Thompson Visit / 101 Dalmations

Beth's parents came to visit us for several days. The timing was right because Logan and Leif's 5th grade play, 101 Dalmations, was during their stay. Leif was Roger, the dalmations owner, and Logan was the 1st puppy, Spot. My parents and grandparents came to see the play as well.

Before the play...



and after...

We also took the Thompson's to the Philadelphia Zoo...

My rug is better than yours!!

Dogwood Festival

The annual Dogwood Festival came and went.... Blah...

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!!!


Sweet bike! Happy Mothers Day B!

Kids In The Woods 2009

We took the 4th grade class at Barkley Elementary to Ridley Creek State Park for an outdoor education workshop we call "Kids in the Woods". This was the 2nd year of the Forest Service funded trip. The 86 students were split into 4 'tribes' using colored handkerchiefs. The groups then moved through the 5 different activities and had lunch at a picnic area. The kids learned a lot about trees, water, wildlife, and ecology, but the main goal of the field trip was just to take the kids outside in a natural setting and get them interested in nature...


We found morel mushrooms...


and beetle grubs...

Ashley Visit/Philadelphia Rock Gym

Ashley came up for visit...


We took the kids to climb at PRG. After a quick belay lesson...


The kids really had fun climbing...

Loopfest 2009

We lucked out with the weather again for Loopfest...


Will joined us along with his dog, Dewey...


He photshopped a picture of us in the canoe...


Spring is mating season!...

My chair is better than yours!!

Chester County Songfest

Leif was chosen to sing in a county-level chorus. He ended up standing next to a friend of his from his old school in Brookhaven...

Kade Lost a Front Tooth

Philadelphia Zoo

Timmy joined us for a trip to the zoo...

The rainforest carousel is a new addition...

It was feeding time when we visited the giant river otters...

Crazy Hair Day

Whitetail

We went skiing with the Parkers. Thanks for the tickets Mom and Dad!!!


We stopped at the Parkers house on the way to home to let the cousins hang out. It is great to see them playing together...


We took a little hike at a wildlife refuge...

Snow in Phoenixiville!!

We brought the snow home with us!! The forecast was calling for an inch or less but we suddenly had 5 or 6 inches on the ground. The snow in WV was too dry for snowman making so Kade was very excited that we were able to make one here at home...

Morgantown

The boys have been missing 'real' snow the last couple years. We decided to make a trip to Morgantown to go to the toboggan festival at Chestnut Ridge...

and visit old friends. Thanks so much Nadine for letting us stay at your house!! Here are all the old neighborhood kids together: Kade, Logan, Abraham, Isaac, Abigail, Silas, Connor, Agnes, and Leif...

Happy New Year!

The Parkers came up to celebrate New Years. We all toasted with sparkling juices to bring in 2009...


On the cold, first morning of 2009 we took a walk around Valley Forge. Everything was closed for the holiday but we saw George Washington's house...



and lots of soldier cabins...