Pennsylvania 2009

As Ian lays upstairs in bed repeating "Click Clack Moo," I am sitting here trying to remember all of the fabulous experiences the kids have had since I last posted.

First and foremost would be our trip to Pennsylvania. It was our first week-long vacation since before the kids were born and it was a raging success. We rented a cabin in the Poconos with the Gallagher clan and visited with the Pereses on the way there and back.

Even though we left DC at bedtime, the kids still talked most of the way to Nannie's house. As Eleanor started to nod off, Ian kept on going! Kevin and I made a pact to be quiet, to reinforce the sense of quiet time in the car. After a few minutes of Ian talking alone, with no response from us, he said "I'm sorry, Mama. I'm sorry, Dada." Priceless.

Napping in the car with passy and duckie

Likewise, with passy and blankie

When we got to Nannies house, she had a vast assortment of toddler toys for the kids to play with. She'd gotten a Dora play kitchen, a lawnmower, a rake, and some nylon tunnels to climb through. Plus, she's got a great back yard. Even though Nannie's mobility was still a little limited by her recent knee replacement surgery, cousin Shane was playing vigorously with the Ian and Eleanor. They were in heaven for the two days that we were there and felt crushed when we had to leave. Little did they know what they had in store...

Playing on Nannie's deck

Eleanor and Kevin in the tunnel

Fairview Lake was where we stayed. There were 17 of us spread across two houses. Both houses were mere yards from the lake, complete with Adirondack chairs, docks, boats, and ducks. The large lawn and the water were a big, natural playground for the kids - and a constant source of fear that they would fall in the water or find the busy country road on the other side of the lawn. Their 2.5 year-old cousin Gabriel and their 2 year-old cousin Maeva were exciting, but their older cousins Owen, Hugh and Finn really captured their attention. They were see-sawing, using big-kid swings, and dangling from monkey bars (with help) by the end of the vacation. And they even performed in the impromtu talent show - Ring Around the Rosey is a real croud pleaser if you don't pay attention to the lyrics!

The house

Hanging out lakeside

GiGi and PopPop and almost all of their beautiful grandchildren (see Owen's foot??)

Finding and throwing rocks


Surfer girl at the lake


Digging in the sand


Hiking with Maeva

On the way home, we stayed with PopPop and MomMom Perese. They prepared for Ian and Eleanor by inflating and filling their massive baby pool. And when the sun came out, we were all in that pool! As soon as the Pitners made an appearance, the babies were again absorbed by their big cousins. Ashley and Shane played with them in yard and colored with them on the back porch (where the kids did a number on the knick-knacks - so many fascinating little things that they couldn't keep their hands off of). We had a fabulous time but were ready to be back home.

Trying on PopPop's glasses

Eating yogurt with MomMom

Shane!