Hat tricks

We are definitely staying bundled this week. Today the high is in the 30s so it has been cold. Caroline seems to like it (taking after Mommy) thankfully since we haven't had a whole day at home in ages. Yesterday we even had a dusting of snow.

Meanwhile Caroline is still getting closer to walking. Gulp.
She loves her blankie (thank you Emily M.!)

She is into her books. Even if they are upside down.

We have already started wearing our hats!

Caroline in the City

First I must address my birthday, which was lovely. Jonathan got me a cake and wrapped presents. And I enjoyed my favorite drink-the Addicted to Chocolate shake at Ben and Jerry's.

I am not making a political statement but this was an ironic tag to see the day after the election.

Jonathan had a conference in Philadelphia so we all made it a trip. We stayed in the same hotel that we did 2 years ago when we went and somehow got almost the same room too. Here's the marvelous view:

Benjiman Franklin Parkway is modeled after the Champs-Elysees. Beautiful! The building at the far end is the art museum made famous from 'Rocky'.

Caroline and I hit the streets all day. My favorite thing was the old Wanamaker Dept. Store, now a Macys. It has the largest organ in the world, built for the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. We stood in the bottom part for the daily 12:00 recital and I loved it. It was like reading a book that you can't put down. Thankfully I had enough goldfish crackers so that Caroline could endure the hour long recital.

The Christmas tree is in front of the huge organ. (view is from the balcony..hard to capture how big it is)

Caroline got some good playtime in the hotel room.

We visited the King of Prussia mall...second in size only to the Mall of America.

Did I mention the goldfish crackers??!

She tried her first taste of butter.

Here we are at Rittenhouse square.

On Saturday, we took the train to NYC for the day.

Snacks good for train rides too.

We visited the Central Park zoo during a break in the rain. The sea lions were so cute. And so were the children visiting.

During the rain, this is what most people saw when they passed us. Nothing but legs.

Here we are strolling in Central Park. One of my motherhood fantasies fulfilled:)

And we had to have naptime in the stroller which was fine since it was raining. And I wanted Starbucks.

It was great. Now I have to unpack and get over this sickness I have had for a week!

Happy Halloween

Yesterday was quite a day! We played in our pumpkin outfit before heading to "The Lawn" behind UVA's rotunda for trick-or-treating. It was packed and was a blast. Tons of cute outfits, live music and great weather. Our pumpkin had a fun time.

Afterwards we ate at Red Robin and Caroline was quite fascinated by the bird in the yellow tights!


Some of my favorite costumes....

We started the festivities a few days ago by painting a pumpkin at a pumpkin party. Caroline loved watching the other kids play as much as she liked playing. And mommy got some good, adult conversation:)