Beach Day!

We made it to California and took our first opportunity to get the beach. The day was PERFECT! Kyle LOVED the sand. He was entertained all day long.

This is my child. She is making a sand angel.

Abby filled the bucket up with sand and water and Kyle loved being able to put sand and water on his head.

Burying the girls in the sand has become a tradition. I don't have any idea why they like it but they do and it keeps them happy.

The sun is WAY bright!

Wearing Grandpas safety glasses.

Cute pic!

He loved sitting in this inter tube.

This was the first of many beach trips and we could not be happier!

Fun with Friends

We made it to California and the drive went very well. I really LOVE my kids!!! They were troopers. They ate lots of snacks, read lots of books, played lots of games, drew lots of pictures, listened to lots of Taylor Swift and High School Musical, and only cried or whined a little. Kyle really liked holding the map book. He also liked playing with his shoelaces and spinning the wheels on his cars. After our stop in St Louis we made it to Denver and stayed in a hotel there. It was really nice to be away from the humidity and back in the mountains again.

The next day we headed to Grand Junction to have lunch with our friends the Barnhursts. The kids picked up right up where they left off and Emma asked me as soon as we got in the car to leave when we were coming back. It was so fun to see Megan and Eric and their beautiful new home.

After lunch we headed to Fairview Utah to spend the night with our friends the Wilsons. The kids were SOOO excited to see each other. It had only been two weeks since they had seen each other but you would think that it had been an eternity. They had so much fun jumping on the tramp and just being crazy.

How could you not love these faces?

After spending the night in Fairview we headed to Vegas to stay with our first friends in Philly the Claytons. We also got to see the Sanders who left Philly after our first year. The kids picked up right where they had left off and it was so fun to visit with Angie, Brett and Holly. We are so glad that we are only four hours away instead of all the way across the country.

After dinner we headed to Yogurt land where we endured some funny looks and stares as we overtook half the store with our crazy bunch but the yogurt was worth it.

While we were in Vegas Emma made a new best friend. When we were leaving I told the girls to go give their friends a hug and Emma went straight to Josie and gave her a big hug. Hopefully there will be a dog of her own in the future. We had a great time visiting with all of our friend and are so grateful that they were all so willing to open their homes to us and made our journey across the country so much more enjoyable.

Porter Party

One our way west we got to spend time with Trevor's sister Heather and family in St Louis. It had been three years since we had been together so it was so fun to let the kids play, eat good food, play lots of games and just hang out and enjoy good company. The weather was HOT and MUGGY so we got to spend lots of time outside in the sprinkler. Kyle did not like the sprinkler but he liked holding the hose.

Heather bought a really cool sprinkler and the kids loved it.

I love this picture. I don't know why I can't get it to rotate.

Abby decided that she was cold and wrapped herself up like a burrito to get warm.

Posing for the camera.

I can't wait until he know how to really use these.

Fun at the park trying to stay in the shade.

The kids wanted in on the game playing too. We played Monopoly junior but don't be fooled it takes almost as long as the original. We had lots of fun and are going to make sure that it is not another three years before we get together again.

Places and Faces

This post probably won't mean anything to anyone but me but I had to include just a small sampling of the things that I will miss.Mango water ice...i am drooling

Friendly's ice cream. My waist line is probably glad that I can't get it anymore.

Countless hours of free entertainment. Although I still don't know why they call it the FREE library. I have never been in one that you had to pay.

My intro to the public school system. Although it was not all positive it was a good experience.

The YMCA. I had to work off the ice cream somewhere.

Although the rows still make me claustrophobic I grew to appreciate this store.

Trevor was in charge of all dental visits and to be honest this place gave me the creeps.

Secret pretzels. I am only sad that I discovered the cinnamon variety just a couple of months ago.

Many hours spent here.

Boat house row. I wish I could have gotten a picture of it at night.

Great sky line!

Thanks to the people in this building Kyle can see.

I got to look at the side of this building for eight weeks while I was in the hospital.

The entrance to the hospital that we spent almost four months of our time in Philly.

Mr Jim! My kids will miss him but I think that he was just as sad as them.

Dr Klock is one of the best doctors we have had the privilege to meet. I was so glad that she took such good care of my kiddos.

Ms Ruby we will miss you!

Of course I could not leave the dental school out. We are glad to be done but Philly has become a part of us and we will miss it!

Last Day of School

Emma and Abby had their last day of school a few weeks early since we were heading to California. Their teachers were nice enough to let me come in and snap some pictures and bring treats to say goodbye. This is Emma's class. They were so sweet and made Emma a card with all of their names in it.

Here is Emma with her buddy Sasha. These two have been in the same class since Kindergarten and have had lots of fun together.

This is Miss Riley. She took over Emma's class in January when her other teacher had surgery. She was very sweet and put together a journal and highlighter for Emma to use on our trip west.

She also made sure that Emma got her gold medal for reading 300 books. Here is Abby with Miss Mills and Miss Carla. These two women are amazing! Miss Mills was in charge of all the kids food and she could get Abby to eat anything including broccoli. Miss Carla was instrumental in helping Abby adjust to every day school. Abby loved them both and so did Kyle!

This is Ms Magdovitz. She was Abby's pre-K teacher and we loved her. She did an amazing job and she will be missed.