Trip to Utah - June 1-14

We just got back from our 2 week trip to Grandma's house (or according to Carter Grammy's house). After booking our tickets a while ago, we found out that my Grandparents were also going to come for a week and visit while we were there. They live in Mississippi and I have not seen them in 4 years. I was so happy to see them and excited that my boys could spend some time with them. Carter was particularly fond of my pepaw. He would take his hand or his walking cane and lead him to where he wanted him to go. Here are a few pics of the highlights of our trip.

Carter had fun playing my Mom's piano. I cracked up that he was trying to push the pedal and play and the same time. Not sure how he picked that up.

On the 6th, we went to the Salt Lake Children's Museum, Discovery Gateway. I know, we are sort of obsessed, but my kids seriously love them.

Carter was actually not afraid of this horse. I think it was because it did not move.

The boys had fun working together to build things with the blocks.

The kids had fun exploring a helicopter on the roof.

And of course the beloved grocery store.

On Wednesday, we went to a Splash Pad that was behind my Mom's neighborhood. I think Thomas liked it more than Carter. Carter was not sure about it and would cry every time he got wet. He would run over to my Mom and grab her hand and make her go through the water with him. If she was with him, then he was happy.

On Friday, we ventured out to the planetarium. This began Thomas'new found fascination about space. I am waiting to see if this will end his train obsession. They had a dome movie called The Adventure of the Cardboard Spaceship that he really loved. In fact, my Mom ended up taking him back the next day to watch it again.

Above all, I think the highlight of the trip for the kids was playing in the sandbox in the backyard. Thomas and Carter would sneak and turn the water on and fill it up with water and splash around.

I am so thankful that the kids were also able to spend some time with another set of great grandparents before we left. The day before we left, we went to visit Grandad and Nana in Salt Lake.

Trip to Philadelphia - May 28th

Our second weekend here, we decided to venture to Philadelphia. I really wanted to take the kids to the Please Touch Museum, which is suppose to be one of the best. I could not believe how big the building was when we pulled up. The kids had so much fun exploring all the different exhibits they had. They played in the Water,explored the musical forest, rode a carousel, went through a maze, listened to a jazz band play, played in a grocery store, pretended to drive lots of different vehicles, launched rockets into space, and much more. They had such a great time.

It was seriously a huge building!

Carter was obsessed with playing in the river.

No he was not sweating, just wet from playing in the water.

Carter has always had a thing about riding "fake" horses. In our grocery store in MI, there is a horse that kids can ride for a penny. He hated that thing for the longest time. He had finally gotten to were he would ride it and then along came the carousel horse. The night before we went to the museum, we went to the Mall and I thought they both had fun riding the carousel. Apparently, Carter must have not liked it because the next day he refused to get on the horse. So he and Ryan sat together for the ride.

I thought it was so cool that the people that worked there played the cashier. Usually, it is me that has to do that.

It was a Shop Rite grocery store, so everything in the store was Shop Rite brand. It was very nostalgic!

There were so many trucks, cars, and buses to pretend to drive.

A boys dream!

Watch out! Thomas is behind the wheel!

After the museum we wanted to go walk around Independence Hall and see the Liberty Bell. Ryan typed in Liberty Bell into his phone and pressed Navigate. After driving for about 15 minutes and not paying much attention, I realized that we were not going to the right place. The Nav took us to a shopping center that was called Liberty Bell. Well, it gave our kids a chance to take a nap in the car and we learned that we should not put so much trust in our Nav. It gave us a good laugh anyway. So we eventually made it to Independence Park. We saw Independence Hall and stood in line to see the Liberty Bell.

Unfortunately, they were redoing Independence Hall. I thought it was funny that they put a picture of the building over the scaffolding

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Thomas slept through all of it.

Of course, we had to have a Philly cheese steak before we left. My friend Daisy told me that her favorite place was called Jim's on South St. We had fun walking though old town Philadelphia. It is such a unique area.

I forgot to get a picture of the line we had to wait in just to get in the door. So I found this stock photo online.

They were very yummy.

Even the boys enjoyed them!

Our Maryland Adventure Begins!

I have been really feeling guilty about not updating my blog in so long. Mainly, I feel that this is a way for me to sort of keep a journal of some of the things that we have been doing. These boys are growing up so fast and it sort of all just turns into a blur if I am not careful.

Last Fall, Ryan accepted a Summer internship with Proctor & Gamble in their Supply Chain Operations. For a while we thought for sure we would be sent to Cincinnati, OH. I had our Summer all planned out, even had an apartment lined up. We were very excited because it would only be a 4 hour drive from our house, so I could go back and forth with the boys if I needed to. To our surprise a few weeks before his start date, they told Ryan that they would like him to go to Baltimore, MD. Oh, boy! So, here we are! I have to say I love this area. After we left NY, I really did not expect to be back out on the East Coast again so soon. I guess the East Coast just keeps calling us!

So our first weekend here, we decided to adventure out and go the Air Show at Andrew's Air Force Base. It was quite the shindig just to get on the base. We had to park at a stadium, go through security, and get on a bus that took us to Andrews. Although, the bus ride itself just might have been Thomas' favorite part, it was quite the air show! There were parachuters jumping out of planes, airplanes that the kids could go in, and tons of stunts. Thomas has very sensitive eyes, so it was hard for him even with sunglasses on to look up at the bright sky to see the airplanes. Carter, on the other hand, loved looking up at the sky to find the airplanes and helicopters. For anyone that might be reading this that plans on going to an airshow this Summer, I really wish I had brought an umbrella to help shade from the sun!!!

Carter fell asleep on the bus ride to the base, so he explored the airplanes on Ryan's shoulder.

Carter was awake in time to see the parachuters do their stunts.

The boys trying to get a little shade by the wheels of the plane.

Our little man Carter really loved watching the airplanes do their stunts.

After the show, we loaded up on the buses again to take us back to our car.

Look at that cheesy grin!

And of course Carter was full of energy and...

Thomas was fast asleep.

Since we were so close to D.C., we decided to go see some sights after the air show. I seriously love D.C. It has a very special place in my heart since I spent a semester there doing an internship in college. It was fun to just walk around the National Mall with the kids and look at the buildings and monuments. I think we will have to make another trip down to hit some of the museums with the kids.

Sitting with the kids in front of the Capitol.

We walked through a garden area that was just of the National Mall.

The kids had fun running around and playing together in front of the Washington Monument.

Thomas was trying to figure out how to get in the gate.

The front of the White House.