Visit from Nana and Papa

I must warn you, this post has a ton of pics.  I just didn't want to leave anything out.  This is why I have postponed it for so long...I knew it would take a while to blog about.  Nonetheless, here you go :)

My parents came out to visit us for about a week. We had a great time and kept pretty busy.  Anabelle misses having them around and seemed a bit confused as she awoke to an empty house the next morning.  (Even more empty than usual, as Mike went out of town at the end of their visit for his Navy VIP tour in Jacksonville, FL).  They brought her a gift, her favorite book "There's a wocket in my pocket", by Dr. Seuss, and an awesome stuffed Dr. Seuss creature, whom she calls "Wocket".

 Us getting ready to go out to celebrate Mike's 26th birthday (man, he's getting old)  :)

 Have I ever mentioned how much Anabelle LOVES stuffed animals?

 Annie with her Papa

 Trying to fit the entire delicious burger in my mouth.  Don't worry, I didn't eat the entire burger looking like a starving monster.

 She really likes ketchup with her fries

 Pretty pretty colors

 Anabelle really loved playing in the leaves

 This is among the many wonderful photos my mom took of the beautiful foliage

We stopped by the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. on our way up through Vermont and New Hampshire chasing the changing foliage.

 This enormous shoe, equipped with gum stuck to the bottom, stood outside

 Self-explanatory

 Enjoying the long car rides ;)

 The little orchard in Mass. we stopped at. They had a pumpkin patch, goats to feed, and some yummy ice cream

 She kept trying to lift these pumpkins, and even succeeded a few times

 These tall stalks are the weeds growing in the pumpkin patch.

 Check out this caterpillar, the fuzziest one I've ever seen.  Annie just went and picked it right up, no fear at all.  I, on the other hand, was much more hesitant.

 Lots and lots and lots of pumpkins

.We took my parents to NYC for 2 days.  This is a photo in time square.

 and another

 Playing on a playground in Central Park

 The Guggenheim museum

 Lady Liberty was so beautiful (and soooo big)!

Anabelle was very tired.  Here I am copying her grumpiness

 All of us with the city in the background.  Taken from Liberty island.

 Ellis island

Thanks Mom and Dad for such a great visit!!

Favorite Things

I love hiking.  We haven't done a whole lot of hiking the past couple of years, since we have lived in some of the flattest states (Kansas and Florida).  But, there are some places to hike in Connecticut.  So off we went.  We borrowed a backpack carrier from some friends, and Anabelle was all set to enjoy the ride.  She loved it.

Check this out!  This huge tree trunk was completely hollowed out. It was really cool.

Anabelle loves to set up all of her toys in a row and put them to bed.  She will do this over and over again, sometimes for 20-30 minutes at a time.  Today, she sang them songs.  So sweet.  They always have to have a blanket to lay on.  Oh, she is a fun little girl.

Here is a video to demonstrate her new favorite activity

 

Current Happenings

Some of Anabelle's goofy faces.  And yes, she fell and scraped her chin

Some pics from the zoo.  Isn't this one great!

A giant alligator

Cute tiny little monkeys

Our little one LOVES cheese

as you can see, she would have eaten the entire block if we let her

We took a trip up to Hartford and went on a hike up to a tower overlooking practically all of CT

So green

And we went to NYC again to go to the temple.  Here it is, right in the middle of the city

On "Top of the rock", one of the tallest buildings with a 360 view overlooking the city. This is the empire state building in the background

Panoramic view to the south

and to the North

This green beauty is Central Park.

Fishing for some snacks as we walk the city

Enjoy!