Kevin and Alison

We spent the rest of the week visiting our friends Brad and Kelli and their little girl Emmalyn. We had a great time catching up with them and Chloe loved having a buddy to play with. Just look at this face, and you'll know Emmalyn was a great hostess: and....she had a set of pom-poms, which Chloe loved: On Friday morning we went to the Inner Harbor and looked at some boats: We also happened across a playground and let the girls try it out. Check out Kelli (who is due with Baby Boy in early November) climbing around the playground. Not letting that baby bump get in her way! Chloe's favorite part of the playground was the dirt she could pick up and let fall through her fingers.... We got to play their Wii... and play with the cat, Lexi... Friday night we went to a great local restaurant for dinner and then watched a movie with some peach pie made by Kelli. On Saturday we visited a local state park. Kevin and I commented how nice and flat the walking trails were! We got to...

Last week, Kevin was able to take some time off from work and we enjoyed a mini-vacation. First up was Chloe's first trip to the zoo. She spent a lot of time looking like this: Peering over/around the stroller to see all the interesting sites. Of course, if she couldn't see the animals in the exhibit, we took her out to look. I asked Chloe where the rhinoceros was.... Yep! That's it! :) We had a really good view of the elephants....although Chloe seemed more interested in their fountain and water.... and this giraffe was eating leaves off the tree: The gorillas had just finished eating lunch.... and the American Black Bear was taking a nap: Chloe's favorite part of the day was the time we spent in the aquarium. She liked being close to the fish and watching them swim around. We saw sting-rays... and the polar bear.... and watched the sharks eat lunch! The last animals we saw were the sea lions. Kevin was taking video while one sea lion started following Chloe and ...

My sister and I went to a Women of Faith Conference this weekend and Kevin stayed at home with Chloe. I think these pictures are evidence that they had a good time together. They visited my grandma, got together with friends, and walked at the park. Don't worry, Chloe got to visit with Aunt Laura before she left. Cousin Hoffman makes a good pillow! And, I was home in time to dress Chloe 'correctly' for Sunday afternoon:

We had a great weekend - loving the cooler weather.... This picture is from earlier in the week, on a night that Kevin had something after work, and Chloe must have been missing him. She carried around his hat for a little while: and then decided to kiss it: Chloe learned how to walk the dog...and loves to watch it following her. Sometimes that means she bumps into things, because she's not watching where she's going! Mimi and Mrs. Faye, this picture is for you. Chloe wore a dress that Mimi got her to church on Sunday, and of course, Baby Faye (her favorite baby doll) came to church with her. Chloe was napping during the Steelers game, but she put on her Eagles outfit to watch the game with Dad. Maybe by the end of the season she'll know how to do the sign for "touchdown!" :) Here are the Eagles fans in January: and on Sunday: Kevin looks about the same.....Chloe looks really different! :)

Mimi and Poppop got us a storm door for our basement entrance and my dad helped Kevin install it. It was a great idea and an easy improvement to the look of the doorway and our basement! Thank you Mimi, Poppop, and Daddy/Phil! Someone really likes looking outside:

Chloe received a lot of nice toys for her birthday. Here we are, almost a month later, and she's learned a lot since then.... She's played the piano a lot: And even gave Eliana a lesson: She likes her camping chair and loves that it has a cup holder: Pop-pop gave Chloe a guitar lesson.... and now she and Dad play together: The only thing she doesn't have a hang of yet.....Walking the dog: She's really good at dragging, hanging, and swinging the dog.....and also patting him on the head. Taking him for a 'walk' is something she's still learning :)