Breakfast with Grandpa and Grandma

This morning we met Grandma and Grandpa Newman and Great Uncle Jim for breakfast.  After a wonderful breakfast we attempted some pictures.  Elena was great through breakfast but was not in the mood for pictures.  She liked playing with Grandma's necklace but was weary of Grandpa.

Fresh Air at the Park

After our feast yesterday, we ventured out to the park for some fresh air and exercise.  Elena loved the park, it had swings and a climbing structure complete with slides.  She even made friends with some older girls playing at the park.  The pups came along too but Cooper wasn't friendly.  Poor Cassie had an injured foot and wasn't able to play but Corey had a grand time playing with another dog.

Static!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving as we did in Arizona!  Elena is in her exploring mode (aka trouble) so I don't have too many pictures since I was chasing her around.  Here are a few from the camera:

 

Elena and Grandma sneaking in a book before the day got started.

Elena and Daddy being super cute.

Dinner time fun with Grandma and Corey.

Bye-Bye Mullet

Today Elena and I ventured out to get her first hair cut.  It was sad to see all her long hair go but I don't miss her straggly looking mullet (too much).  We went to a kids salon where Elena enjoyed flying a Blue Angel jet.  She did really well, only a few over the shoulder looks and shoulder shrugs when the scissors touched her neck.  I'm not sure she needed a special chair but notice her hands stayed on the steering wheel.

 

First snips

 

 

 Walking back to the car, we stopped and took a couple pictures on a wood bench.  She was being so cute, I just couldn't resist.

Love this picture and the dress.  Thanks to Maggie and her mommy for the great hand-me down!  Can't wait to see Elena in the rest of the outfits.

Cousin Cuteness

Elena loves playing with her cousins and there is a lot of cousin cuteness going on, I'm just not very good at capturing it all.  Here are a few from tonight:

Make up time!

Road Trip to Connecticut

Our adventure today began with a road trip to Connecticut to visit Carl's Godparents Ron and Dixie.  They have a great house with a crick and everything.  Ella, their grand-daughter, was visiting; she and Elena had a great time throwing rocks into the water while Maggie explored the woods with Jason.  Elena's balance has improved since we have been here and she is much more sure footed on uneven flooring and terrain, though sometimes still cautious.  We had a great visit with Ron and Dixie and a delicious lunch!

Birthday at the Y

Being so far away from cousins we often, okay always, miss birthday parties until today.  Maggie's birthday party was hosted at the Y.  How fun to go swimming for a birthday in November!

 

Playing...

 

Snuggling...

 

The birthday girl and her awesome cake!  It was the ocean complete with coral, goldfish, Nemo, and Ariel.

Elena on crack...I mean sugar!

Zoo Time

Today we went to a nearby zoo to enjoy animals, fall colors, and kids running around the park outside the zoo.

 

Aren't these the cutest meerkats you have ever seen?

 Elena was really interested in seeing the animals.  She stopped to pose for a picture with Daddy.

 Checking out the otters!

 James enjoying the afternoon out.

 Running across the bridge.  The cousins are having so much fun together.

 Henry measuring up.

  Kerri and Maggie at the park outside the zoo.

The leaves have begun to fall, great for stomping!

Yet we're still able to enjoy the color on the trees!

New England Aquarium, Boston

Our adventure today began with a trip to the New England Aquarium in Boston.  The kids loved all the aquariums.  It is pretty cool.  You walk in and are greeted by 80 penguins in a great exhibit.  Then there is also a huge cylindrical aquarium in the middle that spans from top to bottom of the aquarium.  So many cool fish in there with huge turtles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a great visit and the aquarium is just the right size for kids.  We only lost Elena once when she decided she wanted to move on to another exhibit without us. :-O  The rest of the time she ran from exhibit to exhibit, so cute to see her so excited.

After the aquarium, we headed out to Regina's Pizzeria for awesome pizza.  And on our way back to the cars we stopped at a pastry shop for yummy cannoli.  It was great to be in the city and walking everywhere!

World War I Park

Today we went to a great park in Attleboro.  They have animals out so the kids can bring carrots and apples to feed them.  Of course Elena fell asleep in the car 5 minutes before we arrived and then transferred into the stroller with no problems.  Having cousins around to play with non-stop is exhausting :)

 

Carl, Henry, Maggie and Jason feeding a donkey.

Elena slept through all the animals, she was one tired little girl.

Finally up and watching the kids go down the slide.

On the way out, Elena saw the animals--she was so excited!