Today's A Good Day For A Trip, CiCi!

Katie and Juli took their first train ride today and loved it. Well, Joseph reminded me they have been on the train in Magic Kingdom but I think this qualifies as the first ride because we sat in a passenger car and it was not at all like a ride at an amusement park. It was lots of fun though!

We rode the West Chester Railroad with Karen, Chris, Maddie, and Chris' mom Diane. There was supposed to be a flea market at the station but it was one measly table with stuff you couldn't even give away. Pretty funny!

Choo-Choo!

Maddie, Katie, and Juli in front of the train.

Standing there was totally freaking Katie and Juli out!

Juli enjoying the train ride as we moved slowly past the train yard.

Note the scoot away from the window once the speed picked up!
She did warm up to it and as we bounced along she told me "CiCi, this train is really dancing!"

Katie on the other hand loved looking out the window the whole time and didn't even want to turn around to smile for a picture.

Tree #1 - Uh oh! Debris on the track! It's just a little one though...

Chris, Maddie, Diane, Karen

Tree #2 - Umm, we might be here a while!
Actually, kudos to the guys cutting through the trees. They got everything cleared pretty quickly.
Thank god because let me tell you it got hot quick in that passenger car once we stopped moving!!!

The conductor gave the girls lollipops since they were so good while we had to wait for the tree to be cut off the tracks.
Here's Juli's aftermath...

On the ride back to the West Chester station, the girls read their Thomas books that they bought at the Glen Mills station.

Katie took this picture of Juli. She's such a talented photographer. Maybe Daddy can give her some lessons!

After the train ride, I drove the girls past West Chester University, since it was just around the corner, to show Katie and Juli where their Mommies went to school. Katie asked if me and Aunt Sandy were in the 'big kid's class', LOL. I stopped to take a picture of the building we lived in our first year and Katie said "if you want, I can go inside with you and take a picture of your old home." Aww, sweet offer but they were so tired and crabby (they were tired headed TO the train and never napped). Otherwise, I would've gotten out for a few minutes and walked around the campus a bit. Oh well, maybe next time...

Here's our old home
(taken on a drive by)

For more pics, check out Sandy's blog or Karen's Shutterfly pics (I'll have to add that link later.). Oh, and thanks to Juli for the title of this post, :-)

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Blogging!

Karen, Chris and Maddie finally have a blog! Check them out!

Ben Like Yoda, Me Thinks!

Today we went to The Franklin Institute with Karen and Chris to see the Star Wars exhibit. The exhibit itself was a little bit of a let-down (very small), but the museum was cool! I haven't been there in years and it was so different. We couldn't spend the day because we had to get home to work on the beam project and, besides, it was SO crowded but I can't wait to go back!

Good Ol' Ben
(and Karen & Chris in the bottom corner. I don't think Joseph even knew they were there!)

Uncle Chris is ready to go check out Star Wars

Katie checking out the bubbles she was making

I love my Aunt Karen!

We got to sit, relax, and chat for a bit while Katie tried out all the stuff with Aunt Karen and Uncle Chris. It was nice! LOL

Look at all those Katies!!!

What are you playing with, Uncle Chris?

I'm lookin' at the man in the mirror...

Here comes a bunch of Star Wars pics. After you look at them, you'll pretty much have seen the museum exhibit! LOL

Katie with R2D2 and C3PO

My, My Mr. Storm Trooper, are you excited to see us?
YodaR2D2C3PO

Chewbacca

Storm Trooper
Darth VaderChris and Karen squished in the back of the BMW
(doesn't look so squishy here but it was!)

Dye Job!

We have a tradition of going to Mom-Mom's house on the night before Easter to dye eggs. We always have a lot of fun and everyone gets into the egg decorating.

Katie dipping her egg

Maddie drawing on her 'sI think Joseph enjoyed dyeing the eggs more than the girls! :-)

Mom-Mom and Egg Head

Daddy, Aunt Karen, and Katie

Aunt Karen is excited about her egg and Katie is pretty serious about working on hers!An Ar-teest and his work
Finally, I got a turn!My Favorite Egg
(Aunt Karen and Katie made it)Ready for the Easter BunnyMine... ALL Mine!!!

Joseph's Birthday with Dad and Company - January 3, 2008

Last Thursday Dad, Rudy, Karen, Chris and Maddie came over for our usual Thursday night din-din and then we had a home-made from scratch cake that Rudy made. Yummy!

Mmmmm, cake!

Happy Birthday to Joseph!

Get that homework done, Maddie!
(I think she's doing a Gene Simmons impression.)

Opening Presents and Cards

I think this is Karen and Chris' "Cake Pose"
because this is not the first picture I have like this, LOL

New Year's Day Brunch

Our annual ring-in-the-new-year event!

The Mottola Bunch

Chris, Karen, Chrissy, Two Mom-Mom, John

The Moms

Hairdresser Shop:
Katie curling Poppy's hair
(after she said his other hair fell out)

Uncle John straightening Katie's hair

Supermarket Time: Katie, Maddie and Aunt Chrissy playing "shopping"

The Cashier

Uncle Chris crashed... too much NYE partying?

I told Maddie to smile and this is what I got!
So I told her it was going on the blog just like that!!!

Uncle John jammin' Guitar Hero

His adoring fan, lol

Aunt Chrissy checking out the blog

Coffee Klatch

Oh, look... Maddie CAN smile!