys}

Alekzander was too!

He found his favorite animals :: 

meerkats hanging out in their hammock.

 Anderson's chipmunk cheeks are big with a cheesy, excited smile!

Hi Big Kitty.

 Kisses for the sad kitty.

Childhood friends and their babies.

 Jocelyn and her mama.

 Cute penguins.

 Penguins mate for life!

SYR :: Elephants

If he could, Anderson might tell you that elephants are his favorite.

He is also becoming a fan of dogs, cats, ducks, 'moos' and 'baaaas',

but the way he loves his knit elephant from Mia 

and makes an elephant noise that is pretty convincing!

So we were pretty excited to see the elephants 

in their new habitat with plenty of room to roam.

Anderson was even more excited when he got to

take home a stuffed elephant from his "uncle" Donald.