So on to this year's Pittsburgh trip. My Mom, sister, me and the 5 kids all drove to Pittsburgh in July. We took 2 days to drive up there. It's a 20 hour drive if you go straight through. Surprisingly, the trip went much better then we thought! I think we owe that to modern technology and Apple! At one point we had my mom driving listening to her Ipod, my sister up front on her Ipad, Alli watching Max and Ruby on one DVD player, Callie watching Barbie on another DVD and then the boys playing on David's Ipod.
Alli ready to go!
Ben ready to go!
Andy, David and Callie ready to go! (the boys were being boys and not wanting to be in the picture)
It was Alli, Ben and me in the middle row!
Mom and Sarah in the front!
About 30 minutes after we left!!
Getting close to sleeping! When Callie is sucking her thumb and twirling her hair, you know she is tired!
This cutie was out!
Not for long... once Alli woke up she also woke her brother up! Aren't they sweet holding hands?!
Well, Callie never fell asleep so this is what you get when you have a tired 4 year old!! Don't you love David's big smile?!
We got to Pittsburgh around 11pm went straight to my Aunt Di's house where she had some Desallas pizza waiting for us! My sister and the big kids were staying at Aunt Di's house and my mom, me and the little kids were staying at a hotel (due to the fact I have kids that like it quiet and need darkness to sleep.) Well, we went to the hotel around midnight and the power was off in the area because of a storm, so we all headed back to Aunt Di's and finally went to sleep around 2ish!!
The boys were a little tired when we got to Pittsburgh, but Callie was excited!
So was Alli!
Ben was excited for his first time in Pittsburgh!
Aunt Di even had signs for us!
The next day we got to go to Miles and Arden's prince and princess birthday party!! It was so fun to see everyone and so great to be outside in July!! Alli loved being able to play with the sidewalk chalk and run around and of course she loved the bounce house!!! Ben enjoyed hanging out with Great Grandma Clougherty! Us adults enjoyed being with everyone!
Ben with cousin Daniel
Sweet Cousin Rachael
Sweet Cousin Maggie
Cousin Megan with Ben!
The newest cousin Caroline!
Ben having fun with Grandma Clougherty!
Grandma loving on Ben!
Alli and David probally doing something they weren't suppossed to. Look at those faces!!
Alli hula hooping!
The birthday girl Arden!
Alli and Ben hanging with Grandma!
Uncle Jack putting on a Magic show! All the kids were so loud right before he started and as soon as he started his first trick... slience!
Sweet Caroline! ;-)
Grammy with birthday boy Miles!!
Rachael and Alli.. These 2 could get into a lot of trouble together!
Birthday boy having some cake!!
Then on Sunday Mom, Sarah and the boys went to the Pirates game so Aunt Di, Me, Callie, Alli and Ben went to a local park and played on the slide and swings! Then Aunt Di had everyone over for a homemade lasagna and meatball dinner!! Alli fell asleep in the middle of eating so she napped most of the time everyone was there but Ben enjoyed hanging out with Great Uncles and Cousins! Grandma also gave all the kids story books that she recorded with her voice telling the story! It is so much fun to hear her voice tell the story and Alli says "nene totty"!
The girls wanted to swing real high!!
Alli loved the swings!
Callie loved the swing too!
Can you tell that Alli likes to "be like" Callie?!
The slide was also a hit!
Alli "flying"!
Ben hanging out with Uncle Denny!
Benny with Uncle Ron!!
Alli taking her nap!
Ben with Cousin Kelsey!
On Monday we went to the Pittsburgh Children's museum with all the cousins on the Fullen side! This museum is just awesome!!! I was able to let Alli run around and play and she just loved it! They even have a Dora Pirate adventure room where they put on the play over the weekends. The kids just loved this place!! Okay so did the adults!!
Danielle and Rachael waiting on us to get in!
Arden, Miles and Maggie!!
We are working on the ABC's at home and Alli really likes B for some reason so when she sees one she likes to point it out!! This was a really cool exhibit that had windows for every letter and things that start with that letter inside!
This was the tree from Mr. Rodgers neighborhood. It had little chairs and couches I think for puppets but Alli thought they were for her!
This is her trying to sit on one of the chairs!!
Alli and Grammy in the Castle!
Callie as a Queen!
Callie and Alli painting pictures!
Danielle painting her picture!
This was Alli's picture... well the one that mommy helped with!
Ben took a nap while we were there!
Alli giving Dora a high-five!
They had a huge lite-brite!!
Cousin Heather with Caroline!
Danielle Arden and Miles on the see-saw
Maggie, Alli and Danielle playing
Alli wrote her name in the sand!! or maybe it was me? But she had fun playing in it!
Callie playing in the bird seed!
Cousins Megan and Ann Marie!
Alli screwing in a screw! Daddy was so proud to see this picture!
Putting gas on the car!
Arden and Maggie!
Grammy and Alli took a little snack break while we waited on the big kids!
Alli giving Dora a kiss goodbye!
At dinner the kids made a dog pile at the table! Cousin Jude and Jordan tried to stay out of it!!
Alli making sure she got all her oranges and the juice!
Tuesday we went to Kennywood!! The big kids were nice enough to go to kiddie land for Alli and Callie to ride some rides! David and Andy even took Alli on a couple all by themselves! Alli liked some better than others! She did like getting her face painted and playing the duck game with Aunt Sarah! She even won! She wanted the pink meow! All the kids rode on the little turtles and then it was time for lunch and naps! While Grammy stayed with the napping kiddos me and David and Andy went to ride the big swings, the big Whip and another roller coaster. We also played some games! Then me and the little ones left the park and the big kids got to really ride some rides!!! Alli, Ben and me went over to Chris and Megans house to play with Arden and Miles! Miles was so sweet giving hugs and Arden looked so pretty in all her makeup that her big cousin Ellie put on her!! After that we headed off to go watch cousin Nicci and Kelsey play softball!
Alli getting on her first ride!
She wanted to see what was going on.
Ben was excited for Alli!
Walking off the ride like a big kid!
Second ride... the whip!
Callie in the whip!
She was not a big fan of the swings!
Alli giving Kenny a high-five!
Playing the duck game with Aunt Sarah!
She was so proud of her pink meow!
She sat still for the lady to paint her face! I can't believe it! She doesn't sit for longer than 2 minutes for anything else!
She loved her flowers!
Callie getting her face painted!
She wanted a purple cat!
The kids riding the little turtle! We told David and Andy to hold on to Alli! See how well Andy is trying to hold her?!!
I love this one of them... and Callie with her face paint is just too funny!
Ben was a little disappointed he didn't get to ride!
Alli was just a little tired!!
I made the boys smile for a picture!!
David on the big swings!
Andy on the big swings!
The boys on the big whip!
David let Ben play with his snake he won!
Cousin Megan and Ben!
Cousin Arden showing off her pretty make-up!!
Miles giving Ben big hugs!!
Alli with Cousins Kelsey and Nicci!
The kids at breakfast!
Sweet Isabella!
The girls playing in the kitchen!
Ben found a fun toy to play with!
Then Alli wanted to play with it!
The kids loved the bounce house!
Look at all the kids at the table and that was just one of the tables and not even half the kids!!
Cousin Chris and Megan with Ben!
Miles liked the slide!
Trouble?!?!
D.J. got Ben to sleep!
While we were packing things up Alli wanted to sit with David!
Its always so much fun to see all our family in Pittsburgh but its also very sad when we have to leave. Can't wait until next year!!
Back on the road...
Can you tell they didn't want to leave?
