Monday, December 31, 2012

Christmas Day 2012, break, Philadelphia and beyond


The kids were wonderful on Christmas morning.  Dave gave them the instructions to not wake us until 7 am, and they listened!  What kid does that?!
Let the Breyer Horse fest begin.
Zach was SO very happy with his RC car.
Kobe was around to receive lots and lots of love on Christmas.
Our big surprise for the kids....we put these in their stockings.  We are moving back to Georgia! Dave and I were so excited to tell them this news.  They were happy that it was Christmas, we were spending time together as a family, they had so many presents and new toys, but the best present of all....they were getting to go back "home".  We all are....
Their smiles say it all.
We met up at our school baseball field to try out Zach's new RC car.  Yes, it performs above and beyond.  Chase and Jake Sabatini, our fellow race lovers, joined us with a little snow to accentuate the holiday play time.

Kobe goes for a romp in the Christmas snow.
Over the holiday, we had plans to visit Boston, possibly upstate NY, but the weather did not lend itself for a drive.  Instead, we stayed put, played, slept late, read by the fire and totally relaxed.  We also let it settle in that we were actually going to move.
Giant play ball
Sparky, the leopard gecko

Mani/pedi with Olivia...girl time

Our PJ clad offspring: 9 and 7 3/4 years old
We finally found a break in the weather and headed to Philadelphia.  Princeton University is on the way, so we dropped by for a walk around the campus.  We are on a quest to check many things off our list before we move.
Princeton's architecture is gorgeous
I'm not sure the kids are impressed, but one day they will remember this trip we took to see Princeton University....maybe one day we will be back for college?!
Philadelphia.....Declaration of Independence was signed here.

Liberty Bell
Costumed people walking through Constitution Hall :-)
After all of the hubbub of the history of Philadelphia....much to the kids delight, we were off again.  This time we visited Simeone Car Museum in Philadelphia.  Zach and Dave were in man heaven with the cars, Olivia and I just roamed around, biding our time.  I must admit, the number of famous, invaluable cars was impressive.
Philadelphia Aquarium, watching the hippos fight under water and seeing the fish swim in the hippos filth :-)
Touch pools.....this was one of the better aquariums we have visited.  The hippos were unforgettable.

Philly skyline
Another snow during the Winter Holiday...we made a snowman this time around.  He looks like an angry bird.

Jordan and Olivia enjoy some watermelon during the Winter Solstice after a hard day playing in the snow.  We visited Sicomac hill for some sledding as well.  We are going to miss this place.
Snow revelers

Dave's attempt to shovel snow
A walk around Wyckoff to see the snow and a quick trip to Dunkin Donuts while Kobe waits outside.
A view of Washington Elementary School from the cemetery
Getting a ride on dad....giddy up!
A trip to Bobby Flay's Burger Palace at Bergen Town Center.  Great burgers, good root beer and happy kids.
For New Year's Eve, we headed across the street to welcome the New Year with the Ghinelli's.  Diane is always welcoming and we love hanging out with them.  Great food, wonderful company and a walk across the street was exactly what we wanted.  We were home by 10:30 pm, but the kids surprised us by staying up until midnight to welcome 2013.  
2013 is going to be a big year for The Pryor's.  Atlanta.....here we come!!!