North Car-na-nine-a

This year for Thanksgiving we decided to head south to North Carolina to visit Aunt Vichelle and Uncle Billy. We have been looking forward to seeing them for a long time and were glad for the opportunity to share the holiday with them.  

On our first day with them we headed into Concord to see where Uncle Billy works. He is the Chief District Court Judge for Cabarrus County. We got to see the courtroom and even watched as all were called to rise in his honor as he entered the courtroom for a case.

 {order in the court}

 After visiting the courthouse Aunt Shelly took us around the area and showed us the sights of their hometown. Braden's favorite was visiting the Charlotte Motor Speedway!

 {Carter fell Asleep}

That evening Uncle Billy treated us to some awesome Southern Cooking while we were there. We enjoyed Brunswick Stew and some Amazing Southern BBQ at R&R's. 

On Thanksgiving Day Kameron and Billy went golfing and the rest of us just hung around the house playing with Legos.

We didn't have our Thanksgiving Dinner until Friday because we wanted everyone to be together and we were waiting for Nelia, Kam's cousin, to be able to come down from school to join us. We sent the boys out shopping for Black Friday deals while the girls cooked. Our dinner was super yummy!

 Later in the day we went over to Steve and Donna's house (Kam's Great Uncle) to say hello. Carter loved playing with their dog Buddy.

On Saturday we were going to go to the UNC vs. Duke game but the boys were not feeling well and both Kam and I got no sleep the night before so unfortunately we decided to leave early. We had a really great time in North Carolina and hopefully we will be able to visit again soon.

Philadelphia

Since we were already out in Philly to drop Peter off with his friends we decided to stay and check out the city. We were so lucky to be able to stay with my cousin Greg and his family. (By the way, if you ever get to be their guests, count yourself really lucky cause they'll take really good care of you.) We got to their house around 7 and Jenna had a yummy dinner ready for us and then it was off to bed to rest up for all the fun.

Our first day we headed out to Amish Country...

...in Intercouse, PA.

 Jenna took us to this fabulous place called Kitchen Kettle Village where we visited a little petting zoo and lots of really cool shops. Our favorite shop was the Canning Kitchen where you could sample all their salsas, jams, pickles and relishes. Everything was so yummy!

 {Carter fell asleep in the car and slept for most of our visit}

 {in front of a Christmas shop}

 On our way home we drove through Valley Forge.

The next day, Greg took us into the city were we got to see 

the Liberty Bell and tour Independence hall.

{Carter throwing a fit while waiting in the security line at the Liberty Bell}

{cheese}

{Independence Hall}

{the courtroom}

*the painting you see is an original to the building.

{the assembly room}

*this room is where the Declaration of Independence was adopted 

and the Constitution of the United States was debated, drafted and signed.

 {do you see all the scaffolding in the background?

Independence Hall is currently under a $5 Million rehabilitation project}

 

{Congress Hall}

Greg also took us to a couple of hot-spots where we got Philliy Cheese Steaks! And I'll tell you what? If you want a good Cheese Steak you have got to come the Philly to get it!

This place was so busy the line wrapped around the entire building. Kam waited for 45 minutes while I waited in the car with all the kids and watched a movie just to order one of these delicious babies.

As we drove out of the city Greg took us past the museum made famous by Sylvester Stallone...Dun, dun, duuuun.... dun, du, duun...sing with me!

We had so much fun and on the way home decided that we definitely need to come back. There is just so much to see and take in and of course I don't think I can go too long without another Cheese Steak!

peter boy

About a month ago my brother called me to tell me he was going to Philadelphia to meet up with some friends he met on his recent trip to Brazil for the M.O.R. E. Project and was hoping that he could come visit us too. Um, duh! Of course we wanted him to come and boy did we have a fun time while he was here!

Immediately after picking Peter up from the airport we headed straight to the Children's Museum per request of Braden. We love coming to the museum and it was fun to show off all the fun things to do there with Uncle Peter. We even got to experience the new exhibit all about air, Whooosh, where we made rockets and parachutes, blew bubbles and piloted an airplane!

 {making parachutes}

 

{making the parachute fly}

 

 {blowing bubbles}

 After going to the museum we headed back to the house, 

picked up Kam and headed to Primanti Brothers for a Pittsburgh Original.

 

The next day, Braden had a special Thanksgiving program and Feast at his school. All the classes sang songs they had each learned during the year followed by a huge Thanksgiving Feast provided by the parents.

 After the feast we headed into Pittsburgh to explore the city. 

Peter wanted to visit the Andy Worhol Museum so we headed there first.

 We were only allowed to take pictures in the lobby as cameras were restricted from every other area of the museum. It wouldn't have mattered too much though because a good chunk of what was in the museum were "nudie pics." Several times I had to cover Braden's eyes and focus his attention elsewhere. There was this really cool room called "silver clouds" where there were these rectangle, silver balloons that you could play with. They boys loved it! Braden also liked the Campbell Soup and Mickey Mouse prints.

 {just outside of the museum}

 {the view looking down the street from the museum}

 {it wasn't raining, but Carter just had to have his umbrella with him}

You really can't visit this city and not visit Heinz field so we headed there next. I can't believe that it has taken us over a year to come walk around the field. I guess this is why we love having visitors.

 {throwing leaves}

 {a little history}

{Peter with Art Rooney}

 {on the south side of the field}

{looking toward the city from the north shore...Peter, are you falling?}

 As we were walking around the field we found several other fun things to see like this tribute to Mr. Rogers...

 

 

{Peter tried climbing to the top}

 {and then fell down}

 {not really}

 ...and this is part of a police force memorial.

After checking out the Steelers stomping grounds we went across the river to the south side and went on the Duquesne Incline.

{taking in the view}

 {I love the view from the top}

Our last day with Peter was spent driving to Philadelphia.
Luckily we had some movies to make the ride go by faster.

As well as a stop to Hershey, PA.

The boys got to experience what it would be like to work in the factory by working the kiss packaging line...

 

...and riding the interactive factory tour ride!

We had so much fun with Peter and were sad to drop him off with his friends. Luckily we had some other fun things planned to do in Philly. 

*Thanks for coming to visit Peter Boy, we love you!