Play-dough Handprints

The other day I made hand impressions of the kids from a home-made play-dough recipe. You mix up the ingredients and roll it out like dough. Then you bake for 2-3 hours. It turned out pretty cool. Noah and I mixed up and I kept some aside for him to play with.

Curly top

Gloria's hair is really starting to show some curls.

The "I did it" pose!! (Take a look at those cheeks!)

 

Cheese!!

About a month ago, I scored this great deal on ebay. I got this bike trailer for the kids for only $61 from a guy in Oviedo. The kids seem to love it and I can get around and get some exercise at the same time. What a deal!
 

Water time fun

Here we are at Celebration, Florida playing in the fountain.
 

First Steps

Gloria took her first steps on her own last week Thursday. (October 5th) Since then she's been cruising the furniture even faster and getting brave every once in a while to take a few more steps on her own. She also does really well holding on to just one of our hands.
Other new developments with her include clapping hands (at everything but especially her brother) and waving bye-bye. I think that she also said bye the other day at the library. Also, for the last month and a half she's been (finally) sleeping all night long. Ah, what a joy. She also takes naps much better now as well.
Her first birthday is just around the corner. I have really enjoyed being home with both kids over the last year. I have savored so many more memories than I ever thought possible. It's been a real treat and extremely worthwhile.

Sweet Home away from Home Alabama

Labor Day weekend we went to visit Wally's siter Trish in Alabama. Her kids Amber and Jack adore the kids. We ate lunch at this beautiful place in the mountains.


 

Our favorite neighbors

We adore our next door neighbors and they feel the same about us, or the kids at least. Wayne works at the library and lets Noah help check books out when we visit. His daughter Lisa and granddaughter Nyla also live with him. Noah and Nyla love to play together. She's two years older than him and they've babysat for us and vice versa.
 

Ober Gatlinburg

We took a tram up the mountain to Ober Gatlinburg. Just a little bit scary to be hanging from a wire atop the mountain.

In one of those "I can't believe I did this" moments, we took the kids up a ski lift so we could ride a tobaggon type slide down the mountain. It was fun, and we have obedient kids, so it was safe, but WHAT WERE WE THINKING!?!
 

Great Smoky Mountain National Park

 

The Pancake Pantry

This place ain't got nothin on IHOP. It was crowded, but for good reason. The pancakes were divine and selection was phenomenal. I highly recommend if you're ever in the Gatlinburg area. Check it out here.


 

Purple Mountains Majesty

For a few days on our way home from Michigan, we stopped in Gatlinburg Tennessee. Even though we stayed in a crappy hotel, we had a very nice time and wish to go back someday. The next few posts are pictures from our trip.

Noah in front of the Hollywood car museum. How'd that car get so small?


 

There's a Rat in the Restaurant

Seriously, whose idea of fun is this?? Grandma took us to Chuck E Cheese. I think Noah had fun, but you wouldn't know it from this pictures.

 

Social Climber

Gloria, at 8 months old, had no problems crawling up Grandma and Grandpa's stairs.