Philly trip!!

The morning after our eventful Easter we headed out to Philly.  We drove with Bob (the one I’m not allowed to call grandfather) and stayed with great-grandmom Selma, or GG. 

Not the greatest pic, but both kids sleeping in my bed in the morning.

Headed out!  The trip went pretty well.  I was VERY nervous about traveling with both kids for the first time in quite awhile (since Nora was 1 month old), but the whole thing went amazingly well.

Sad these pictures are so washed out, but our arrival!  Selma looking as beautiful and vibrant as ever; always ready to cuddle Nora and chat with Joseph.

Nora lounging on bob.  She has always taken a nap around 9 AM which is a bit difficult, since most of the world is starting their day then.

Bob bought this little hat for Nora, but Joseph got a kick out of wearing it too!

Outside a yummy restaurant.  We do A LOT of restaurant-ing when in visiting GG.

Bob tried so hard to get a good pic of me, Joseph, and Nora this trip, and I am pretty sure it never worked out.  Joseph was not very cooperative with photo ops.  And Bob never really figured out how to take pictures with my phone.  Oh well!

He did love pushing Nora in her stroller (we don’t use strollers too much out here in the country, especially in the winter).  He also loved the elevators at Selma’s.

All tired out.

Visiting with Bob’s old friend and his family…who happens to have a grandbaby the same age as Nora!

Checking each other out

Cutie.  With a lot of drool.

Sightseeing in town.

Joseph was very into looking for grafiti

Playing at the old playground Bob and I both used as children

Poor Bob

Eating at our old favorite Hymie’s—not a great picture, but always a good time and yummy food.  Only problem was our waitress’ t-shirt.  It read “I got hebrew symbol at Hymie’s”  So of course Joseph asked her what it meant.  She told him it wasn't appropriate and whispered it in my ear (“I got high at Hymie’s.”)  I told Joseph it meant “I got happy at Hymie’s” but he didn’t believe me.  He pestered us for pretty much the rest of the trip about this. 

After Hymie’s Nora fell asleep in the car so GG and Joseph went by themselves to a bookstore for Joseph to pick out some birthday presents.  Again, my photo documentation isn’t great, but it was very cute. 

Joseph and Bob reading the dictionary.

Making coffee and hot chocolate. They had these little Keurig coffee stations throughout the retirement community and this was one of Joseph’s favorite activities.

Breaking a wishbone

Watching real tv!

A trip to the zoo, starting out with a grate made by our old family ironworks-Creswell (the building in which this company operated is just now in the process of selling)

Posing

Not so into waiting for a family pic

The gorillas are always one of our favorites

What an awesome grampa

The orangutan didn’t want to play

After a whole day at the zoo, she finally passed out while we were in the gift shop getting ready to go,  Stinker.

Visiting Bob’s childhood friend Sally, who is a music teacher.  Joseph LOVES a good drum set.

Her daughter Kimmie is lots of fun.  No pictures of it, but Kimmie and Joseph spent most of their time running around the neighborhood, which is a novel idea for Joseph since we don’t live in that kind of neighborhood.

At the museum at Valley Forgo.  Joseph completed a couple activities for which he received a National Park Junior Ranger badge.  He thought that was quite cool.

Picnic by the river at Valley Forge. Beautiful picnic spot.

Checking out the sleeping cabins.

Examining them and determining they are definitely recreations.  Kind of a disappointment for those of us who initially believed they were the real deal (Joseph and I).

Who really didn’t want to pose for a picture, again?

Playing with GG. 

Beautiful view out her window

Just adorable.

Her crinkly little smile

Walking the halls

Oh Waverly (Selma’s retirement community).  So beautiful.  This is the old mansion, the old part of the community and the place where Joseph, Nora, and I stayed.  Selma’s apartment is in one of the many newer additions.

Climbing the walls.

Trying to pose.  Not working out.

A million pictures with the beautiful blooming trees.

The younger crowd always gets a lot of attention here (since you have to be 65 to move in).  Apparently a number of people watched us out their windows and were impressed with these crazy siblings. Joseph rained blossoms down on Nora and she loved it!

Graffiti hunting again.

Philly cheese steaks from our favorite: Mamas.

Packing up to head home.

A picture of our room.  We just LOVE staying at Waverly.

Trying again for a family pic before we headed off.  We left nice and early, made amazing time, and had a great ride home.  We hit our third state by 8 am and were home by lunch.  Thanks so much to Bob and Selma (and Nora and Joseph) for a really enjoyable trip.  All my worrying was a total waist.