New york - week 12

We were happy to hear that Plem was going to stay a bit longer in New York!  We went for a drive around Lake George to show him around.

We ate lunch overlooking the lake.

Plem gave the kids quarters so that they could see around the lake.  Silly girls kept looking at me taking pictures of them!

We drove all along Lake George and stopped along a few scenic spots.

We even found a park and beach!

We spent more time at the pool!

This time Grandpa Plem threw the girls into the pool ;-)

Afternoons at the pool finally took a toll on Ella.  She took a 3 hour nap!

Just hanging out (or on) with Grandpa Plem ;-)

More pool days with friends!  The kids love practicing their jumps and always ask me to take pictures. They plan the jump they are all going to do, jump, swim over to me, look at each picture and laugh away!  Over and over again!

Isn't Olivia so cute?!

We went out for a nice dinner at the Olde Bryan Inn to celebrate our last few days with Grandpa Plem. Take a minute to read the history of this restaurant!

Ella started to get an earache (swimmers ear) and didn't feel up to swimming.  So, Plem stayed back in the apartment with her and Caleb.  I took Olivia to the pool and we were the only ones there.  Olivia had the pool to herself!

A final update on her poor finger.  We are praying her nail stays on...  yuckers.

When Grandpa Plem left, we didn't know what to do...  so, we headed back to Syracuse (the same mall we met Auntie Ade) to Dave & Buster's.  Chad had never been to Syracuse and this mall is huge!  We spent all day there and didn't even see all of it.

The car ride is about 2 1/2 hours, less than 2 if Chad drives ;-).  Long enough for the kiddos to nap!

After eating, the kids played game after game.  The girls favorite are the motorcycles.

This game is Caleb's favorite.  It is a great game for earning tickets so you can buy those cheap awesome prizes from the gift shop!

We found another carousel - in the mall!

We did a bit of shopping while the kids constantly complained, saying it was torture to shop.

Then they did this.

We ate dinner at P.F. Changs in the mall.  Olivia was happy to have her own big bowl of rice!

We finished our day by treating our already full bellies to cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory - also inside the mall.

Chad got the Godiva chocolate cheesecake.

Olivia got her own slice of Oreo cheesecake.

I got the red velvet cheesecake.  Yum!

Caleb and Ella shared a huge piece of chocolate cake.  No cheesecake for these crazies!

Then they all ate.  This is the quietest my kids have been.in.years.

We sure had fun with Grandpa Plem.  Our time is ticking away in New York...  so sad.

New york - week 11

This week we had a visitor - Grandpa Plem!  The kids were very excited to see him - and even more excited when they talked Grandpa Plem into swimming with them :-)

Olivia challenged him to a swimming race - and then another race...

Olivia thoughtfully wrapped a towel around her neck - and viola - a "tarf" was created!

She also said it could be called a "scowel."

This girl is so good with combining words.  One day we were driving in the car and I was a bit frustrated with the kids and their crazy behavior.  I began to explain that there is a difference between having fun and being annoying... and Olivia, without skipping a beat, said, "Mom, that would be funnoying!"

Even I had to laugh!

The kids loved Grandpa Plem's screen saver.  Although Ella kept asking where she was.  I told her she must have been taking a nap.

Here is another update on Olivia's finger that she smashed with a brick.  Not good, but getting better.

More pool days with Grandpa Plem.

And more races.

The kids have become really good friends with a group of kids here.  They all play so well together! Olivia is not in the picture because she was back in the apartment hanging out the Grandpa Plem.

This week we also celebrated Chad's 40th birthday!  40!  Old man alert!!

We blew up balloon after balloon.

Then Ella said, "I have an idea!"   ;-)

Actually, it was Caleb that had this brilliant idea - use the pump to blow up the balloons.  It worked!! Why didn't he suggest this 30 balloons ago?!

After all the balloons were done, the girls made balloon angels.  Like snow angels, but a lot less cold.

 

The kids helped decorate the apartment.

And patiently waited outside for Chad to come home.

When they saw his car, the rushed back inside and hid so that they could yell "surprise" when he walked in.  So sneaky!

Then we headed out to dinner.

While waiting for our table, Caleb practiced taking his mug shot.  Never know when/if this skill may come in handy.  I kid.

Here is the crew awaiting our dinner and show.

Here is Chad enjoying some birthday sake.

Plem was brave enough to try some too!

This was the first time Caleb had been to a restaurant like this so he was in awe.

Our chef entertainer asked if Caleb wanted to try some sake as well.  He called it "baby sake."  Caleb was a bit worried we let him have an adult drink... and then he said his sake tasted like Sprite ;-)

After the sake tasting, it was time to catch flying food in your mouth.  Caleb also tried this and caught a piece!  This is his reaction to what was in his mouth, after the excitement of catching it was over.  I told him it was a yummy vegetable and that didn't help.  It was zucchini and he spit it out.   I am proud of him for trying and catching it!

After a dinner filled with veggies, fried rice (white rice for the girls), steak, lobster, scallops, and chicken, we headed home to open presents and eat cupcakes!  The kids and I bought him a nice dress watch for work and Plem bought him a nice bottle of wine... which we all drank that night!

The kids made cards for Chad.

When the chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting covered with Hershey's chocolate kicked in, the kids took off their shirts and had a wresting match.  These kids are totes normal. 

Chad leaves for work very early in the morning.  One morning I woke up and found Olivia in my bed... other days it has been Caleb or Ella.  Sneaky kids!

Over the weekend, the boys took a trip to see the Saratoga Automobile Museum and the Saratoga Battlefield - but took zero pictures.  You can click on the links to learn about both places if you'd like to learn something.

While the boys were away, I asked the girls what they wanted to do for the day.  They wanted to go to Taco Bell and then watch a princess movie at home.  No movie theaters, no restaurants, no shopping, no Target for these girls.  What?!?!

So, we drove to Taco Bell and they ate in the car.  Like this.

That night Grandpa offered to babysit and Chad and I went out!  We ate and walked around the beautiful streets of downtown Saratoga Springs.

It sure was a fun week with Grandpa Plem!  So much fun, that he decided to stay longer!