Trip to Erie

My younger brother & his wife had their first child, so it was off to Erie for me and the kids to meet her.

First Stop:

Cincinnati

Looking at baby chicks with some of the most awesome people we know

Having fun playing with Aunt Ellesha

Then another short 6 hours later and we were at Grandma & Grandpas.

Riding bouncy balls around the living room

He is too

 And it snowed...

The pic doesn't give it justice.  I was standing in about 6 inches of snow.

 ...And snowed...

My nephew cleaned my car for me

The windshield of my car

Gv enjoying the snow

...And snowed some more.

The boys playing out in the snow.  I stayed in the house with the coal fireplace and took this pic from the front window.

Running through the snow.

Throwing snowballs on the bridge over the pond.

 

A shot of the yard after it had snowed for two hours

 We got to spend some time with Phoenix

Phoenix is almost 13 years old.  He was our dog until Gt was born and I just didn't have the energy to take care of him too.  He went to live with Grandpa & Grandma where he loves to romp in the woods.  And the added bonus: we get to see him.

 

C & Phoenix

The kids & Phoenix.  We were afraid this might be the last time we saw him, so we just had to get a pic.  The kids miss him.

 Then off to the zoo with Aunt Holly and cousins

A picture with Perry the Penguin at the Erie Zoo

There is now a train exhibit there.  Gt was in heaven.

Cousins

A stare down...The old guy won. =)

We were trying to get a pic of them all.  It's hard!!

Gt giving himself & the penguins bunny ears.

Two of my boys riding the train.  They wanted front seats.  The others sat in the way back with their aunt & cousins.

Our train lover

A neat looking tree at Glenwood Park

K posing on the tree

 Next stop:

Grammy & Papas

Gt wanted a picture with the face in the tree.

K tried to give it a big smooch.

And now the star of our trip...

My precious little niece

 

We had so much fun being with her & family

Gt wanted a pic with her

(The next five pics are courtesy of my sis-in-law, Jamie)

I sooo enjoyed holding her.  Gave me the baby bug.  Don't worry...we're not having any more. =)

Happy to hold my niece.  She looked a little disgruntled...

...well two can play at that game!

My kids were captivated

C got to hold her too.  The highlight of her trip.

Time to go back to AL

As always, we have to stop off at "The Rocket" rest stop and have our pic taken.  It was a nice break during the long drive.

 We are glad to be back home.  Eighty-seven degrees and sunny is much more appealing than 30 and snowing.  But seeing family, friends and a new relative was absolutely worth it!