A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful memories of the present, and the hope and promise of the future.

Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Philadelphia Trip - October 2013

We went to Philly!  We traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and had a fun, family trip.  We left on Tuesday, October 1st and returned Saturday, October 5, 2013.  Our trip consisted of the following:

Tuesday:
1)      Travel Day & Check-In
2)      Love Statue – hot pink waterfall.  Abby LOVED!
3)      Comcast Center – largest 4 millimeter LED screen in the world.

Wednesday:
1)      Franklin Square
2)      Penn’s Landing
3)      Eat at Reading Terminal Market
4)      City Hall Top of Tower Tour
5)      Rittenhouse Square Park
Franklin Square was a cool playground in Center City.  It had a carousel, which we rode 3 times!  Abby couldn’t get enough.  She loves horses and saying “neigh, neigh.”  We also played on the playground and had a great Mommy/Daughter day. 

When we were walking we saw a few murals as well.  These are huge paintings on buildings, which Philadelphia is known for.
At Penn’s Landing we looked for mermaids in the Delaware River.  Abbygale saw a mermaids’ head come out of the water.  She was thrilled!
Thursday:

1)      Please Touch Museum
2)      Swimming in Hotel
The Please Touch Museum was so much fun.  It was a two story children’s museum with so much to offer.  We definitely made lots of memories.  We played in the roadside attractions, flight fantasy, water (river adventures), hospital, McDonald’s, shoe store, grocery store, trains, exercise, music, nursery rhyme room, and of course rode the woodside park dentzel carousel multiple times.

Friday:
1)      Self-guided walking tour of historic Philadelphia
2)      Carriage Ride on Miss Emily (the black, beautiful horse)
We walked around and saw the birthplace of our nation.  We saw where the Declaration of Independence and where the United States Constitution were created.  We didn’t let the government shut-down affect us and made the best out of closed visitor centers, museums, and the Liberty Bell.  We saw the Liberty Bell (through the glass, ughh), Independence Hall, Congress Hall, Old City Hall, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the First and Second Bank of the United States, Merchants’ Exchange (oldest stock exchange building in the US), City Tavern (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams ate here), Christ Church (Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, and George Washington among others worshiped here), Elfreth’s Alley, Betsy Ross House (creator of the first American Flag), Christ Church Burial Ground (Benjamin Franklin’s grave), and The United States Mint.

Saturday:
1)      Check out & Travel Home
Abbygale did great on the flights (4 airplanes total since no flight was a direct flight).  We played, walked around outside, went to multiple parks, and just had great Mommy/Daughter days and Family evenings.  Bryan was at a convention during the day at the Convention Center.  I love making special memories with Abbygale and feel we did just that on this trip to Philly.








































Abby at Two

Abbygale at 2 is such a beautiful site.  She has an ENORMOUS personality and is so much fun! 

What is Abbygale into these days?  Abby loves mermaids, cats/kittens, horses, and being naked.  Yes, being naked.  She is a stripper and loves to take her clothes and diaper off and run around inside and outside the house butt naked.  She thinks it is hilarious! 
Abbygale loves mermaids and watches mermaid movies, play puzzles, and thinks Barbie’s are mermaids.  She loves cats/and kittens and will “meow, meow” all the time.  She pretends she is carrying around a baby kitten in her hand.  I love how amazing her imaginary skills are.  She is going to be a black cat for Halloween and is so happy about that!  Abby loves horses.  She cannot get enough of carousels (cost a fortune because she wants to go “up and down” and “round and round” over and over and over and over again.  Sweet girl will pet her horse and say “I love my horse.”  Cute!

Abby is maturing day by day and growing up right before my eyes way too fast.  She plays and talks and sings and yells and gives kisses and gives the best hugs and is just oh so very sweet.  She is the best thing ever!
Here is Abby at age 2 in pictures:




















 


 


Where has Abbygale beenn since Birth to 2?


Where has Abbygale been since Birth to 2?
1) All around Texas
2) Oregon (Portland and surrounding areas) - first airplane ride at around 22 months old
3) Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) - first family trip out of Texas at around 25 months old

Dad & Preston

Here is a picture of my Dad from 1959 at Palo Duro Canyon and a picture of Preston near Caprock Canyon, (about 55 miles apart)  in 2013.  I love this!