Part Two

One of the highlights of the trip was our visit to The Monterey Bay Aquarium.  It is one of the biggest and best in the world... the kids were in heaven. Well, most of the kids.  Norah loved it but she was so tired from all the excitement that we had a few mishaps...

Exhibit A: The Touchpools

If you look closely, in the back left of this picture there is a starfish, a live starfish.  Norah was enjoying herself, touching the seaweed and the abalone when she suddenly noticed a bright orange star that she just had to have.  If any of you have been to the aquarium, this one in particular, you will know that everyone there is very animal rights friendly, save the Earth and our Oceans, etc., etc. Not that there is anything wrong with that.  Is just makes it all the worse when the following occurs:

Norah picks the starfish up out of the water.

Me: (horrified because people are staring) "Norah, we don't pick that up- it needs to stay in the water.  You can touch it but please put it back."

Norah: "Nooooo!"

Me: "Put it in the water, Norah"

She tightens her grip on the starfish.

At this point I give up trying to talk to her and try to get it out of her hands. She does not want to let the it go.  We are wrestling with it when she finally decides that she will take charge and she proceeds to take it and hurl it on the ground!

I am mortified and people are giving me the "why can't that woman control her child look".  I scramble to pick up the starfish, hoping that it is still alive, put it back into the pool, grab Norah and book it out of there expecting security to stop me at any moment. Luckily we weren't arrested for a starfish murder.

That was just one of the many fun moments!

Emma and Norah

Norah and Jonas in the whale exhibit

The seahorse exhibit was one of the favorites!

The next day, Kassy and I took the kids to Dennis the Menace Park.  It is a massive park in Monterey with paddle boats and all the works- need I say more?

Where's Norah?

The roller slide was definitely the favorite

Still more to come...

To the Beach!

Right after Zion we headed northwest to the most beautiful place on Earth- the beach house!  Joel's parents were kind enough to let the McGlochlin clan crash their house in Pacific Grove, CA... what a week! Carmel, Monterey, 17-mile drive, Point Lobos, The Aquarium and Dennis the Menace Park to name a few. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate when everyone was there but we still had a blast. This post will have to be done in parts...

The Clan

The Girls

The Guys

Kassy and family

Blake and Bryndie

A walk on the beach

Hiking at Point Lobos

Emma and Jonas

Grandpa and Jo Jo - Blake and the girls

Views from the hike - are you kidding me?!

Norah wasn't a fan of the hiking backpack

To be continued...

On the Road Again...

After a few days in Utah we hit the road and drove south to St. George to visit Cami, Jay and family over Memorial Day weekend.  We ate out, swam and got in some good hanging out time.  Norah was in heaven with the five boys that were there.  She couldn't quite keep all their names straight so every time she saw one of them she would say "Hi Boy!"  We were even able to see Great Grandpa and Grandma Kramer!  Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures... What were we thinking?!

On our last day of the trip Joel, Norah and I drove to Zion National Park to see the sites.  The weather was gorgeous and the scenery breathtaking.  Here are a few of the moments we captured:

A shot from the road

Norah, ready to start the hike

 

A rattlesnake on the trail!

Waiting for the shuttle after having a snack

 

Are we done yet?

The Last Hoorah

Joel graduated from medical school on May 15th and didn't start his residency until June 23rd.  We were the lucky ones that weren't trying to move and settle into a new city like all of our friends so we decided to take an extended vacation, one last hoorah before the real job and real life started.  We were able to do so much and see most all of our family!  I will post this in parts because there is so much tell...

We began in Utah, I flew out with Norah and Joel drove with his brother Tyler and Higgins (he wasn't about to take an18th month old on a 20 hour drive). Tyler and his wife Kristin were generous enough to let us stay at their house for a few days. One of the highlights was a trip to Thanksgiving Point to see the farm animals with my sister Kassy and her kids and Kristin and the kids.  Norah was spoiled with cousins from both sides! The horses were the highlight...

Jonas with a his tough guy face

Miss horse herself, Emma. She is obsessed.

Lauren and her famous picture smile

Charlotte, the most photogenic kid alive... These were taken in Tyler and Kristin's masterpiece- their backyard.  It is massive and beautiful.

The boys- Seth and Carden

The other bulldog- Higgs cousin Angus. He's twice the size of Higgins!

Joel Crockett, M.D.

So this is old news by now but I wanted to document because I am SO incredibly proud of Joel.  He is officially an M.D.  He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Medicine on May 14, 2009.  His entire family (minus Ben) came out to see him and celebrate.  We definitely had a full house but Joel couldn’t have felt more loved and supported.

Those four miserable years of pain have finally come to and end and I think Joel is (finally) breathing a sigh of relief.  He has started his transition year at St. John’s Hospital here in St. Louis and actually enjoying himself!  Life is better on the other side… 

Here are some pics from the event:

Joel on the big screen getting his hood

Joel with his parents

Love this picture

Pete and Joel – lots of late nights, diet coke and halo

Joel and his siblings

Joel, I couldn’t be more proud and excited for you.  I am so grateful for all that you do for me and our family. I love you. Lots.

Aaaahhh, summer nights...

You know how you get so behind at something that you don't even want to start because you know it will take you ages to dig yourself out of the hole you have created?  Yeah... no posts since Easter should say it all.  We went on vacation for five weeks and I have so much to post!  I'm going to try to catch up but it may take a few weeks so check back often...

I took these pictures one night before we left. It was one of those perfect nights where you go outside and you feel like the air is massaging your skin.  I wait all winter for those nights. 

Norah couldn't have been cuter. She loves being outside and exploring the backyard. We have a dog door that Higgins uses to get outside and Norah will occasionally use it to get in to the house.  She's only used it when we are with her... until the other day. We had conversation that went something like this:

Norah: "Mom, I want to go outside!" (yes, she is speaking in complete sentences now and it kind of scares me)

Me: "Not right now sweetie, mommy needs to finish getting ready and we need to get your pants and shoes on before we go outside."

Norah: "I want to go outside!"

Me: "We will go outside in a few minutes, okay sweetie?"

Norah: "I want to go outside!"

Me: "Let's get your shoes on first, okay?"

I proceeded to finish getting ready but noticed the house suddenly got very quiet.  I went to look for her but couldn't find her. I glanced out the kitchen window and saw my little blonde ragamuffin outside in the backyard in her diaper and without shoes digging in the dirt with her shovel. It was hilarious! I am in trouble...