Labor Day

We didn't have any lofty plans for Labor Day this year... just little things each day.  Friday, we packed up a UHaul with Aunt Torie's things that had been living in our garage.  Saturday, we moved Aunt Torie into her new place!  We are very excited for Torie to be living so close... at least for the next year!

Sunday, we took a family trip to the Susquehanna State Park - which ended in an epic fight in the car between Laura and Gavin.  As a parent, every now and then you get a glimpse of yourself through the mirror of your children.  This fight was as hilarious as it was eye-opening...  I don't remember what started the fight, and I doubt Laura and Gavin remembered even while they were fighting.  What sticks in my mind was the cacophony of screaming, Laura in her carseat and Gavin in his, with Paul staring in shock, while Nate and I laughed our heads off in the front seat.

Laura was screaming: I'm done!  Done.  I'm just done!  I'm done with you, Gavin!  I'm DOOOOOONE!

While Gavin was screaming: Stop it!  Stop it!  Stop it!  Stop it!  Stop it!

Nate was asking: Do I really yell at them to stop it that often?

While I was asking: Do I really proclaim my done-ness that often?

Car fight and over-tiredness aside, it was a great first trip to Susquehanna - we'll definitely be going back.

On Monday, we decided to brave over-tired children and take them to the last home Aberdeen Ironbirds game of the season.  It's such a small, fun little ballpark!  We had a great (though very hot) time.  Another thing in our new area we plan to do again!  Not the most exciting of long weekends, but it was so nice to spend time, just us five.


Also, this guy is just aching to crawl!:


This guy is getting really great at puzzles:


And this girl, who is so close to reading, is learning to beat Daddy at chess:

The Big Easy

I'm a well traveled little guy... Just before my 6 month birthday, I flew to The Big Easy (New Orleans, LA) with Mom and Dad for Dad's big Executive Council meeting.  None of us had ever been to NOLA before.  Mom was a little nervous since it's supposed to be such a crazy town, but Dad and I were excited!  As it turns out, we all loved it.  I was little hot at times, but we just popped into stores to cool off in the a/c as much as needed.  Mom got to see one of her good friends from college, who was a fabulous tour guide - thanks, Maeve!  Dad got to have a lot of fun with his colleagues. 

We all ate really, really well.  Here's the list Mom kept on her phone of all the amazing food:

Saturday:

Lunch at Mr. B's Bistro

Chicken & Andouille Gumbo

Duck spring rolls

Seafood Gumbo

Jambalaya

Dinner at Port of Call

Hamburger

Baked potatoes (aka: the only two things on their menu!)

Sunday:

Breakfast at Cafe du Monde

Beignets!  I got to have some powdered sugar!

Jazz Brunch on the Steamboat Natchez

Ham

Creamed spinach

Grits

Egg soufflé

Seafood Gumbo

Beignets

NYL Dinner

Brisket

Veggie jambalaya 

And lots more than Mom didn't write down...

Late night at Daisy Dukes

Fried green tomato po'boy

Alligator sausage po'boy

Monday:

Breakfast at The Grill

Eggs, hash browns

Lunch at Mothers Next Door

Ferdi po'boys

Red beans and rice

Gumbo

Dinner at Coop's (Just Dad, as Mom and I had to fly home)

Rabbit and sausage jambalaya 

And here are pictures from the trip!  When can we go back!

Linvilla

Mom stayed home from work on a hot Thursday in August so she could take us to Linvilla Orchards with our PA cousins, and our friends Ms. Becky and her kids.  It was a HOT day, but we had a grand time on the playground, picnicking, and picking peaches, corn, and strawberries!  I think Gavin ate more "stahbies" than he brought home... but to be fair, he did carefully place each berry in his container before popping it in his mouth.  I on the other hand, studiously selected each strawberry before carefully placing it in my berry box to take home.  Here are pictures from the day!  (PS - leave it to Gavin to find a wagon to ride in!)

Grandma's House + Bikes

Mid-August, we had a weekend with not too much to do.  So we packed up our suits and went to Grandma's!  Some cousins were there, and Aunt Liz brought a pinata.  She filled it with confetti and candy - we needed all of that badly!  I really loved picking up the confetti, and had more confetti than candy in my bag.  Laura definitely focused on the candy... though she chose a few pieces of confetti, too.



All summer, we're also been spending a lot of time in the driveway on our bikes!  Laura's getting really brave on her big girl (with training wheels) two-wheeler.  She's even ridden to the end of the driveway and into the cul-de-sac - down the little hill!!  I love the trike, but I try to sneak onto Laura's bike when she's not looking.