A is for apple

This last Saturday the kids, Hava and I went to pick apples at Simmons Farm just south of us. We had such a good time and brought home about a bushel of Golden Delicious and Empire Apples. Unfortunately the battery for my camera died after the above picture was taken. This also happened to be the 1st picture. The picture does pretty much sum our trip up though. We picked and ate apples...how is that for fun?

Some of our beautiful apples. Zac says they taste way better then the ones from the store. I told him it was the sweat from when we were picking them. It was hot on Saturday.

Made this pie yesterday with our fresh apples.

pittsburgh zoo

Thursday Andrew and I braved the 50 degree weather and made our first visit to the Pittsburgh Zoo. I have to admit I wasn't looking forward to the experience. In the past visits to the zoo have involved sweating, tired legs, not seeing any animals, and more sweat. This visit was a whole different experience. We saw every animal, we weren't tired from too much walking, and because of the cold weather we didn't sweat at all. I am now convinced that the Pittsburgh Zoo, although small, is my favorite zoo. Andrew and I had a blast seeing all the animals up close. The design of each enclosure is done in such a way that one can see that animals. Yet another winning experience here in Pittsburgh.

We actually got to hear the lion roar! It was amazing. Andrew said it sounded like he was burping.

This one is my favorite. Don't they look like they are hugging?

Ahhh...the family portrait. They must be trying to get it done early this year.

When we entered the penguin enclosure Andrew said, "Mom, I think the penguins are sad." Why, I asked. "Because they can't dance in there." We definitely have watched too much Happy Feet in this house.

happy rosh hashana part 3

Outside the Science Center is the USS Requin, a submarine that was in service during the Cold War. The kids loved it. They thought they put in all the "small" doors just for them. We actually went through twice...

Yes, the fountain in the back ground is pink. They turned the water pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The kids played a whole pretend game of checkers while we were in the galley - pretend because the pieces were glued down. They took every move very seriously.

Can you believe that 80 grown men lived on this submarine at a time?

Close quarters - and these are for the officers.

happy rosh hashanan part 2

Just some good looking kids...

happy rosh hashanah!

Because a large portion of our community is Jewish, Anne had the day off on Tuesday for Rosh Hashanah the "Jewish New Year" We were just excited to sleep in on a Tuesday. After a much needed sleep-in I asked the kids what they would like to do. SCIENCE CENTER was the loud cry. So off we went.

The kids previously tried this spinner at Sports Works (oops forgot to post about that). They love being dizzy. I don't get that.

paper airplane

Today Andrew asked me for a piece of paper. This conversation followed:

Me: "What for?"

Andrew: "When Daddy gets home he is going to make me a new paper jet."

Me: " I can make you one."

Andrew: "No, just Daddy can make paper jets."

My response to this was to turn to Google. Ten minutes later I had made him the "coolest" paper jet ever. Shortly there after we went to pick up Anne from school. Andrew was flying his plane around. One mom asked me where I got it. One dad told me that it was a sweet plane. So Andrew....mommy can make paper jets too.

totally WICKED!

Anne and I just had the most wonderful evening. We got to go see WICKED! Not only did we get to see Wicked but we got to see it from the front row. Let me just say that it was amazing. I don't know if I will ever be able to sit far away again. We were spoiled. Let me just give a huge thanks to Nicole and Tyler who told us of this fabulous offer. For every show they have here they offer a certain number of front row tickets for just $25. Anyone can come two hours before the show starts and enter their names into this lottery. If you win you can buy the seats, if not then you are out nothing. Well we went last Friday and tried but unfortunately didn't get in. We were happy to see that Hava and Brigg did get tickets though! Anne and I tried again tonight and this time Anne also entered her name in. You should have felt Anne's little heart as we waited for the names to be called. She was so nervous we wouldn't get picked. Well she must have had luck with her, Anne's name was second to be pulled out of the hat. She was so excited, I thought she would burst. So a few hours later there we were front row, best seats in the house. Everything was so amazing. The theatre, the costumes, the set, the music. I could go on and on. Seeing this musical really took me back. I actually missed all those musicals I was in in high school. Anne and I both decided this wouldn't be our last musical. Plus we saw that "Fiddler on the Roof" is coming in November....now that would be fun.

the ball game

Tonight was the last home game for the Pirates. But since we don't do baseball on Sundays we went to a the game last night. All the regular tickets were sold out but the guy at the ticket window gave us a "deal" Standing tickets for just $4...cheaper than a movie! I was a bit worried that standing wouldn't work out with the kids but we managed to find a whole row in the benches section that wasn't occupied. It was fun. The kids loved cheering for the Pirates and running up and down the row. We can't wait until next year for more ball games!

We parked in the city then walked over to PNC Park. I love all the bridges in Pittsburgh!

saturday in the park...

Saturday we attended a book fair in the park. They had reading corners, craft booths and dogs for the kids to pet. It would have been the perfect day had the rain not poured down upon us. Lucky for us we had our umbrellas. So we ran for the car and headed over to the Children's Museum. Always fun to be had there.

shivers

I am sitting here at the computer and I realized I was cold. No air conditioner is running, no fans are turning. Could fall really be here?