Visiting Pat, Carrie and Baby Joey

While Joshua endured the lack of heat for an extra day, Alma and I had a great time visiting Pat, Carrie and their five month-old son, who easily holds the crown for the cutest baby!

We spent the week enjoying another trick-or-treat night, strolling through the Air and Space Museum, visiting a great farm/petting zoo, eating good foods and playing in the park.  We are so blessed to have such awesome friends and a great visit.

Space Shuttle Endure

At the farm

First swing ride

The impossibly handsome family

Uncle "SOT!"

{Visiting the piglets at the farm where we picked our own pumpkins.}

Godfather Scott visited last weekend and Alma had a blast.  It was so fun to watch them bond.  We are so blessed to have Scott as a good friend and future mentor for Alma.

{Playing Angry Birds on Scott's ipod; She could not have laughed harder.}

Hawk Mountain

 Today Alma and I ventured to the Hawk Mountain Bird Sanctuary for a hike.  What a great place!  While we enjoyed a snack of pretzels, Alma enjoyed watching birds at the bird feeders outside the visitor center.

 After a mile of snowy, icy and somewhat slippery hiking, we made it to a great lookout where we snapped this picture.  A little windy so Alma hid behind my back.  It's so funny to hike with her because if I pause to rest or navigate the route she starts kicking her legs like I'm a horse who needs to "giddy up!"

It is sad to say but even though the hike was wonderful, the best part of the day might have been the all-you-can-eat pizza place we found on the way home.  I'm still stuffed.  And Alma loved dancing to the music from the video games from the arcade. 

Crayola Factory

While Auntie Kate was visiting, we ventured out to the Crayola Factory.  What a great place for kiddos of all ages.  Alma especially liked the block-building section, the ball conveyor belt, the steps (give her a break, she's barely a toddler) and watching all of the older kids play. 

Joshua liked the Canal Museum where he was yolked.  And we all had a laugh with the clear glass wall where we could supplement each other's faces.  I think I look lovely with a soul patch!

Hooray for Crayola Factory!  And hooray for the fact that it is in Easton, just one town away.  I have a feeling that Alma and I are going be spend many happy afternoons there.

Auntie Kate!

 Kate visited us this weekend.  It is always so wonderful to see her.  We've been best friends since 6th grade, through all these years (and Shakespeare Troupe -- as shown in the old newspaper clipping below!) and so many changes in life.  It is so awesome to begin to introduce my daughter to the fun that "Aunt Kate" brings to any gathering!

Days of Christmas: Auntie Emily

During our trip to Central Oregon, Alma got to meet and fall in love with her Auntie Emily. 

Camden Aquarium

The day before Alma's birthday we went to the Camden Aquarium with our best mama friends.  Seeing these great women and their kiddos is one of my favorite things to do!  I'm so blessed to have them in my life.    Plus, we saw a scubba diving Santa which was so neat!  Watch out, Santa, there's a shark!!

Nana and Padre's Visit

Alma schooling my parents in the art of touch and feel board books.

Scott's visit (cont.)

More from Scott's fun visit!

 Cause why wouldn't you put the baby in a pumpkin?  Don't they come from cabbage anyway?

Update: Only two weeks later and the pumpkins look like this. We learned our lesson (again) from carving too early when the weather is too warm.  Bummer.

Thailand Reunion

The weekend after we moved we attended an informal reunion of folks I studied abroad with in Thailand.  It was fun to see everyone and catch up!

Godfather Scott

Alma's godfather Scott came to visit us this past weekend from Chicago.  He wins the prize for being our first visitor.  And what a fun visit it was!  A hike along the Appalachian Trail, pumpkin carving, Harvest Festival in Bethlehem, beers in the backyards and lots of catching up on life. 

Isn't this the cutest?!