Some of our fall adventures

Here are a few recent photos from our adventures at the end of summer and early fall.  I started this post weeks ago, but never finished it or got it uploaded, so here it is now.  

These were taken at a local park.  Kevin was at a basketball tournament so the kids and I went to park.  I chose a new one kinda far from our house hoping to get in a work out while pushing them in our Bob.  Jack insisted on riding in the wagon instead so my workout was all about the arms.  Totally worth it though as we had the fenced in tot lot all to ourselves and I got some great shots!

A new addition to our driveway so that Jack can get some early practice in - thanks Uncle Jim. He made this shot!!!

We were able to trial a loaner iPAD to use with Hope's communication therapy.  Guess who was a HUGE fan?  When she could get access to it, Hope was also a fan. 

 We were lucky to get a visit from my old friends Bridget and Dave and their new addition Aaron.  Here's the best photo I got of all the kids together.  No photos of the adults as usual . . .

While they were here, we visited the hippos at the aquarium who were in a posing mode. 

We also said hi to the sharks . . .

 

And took cute photos with Daddy.

 

Who's ready for football season, I am???

One of Hope's new pull up spots.  :-)

 Just a normal dinner at our house . . .

 Remember our bed photos from the past (click here, here, and here) . . . look at my babies now!!!

 Attempt #9987 for a cute shot of both of the twins.  Thank you Jack. 

 A recent visit to the Please Touch Museum with my friend Gaby really highlighted to me all the progress Hope is making as she was able to interact and enjoy so much more of the exhibits on this visit compared to our last one 3 months prior.

Standing and playing at the water table

Both kids happily riding the carousel

 Driving the construction vehicle with Mommy

 Driving a scooter

 Pushing a shopping cart

 Driving the Septa bus

I've talked a bit about my farm share veggie box.  One week in August, I decided to add to my share with 25 lbs of roma tomatoes . . .

which I turned into these. 

My thought process was that I would have tomatoes to cook with all winter, but honestly I've been going through my jarred tomatoes so fast that I'm almost out and I think I may have to can 50 lbs next year.  It was really easy to can them despite the time commitment.  If anyone wants a link to the recipe, let me know.

My two stars!

 

 I will save this one to show Jack when he is complaining about practicing for his piano lessons.  

 

The first part of this video was taken on Aug 26 just a few days after we picked up Hope's gait trainer.  The second half was taken the other night in a parking lot of a local park.  Look at her go!!!

I have a bunch of new great photos, but those will have to wait until my next post.  Stay tuned!!!  XOXOXO

One final thing . . . Chase is giving away over 5 million dollars in grants to the charities that receive the most votes in the Chase Community Giving Program.  Everyone (with a facebook account) gets two votes.  If you haven't already voted for worthy charities, I ask that you cast your votes for the Angelman Syndrome Foundation and the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST).  Today is the last day (Sept. 19th) so please click on the links below now.  Thanks!

VOTE here for ASF 

VOTE here for FAST

Amish country

Last weekend we took a mini vacation to Lancaster County PA which is about 90 min west of Philadelphia.  Our weekly veggie box comes from Lancaster and we'd been invited to a farm share potluck at one of the member farms.  Also, Kevin's parents wanted to take the entire family to Dutch Wonderland (kid themed amusement park near Lancaster).  So we combined the two events and made a weekend out of it.

The hotel we were staying at had a very nice pool and an indoor water park for kids.  Hope has recently started having physical therapy sessions at a local pool a couple times a month and we've learned that time spent in the water is really good for her.  She seems to babble more when in the water and loves it.  Jack also loves swimming and we are thinking of enrolling him in swim classes this fall.  So the great pool was a major selling point for me on our weekend visit to Amish country!  How my life has reverted back to my childhood and when vacations were all about hotel pools!

Another major selling point to visiting Lancaster was driving around to find one of the many covered bridges in the area . . .

and gawking at the height of the corn and the rolling hills, making Kevin look at this farm and that silo and over all just humoring me.

Friday night, Dinner was a Pennsylvania Dutch family feast at Plain N' Fancy farm.  Here dinners are served family style at long tables where you sit with other diners.  It was quite a feast and rather delicious.  The other family at our table also had two year old boy/girl twins so we fit together nicely.  Jack had his first chicken leg whereas Hope was a big fan of the mashed potatoes and ice cream.  

Saturday was the picnic at the CSA farm.  Many of the member farms in our co-op are Amish as was Organic Willow Acres where the picnic was held.  It was a mix of CSA members like us and Amish farmers and their families.  We got to check out the farm complete with horses, kittens, goats, dogs, cows, and hogs, and see some of the crops growing in the field.  It was very cool and I hope that this is something we continue to do as the kids get older and can appreciate it even more.  We aren't allowed to take photos of the Amish so I cannot share photos of the farmers or their children who were quite cute in their handmade dresses and suspenders.  I was allowed to take some shots of the farmland and their buggies. 





After a morning swim Sunday, we ventured off to Dutch Wonderland with Kevin's parents and his brother's family.  DW is a nice amusement park which is geared more towards younger kids than most parks and we had a great time. 

Jack rode a bunch of different rides and even rode with his sister on the flying (very tame) pandas!  It was Hope's first ride without parents which had us (and Grandmom!) a little nervous, but luckily she did great and had a blast!

 Pony rides - Hope's first!  Jack's second, he looks like a pro!
 


Grandkids photo attempts . . . notice the 5th grandchild who snuck in picture 2.

a summer of progress

I've been meaning to write this post for awhile as its been an eventful summer for the Hopester.

In mid June, she started doing this . . .

And within days, she was self-feeding as if she'd been doing it for months.  The video above brought Hope's occupational therapist to tears.  Peggy is like me and cries easily, but I hope you can appreciate how much this milestone means to all of us.  A few days after I took the video, she ate a half of canister of Gerber cheese poofs and looked up at me with a look mixed with glee and satisfaction.

On my birthday, Hope crawled over to the couch I was sitting on, pulled herself to stand on the side of the couch and then crawled up and sat down next me.  All on her own!  A pretty great birthday present, if you ask me. 

In August, we got these . . .

which are pretty sweet pink sneakers with special leg braces to keep Hope's ankle at a 90 degree angle forcing her to put more weight on her legs/feet.  Behind the braces is a gait trainer which is another name for a walker that is pulled from behind.  Hope is tolerating wearing her braces well and we are working to get her used to the walker.  I cannot wait to see her cruising around the house and making strides towards walking.

As a mom of twins, I have to be fair and at least mention some of my son's recent strides.  Kevin and I marvel at our little man and all of the things he says and already knows.  Just because his developments are occurring on a more a typical schedule does not make them any less amazing to us.

We have a new love in our house . . .

It's Thomas the train and friends!  No surprise, they get lined up (by Jack) in a similar fashion to our old Sesame street friends.

Both Dad and Granddad are quite a fan of the new train table . . .

as is Jack, of course.















Many thanks to Molly and Reilly for the huge box of Thomas trains and to the mom from my multiples club for the very affordable used train table.

Granted a new found love for Thomas and Friends is not really an accomplishment, but I mention it just as a lead in to my next video which I captured of Jack while hiding behind the refrigerator. This is one of those "look and find" books (much easier version of Where's Waldo) where you are try find the items in the panel within the picture.  Here, Jack decided to read and find things on his own. 

Where did June go?

Memorial Day - July 4th was a bit of a whirlwind in our house with two wedding trips, a trip to Baltimore, Father's Day, and all sorts of other stuff in between.  I picked out these photos before our Rockport trip, but a blog post was never formed before our vacation.  So I apologize for being out of order, but here's some highlights from that whirlwind of a month. 

 This bride was first and I traveled solo to California to celebrate the nuptials of Hillary and Nick.  It was a beautiful wedding with a very beautiful bride in the amazing setting of Denner Vineyards in Paso Robles, California (Central Coast). 

Here she is at the reception with Waldo who joined in on the fun!

Here I am with my Colby girls.  We do clean up nice!

   

 After California, the next weekend we went as a family down to Baltimore  to see the Phillies play the Orioles.  (This was before our household had given up on baseball for the year.)   It was a fun quick trip despite the heat and Hope not being a huge fan of the crowds at the stadium.  

Here's Jack at the stadium

  

Here we are the next day at the National Aquarium waiting for the dolphin show to start.  Jack work his Crabby outfit in honor of Maryland. 

 

The next couple weekends were home thankfully but still jam packed.  

This is a common pose for Jack.  He loves wearing our shoes around the house.  It's impressive that he's mastered shuffling around in them.  This one is of him in my running shoes.  He has even figured out flip flops.

The best of my attempted Father's Day shots.  :-)

Here's Jack and Cousin Abby at a Father's Day BBQ.  I loved how they ended up sitting together on the same side of the kiddy picnic table.  Jack really enjoyed the cake and tried to eat some of Abby's off her plate once he polished off all of his. 

I know we always post tons of pictures of the twins at the park, but they always make the cutest faces while swinging!

This particular park day was fun as Jack was feeling very independent!  He did laps of climbing up the stairs, walking across the bridge, and sliding down the slide.  All on his own!  Over and over again!

A few shots from a couple trips to the zoo.  We have a year pass and live very close so it is nice to be able to go often and for short visits to keep everybody happy!

Some kissing turtles . . .

Jack is really getting interested in the animals he sees.  Here he is checking out the orangutans. 

My dad and I met at the zoo in matching outfits.  Aren't we cute???

Here's Granddad saying hello to the young giraffe

Hope loves her backpack at the zoo



She also loves it for walks.  How cute is that face???

If you ask me, these two are pretty cute, too

This is how he likes to wear hats . . . I try to explain that he is missing the scenery on said walks, but he is determined. 


And finally, June was rounded out with my second beautiful Colby bride.  Here is Carrie with her Dad about to marry Jay in DC on the roof terrace of the Newseum. 

There was a lot of fun at this wedding.  Those of you who have access to my facebook photos have seen some of them already posted... 

Here's a great one of Kevin and me with the Capitol behind us.

And an awesome one of the girls (minus the bride). 

Good times (perhaps a little too good) were had by all!  This was the last Colby wedding of our group [hopefully ;)] so we went out strong.  Yay!!!

Phew . . . I am tired just recaping all of that fun.  Now that our vacation is over, I think the summer will be a little quieter with just a couple weekend trips planned through Labor Day.  I'll be working and Kevin will be off.  But having him off always makes me feel like I am also on vacation as things are just a lot easier with Kevin having more free time.  I am sure there will be plenty of photos taken and stories to be told, so if you haven't already, please remember to subscribe to the blog feeds above.  (Just enter your email address at the top right.)

XOXOXO to all!