Boys will be boys...

and girls will be girls. I know this phrase if probably over used, but it is so true. Today Jenny and her kids were over and I was telling her about a book Rob is reading. (Fathered by God, by John Eldredge, I recommend every man and mother of sons should read this.) I was telling her about how the book talks about how boys need adventure. About 1 hour later this is what my house looked like. The boys were have sword fights. It was hysterical! The house was very loud and crazy for awhile, but they were having so much fun! There was no way I was going to tell them to stop, especially since Jenny and I had just been talking about it.

Beckett came a little more prepared for the battle! Even at the age of 3 boys feel this need for adventure and "exotic" play as the book calls it!

Where were the girls you ask? Playing ballerina quietly in the playroom!
Funny, don't you think!

New York

Part 2 of our Pennsylvania trip is that Rob and I had a 5 day getaway to New York city while his parents kept the kids. We had a wonderful time. I love my children but it is always nice to spend uninterrupted time with my hubby. It wasn't totally uninterrupted because Rob had to work Sunday and Monday. On those days myself and some other ladies went on a harbor cruise around the statue. It was such a gorgeous day and so nice to see Manhattan from the water. It was also nice to see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty from the water.

The ladies and I also took a trip up to Harlem to the Apollo theatre. I had always wanted to go to Harlem, and since Micheal Jackson had just passed, we thought, why not. Harlem was very different then I had thought it would be. We ate at a really good French cafe, outside on the sidewalk. Again, a beautiful day and such fun.
Rob and I went back to one of our favorite restaurants from last year. It is called Virgil's BBQ. They have these chicken wings that are awesome. Of course we ate a ton of food and stuffed ourselves to the max!

We went to a Titanic exhibit that was really neat. I love history when I can learn from an exhibit or movie. So the exhibit was perfect. The picture below (of the ship, not me) is one of my favorites. I just think it is such an awesome shot! I would love to have it in my house or somewhere. Anyway...

we also went to Bryant Park, to see the Little Mermaid on Broadway and Shrek the musical. We crammed a lot into 5 days, but that is the way we like it. It isn't a vacation unless you are tired when you get home. That is my thoughts!

Pennsylvania Trip

We took our annual trip to Pennsylvania about a week ago. (The last couple of years we have gone to Pennsylvania to drop the kids of at Rob's parents house then him and I have a little "siesta" to NYC. More to come on that trip later.) I thought I would post a few pictures to highlight what the kids did. Of course Friday night when we arrived Terri and the family had a party for Carys. (Her birthday was Saturday.) My sister-in-law Betsy made this fabulous cake for her. She loved it! It was a party fit for a princess with dress up close, slushy drinks, castle cake, crown making and party favor bags. It was a whole lot of fun!!!

When we got home from NYC we went to see Grandma Franklin. Who by the way turns 94 on Saturday. She enjoyed reading Carys and Lizzie, the doll, a book. Which Carys enjoyed very much as well. If you didn't notice Carys and Lizzie have matching dresses. Rob and I went to the American Girl store in NYC. Carys was very sure that she wanted us to buy the same dress for her that her doll came in. (Not the one she is wearing below.) Everyday that we talked to her she would ask if we had gone to the store to get the dress. That was all she seemed to care about while we were gone. Of course we got the dress, and a few others! (Her Daddy is a SUCKER!! He is also the one who said we weren't going to buy the doll in Chicago...all she had to do was ask and he was putty in her hands!) I was the one telling him to put some of the outfits back but he wanted to buy then for her. What can I say...
On July 4th we played at Bob and Terri's in the morning. Broderick had a blast playing in the creek. He jumped, walked, threw rocks and tried his best to get Carys to get in with him for about 1 1/2 hours. Times like that, I wish we had land where he could really be a boy!
We also went down to Rob's brother's house for fireworks. His neighbors put on this amazing display in their back yard. It was really fun. The kids did sparklers and all that you do on July 4th. We had wonderful time and are so grateful for a great family