January Snow Days

Snow Day #1

First Snow Day for these three and they were in heaven!

Cole had snow days in Colorado, but these guys were too little when we lived there and weren't in school to have snow days.  They were so excited!

Cole missed it. The snow didn't really get started until right before he left for the bus.  After he went to school the snow just got worse.  He was on his bus for over an hour trying to make it there safely.  After a few of the elementary school buses were slipping and sliding around they cancelled the elementary school for the day.

Needless to say Cole wasn't too happy they got to stay home and he had to go in.

They ate and played around in the white powder all day.

~ January 6, 2015 ~

Snow day #2

First Snowman

First time building a snowman with Isabel and Ashton.

We also grabbed some friends to have their first snowball fight.  I helped in putting together 2 really awesome snow forts.  It was so cute to listen to the kids as they were building the forts.  The girls were setting up a house and wanted chairs. The boys were all about the bigger the wall the better!  The was laughing, it was so cute! 

By the time we finished the forts, the kids were too tired to throw snowballs.  

Ethan and Joe

Izzy, Ashton, and Devyn

~January 27, 2015~

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

After having a relaxing Christmas at home.

We headed up north to Pennsylvania to explore another historical city.

North bound we went...Up through Maryland, Delaware, and then Pennsylvania.

We checked into the hotel early in the afternoon so the kids could have time to enjoy it:)  If you ask the kids what their favorite part of any vacation we take...they'll always say the hotel.

They got to swim and be lazy.  Fun times for all!

Down the road from where we were staying was this sign.

Now he has proof...

It gave us a laugh:)

Philadelphia...

The City of Brotherly Love

The Liberty Bell

A display if period artifacts had this miniature train set.

Ethan and I thought is was really cool.

Independence Hall

Where our founding fathers met and started our independence from England.
It was amazing to be in the very room where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed.

It wasn't too busy, but we still have to wait in a long line.

Waiting.... 

Still waiting...

It was really cold as well, the waiting was almost too much for some of us.

After waiting for almost an hour we got in.

Totally worth it in the end.

The steps where the Declaration of Independence was read.

Kevin and I steeling a kiss at our lunch break in DQ ...

all the love talk must had gotten to us;)

Driving through the City

Love Park
We didn't stop...this is a drive by picture.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

We parked and explored the area surrounding the museum.  The main reason we stopped here was for Cole to do the "Rocky Run" up the stairs.  This little stop was the most fun we had in the city.  We played tag in the parking lot behind the museum, explored the walking path long the Schuylkill River, sat in the "Tree House in the Sky", watched a semi truck get stuck under a bridge, and took pictures with the Rocky Statue.

Great stop...So fun!

Carlo's Bake Shop

Sweets were calling for us in New Jersey!

 This was a dream come true for Ethan.
He used to watch the show and wish he could have one of their cake creations.
One of their locations was just 30 minutes away from Philly...
How could we not go?

Cupcakes, eclairs, lobster tails, and a cake to take home.

So worth it...Yum!

~ January 2, 2015 ~

Christmastime in Washington DC

Ride on the Metro

Actually riding the Metro into Washington from our house is quite expensive, however fun it may be. Lately we have been able to drive in and find parking. However, on this particular trip we knew it was going to be a long afternoon of walking and we wanted to only walk the distance between the Capital and the White House once.

Our plan was to park as close to the White House and a Metro station as we could.  

We parked with valet parking, which was included with our online prepayment, and it was fantastic!

Go Parking Panda!

We walked over to the McPherson Square station to ride the metro over to The Capital building.

I have used the Metro kiosk 3 times before and was completely confused and always had to ask for help to get tickets.  On this, my 4th attempt, I finally got through it! We only had to start over like 5 times, but we did it!!

I had to document our success with a picture:) 

This was Kevin's first time on the Metro

The Library of Congress

housed in the 

Thomas Jefferson Building

As we were walking from Capital South station we passed the Thomas Jefferson Building. It wasn't part of our plan, but we didn't want to miss a chance to go see inside.

This whole building is a work of art!

Just breathtaking!

The kids weren't too sure about the people in the sculptures and paintings without their clothes.  They did there best not to giggle too much.

They also had the Magna Carta on display, which was an awesome surprise.

Stop for a quick snack.

Cole is barely hanging in.

Supreme Court

United States Capital

It is not very photogenic at the moment...

They are doing repairs on the building and it is covered in scaffolding.

Model of the Statue of Freedom.  The statue that sits on top of The Capital building.

U.S. Botanic Garden

They had their seasonal Christmas display of light houses from around the country, ships, and the capital's landmark buildings all made out of plant material.  They also had model trains running throughout.  We all agreed it was defiantly worth the wait in line.

The Capital Christmas Tree

DC at sunset

The National Christmas tree

The White House at night

~ December 27, 2014 ~