Our only NON parental family visitor in 3 yrs.

Ok so unlce Justin helped us move here so that semi counts, and we have had several friends come for a visit or two (But not many. SHAME ON YOU ALL!)

But really it's you all who are missing out. Hershey is truly the sweetest place on Earth!

This time it was a quick visit from aunt Seyza! She was in Annapolis for a friends wedding, but added an extra day so she could come say hi. I flew into Baltimore the night before. (I had just been to see a dear friend who had just awoken from an 8 week induced coma.) Got home at about midnight and the next morning Nate and I drove back to Baltimore and grabbed this LOVELY lady!

And YES our first stop was chocolate world like always! Who doesn't want free Hershey's candy and a tour of how chocolate is made???

Never mind the strange Asian lady in the picture.

The "cow ride"

Taking it easy at the Hershey Hotel

And loving the flowers ~ yes we meant to match.

Owen and Liam "sleeping" in the chases.

Did I mention the flowers?

And we got to enjoy watching the boys play at the park. (OK. Watch Owen torture Liam.)

Seyza was here less than 24 hours and it has been some of our favorite 24. 

Have I enticed you to visit yet? I am sure I have, but I won't hold my breath. 

To the Lake we go.

Lake Tobias, where really there is a "lake" that the animals can swim in or drink from, but really it's a Wildlife park that a man decided to start after he brought home a few wild animals and the neighbors all wanted to see.
It was a hot day, but the boys loved every second of it.

I have to say I am a fan of the Zonkey!

Owen had to hug EVERY animal at the petting zoo!

I think we know what animal Liam's hair most closely resembles! 

The BIG 2 or 2.5

I try to get photos of my boys around their birthdays. Unfortunately I am finding it a much more difficult task with Owen who's birthday is in January. It's normally freezing cold and covered in snow, so instead we ended up taking them around 2.5. He was TOTALLY into Thomas and all things trains at this point (it seems to be heading in the super hero era now days.)
So off to the Middletown train station we went. And I have to say these are some of my most favorite pictures ever.
Even through the photographer and I got a stern scolding by one of the workers there. She said, "You know you are teaching him a horrible lesson in safety. He'll think he can just run and play on any train tracks he sees."
To which I totally agreed with her, except that I had to mention it's not a "functioning railroad" it's  only runs for tour rides and on certain days of the week and times. We had come during after hours while the trains weren't going and no one (except her) was around.
Not only that, but did she seriously think that I just let me kids freely play in and around train tracks while I go off and have a diet coke? I DON'T THINK SO!
All the while Wendy was clicking away and I am so glad she did.
Here are a few of my favorites!

OK so this one looks a little scary if you didn't know that train was stopped.

I loved this with the 2!

Oh my boys and their baby blues!

See we were all about safety!

This is his "Hoot Hoot" He'd walk around all day sounding like a train and she captured it perfectly.

And yes I waiting for a call from Ralph Lauren himself. Seriously who wouldn't eat him up?

Happy 2.5 to our BIG guy!

It's begun!

Liam has started Kindergarten.
He has been so excited to go. Especially to ride the bus. I have NOT been counting down the days, but am so excited for him. I remember my first day of Kindergarten. Riding the bus, leaving my mom at the curb, and starting the upward climb to adulthood.

HOW DO I STOP IT???

I didn't cry. (This time.) He had a "trial" run over the summer and as the bus drove away. That time I sobbed as I watched his tear streaked face in the window saying Mommy. 

But NOT this time. He was ready. He had gotten over the fear that the bus driver wouldn't know which one his house was and that I wouldn't be out there waiting for him. (In fact I wasn't. It was Nate.)

Out here Kindergarten is only half day, so it's not a huge change from pre-school, just that it's everyday.

Enough to break a Mother's heart! Owen was NOT happy that he wasn't going too!

The thing I swore NEVER to do. Buy a themed backpack for my children. That lasted all of two seconds when I put him in charge of choosing.

My stomach got sicker as it got closer.

He hopped on and away he went, off to a place I couldn't follow. I couldn't be on watch, protect him, fight for him and kiss him when he got hurt. 

Owen and I walked back home to a quiet house. (OK not really we all know Owen.)

I gave Nate strict instructions on the time to be there to get him off, to take pictures, and ask all about his day. (I was working at the office that afternoon.)

This was the picture Nate got of him coming home:

He looked OK to me. Seemed happy and excited about his first day, and was super excited to tell me I had homework, not him, that night!

As of now, he is a great student. He is reading, writing, spelling, drawing, making new friends and loves it.

I just don't know how ready I am to let him keep growing up!