How to Speak

by Carter Henrie.

balloon - said by over extending the tongue on the L's
over there - "Obuh-day"
root beer - "root-bay" (this used to be said as "root-bee")
I'm hungry - "I honey"
I'm thirsty -  "I sir-s-tee"
I need a drink - "I knee shink"
popcorn - "dot-corn"
bumblebee - "bum-bee"
pancake - "ban-bane"
penny - "benny"
Braden - "bA-nen" (A as in airplane, "nen" as in ten)
Brady (most often way of calling for his brother) - "bA-knee"
Carter calls himself - "tah-tahr"
and always let's us know - "I too little!" usually because he's not tall enough to reach the treats or snacks in the cupboard.

Can't Get Enough

We had so much fun showing off our favorite parts of PA with my mom and Gary that after they left we decided to explore a few places we haven't visited yet. We started our day by heading south to the Living Treasures Animal Park and Petting Zoo. I was really surprised at how many animals they had in a fairly small area and it was really cool to be so close to them.

Most of the animals you could feed by hand.

Braden thought it was really cool.

Some of the animals, like these camels and the bears, 

could be fed by sending food down the tube.

This was as close as Carter got to feeding the animals.

This was Braden's favorite animal. He even gave it a kiss before leaving the park.

After the animal park we drove over to the Flight 93 National Memorial. The memorial has not yet been competed and will open to the public the weekend of September 11th but we were able to view the memorial from this temporary site.

The field just beyond the white wall is where the plane crashed.

Along the fence line is this pipe where the flag from the US Capital

flew as part of a temporary memorial to the 40 people who died 

on Flight 93 just following the crash.

This sign was on the road just prior to turning towards the memorial.

On our way home we stopped by the McDonald's Big Mac Museum. Did you know that the Big Mac was invented in PA? I didn't. It was invented by Jim Delligatti back in 1967 at one of his now 18 restaurants and was such a great hit that it became part of the McDonald's menu less than a year later. We didn't order a Big Mac but we did treat ourselves to some ice-cream!

Ohiopyle

The day before Grammy and Pappy left we decided we needed to do something adventurous. We decided to go to Ohiopyle one of PA's most popular State Parks. It's only about an hour from our house and probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

Our first stop was the Thorp Knob picnic area for lunch. We roasted hot-dogs and marshmallows for s'mores.

Braden built this T-Pee while waiting for lunch.

After lunch we hiked down to Cucumber Falls.

The boys loved wading in the water.

A very popular activity at Ohiopyle are the natural water-slides on Meadow Run. It was really slippery at the water-slides and I slipped and fell after my first trip down the slide. I fell from the side down into the slide. Luckily I wasn't hurt too badly although I've got some nasty bruises on my arms, chin and bottom. The fall however, didn't keep us from going down again and again.

Bo went first.

My Turn!

Carter didn't go down the slide {the water was a bit high and fast} 

but he did "slide" a little near the top.

Braden went down once.

I think it scared him a little.

Pappy also only went down once. It was quite the spectacle.

Waiting for the Grown-Ups to call it quits.

Before leaving the park we visited Ohiopyle Falls on the Youghiogheny River {pronounced yock-a-gay'-nee}. We also swam a little at the top of the falls.

Excuse the seriously bad hair

On the drive home we passed Jellystone Park and of course had to stop for a picture with Yogi Bear.

Welcome to Pittsburgh

This past week was so much fun. My mom and Gary came for a visit and just in the nick of time too. We have all been getting really homesick especially since we've been hearing about some really fun things our families have been doing so having some of our family out here with us was the perfect remedy.
The first two days they were here we took them to some of our favorite spots in Pittsburgh. We had lunch at Primanti Brothers and then took them for a ride on the Duquesne Incline.

Going up! {Don't you love Brady's Hitler mustache? 

He has to keep Zinc Oxide on his scar to make sure it heals well.}

The view from the top of Mt. Washington.

Heinz Field; GO STEELERS!!!

We went to one of my favorite stores, Gabriel Brothers. {It's a cross between DI and Ross.}

Braden is showing off his new jacket I got for him and the Indian Headdress 

Grammy Bo brought from Utah; he wore it just about everywhere we went!

We got frozen custard and Italian ice at Rita's.

We also took them to see Kam's School in Latrobe and then went to our favorite park, Mammoth Park, where the giant slide is.

This time Carter didn't like the slide. He only went 

down once, got scared and wouldn't do it again.

Braden went down about a hundred times.

Carter did like finding walking sticks with Pappy.

One of our favorite things to do at our house is play outside in the evenings. Even if it's been a really hot day it almost always cools down in the evenings so playing outside is a must. Usually all the neighbor kids are out playing with us but since most of them were out of town it was great to play with Grammy and Pappy.

Counting for "No Bears are Out Tonight"

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Tackling the Bear!

Playing Red Light, Green Light

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Carter Calling Red Light, Green Light

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