Riding and Racing

We took our annual visit to the Plymouth Meeting Mall last month to ride the carousel and enjoy the fountain, and discovered a fun new activity called Slot Car Racing! The kids had a blast, including Rowan, who was old enough this year to play and participate in everything. We ended our visit with a stop at Chick-Fil-A––always a favorite.

Our first stop was the carousel––Allie's favorite activity! She looks forward to this all winter. Everyone chose their animal, and off we went!

Allie obviously liked this more than Silas, but at least he was willing to get on a horse tolerate the experience.

Rowan really wasn't sure what to make of this. He seemed to like it, but wasn't certain enough to give a big smile to the camera.

We let all three kids run around in the indoor play area for a while, where there are things to climb and slide on. Perfect for Rowan's level.

Silas had some directions for how everyone was to play on the equipment.

The fountain is exciting no matter how many times we see it. We managed to get the kids to pose for a quick picture, but mostly they were hanging over the edge watching the water swirl and squirt, and marveling at all the pennies on the bottom.

Silas and Allie had done Slot Car Racing once before, so when Nate set up their car, they knew just what to do. Silas was a cautious driver, but Allie was a lead thumb and kept crashing the car on the turn. She soon learned how to slow down around the curve and keep her car on the track.

Silas gave the car a gentle ride around the track.

To see photos from our mall visit from last year, click here.

Tunnel Play

The kids got a tunnel for Christmas from their Uncle Matt and Aunt Elise, and it has been a lot of fun to watch them play in it. One day while Allie and Rowan took turns crawling through, I took out the camera and snapped a few pictures.

A Summer's Day

Summer Flashback Series, Part Three

What do you get when you put together three kids, warm weather, and days that seem to stretch on too long? Summertime!

What about when you add in to the mix a new camera? Well, you get lots of pictures of kids just passing time around the house.

Allie and I would take turns feeding Rowan.
It was messy at first but her aim improved with practice.

Rowan at 8 months. He also answers to Row-bot, Row-row and Bubba.

After Rowan learned to crawl in June, his favorite place
to go was under the table. He eventually learned
how to duck his head when he went under the chair.

Trying on Silas' hat

Opening presents on Silas' 6th birthday

Allie and Silas had to try out Silas' new Curious George sheets

Did I mention that Silas LOVES birthdays? He often pages through
our calendar, pointing out all the different birthdays in the family
(I drew balloons on them so he can easily find them). 

We got a friendly visitor one day in the backyard.
Not sure where he came from, and we haven't seen him since!

Rowan was just learning how to pull himself up to stand.
Here he's excited to use Silas' chair as a support.

Allie learned how to push Rowan in the tree swing.

Nana joined us at some of the Concert Sundaes in the park. We went
to the outdoor concerts almost every week over the summer.

Taking a nap outdoors is a great summer pastime, as Allie discovered.

Snow Play II

The kids got to have a playful snowball fight with our friends and neighbors down the street during the warmish weather this past Sunday. The kids and Nate had a blast! Even Rowan participated––as a spectator, of course.

Rowan's first ride in the jogging stroller! 

Allie was a lean, pink, snow-balling machine!

It was a free for all, with five kids hurling chunks of snow at each other.

Rowans and I watched the action
from a safe distance away. 

Allie survived unharmed,
but was hungry and cold by the end of the battle.

The short walk up the hill back to our house
was enough to put this little guy out cold.

Snow Play I

Snow is more fun when you can play in it! 

After many, many hours of snow plowing, shoveling and scraping this month, we finally got some decent weather that allowed the kids to go out and experience the snow rather than just watch it from the window. These photos are from last weekend after another freshly-fallen snow (upon many layers of previously-fallen snow).

Silas makes his own path in the snow