The wheels on the bus....

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

So today was the BIG day! Abigail was off to school. She really wanted to ride the bus, so we let her. She had a great time at the bus stop with all the other kids from the neighborhood. Once they got on the bus she was a little unsure of what to do, but we told her to go across the street and get on the bus. She did so with much excitement and I can't wait to go get her back in a few hours and hear all about her day. I'm sure she had a great time and met new friends. She's such a special little girl, I can't believe she's so big. I'll miss her dearly here during the day, but know that she is going to learn so much. I'll just hug her extra tight when she comes home! Check back soon for an update from Abigail of the big day!

Ready for school!!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Our punkin! Can't believe it's time to send her off to school. She was so excited, from the moment I woke her up she was just beaming with excitement. She put her clothes, shoes, jacket, and backpack on about 30 minutes before we left for the bus stop. Such a big girl! She's going to do great!

So sunny!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Sweet Abigail. It was actually a little chilly here on her first day of school. About 60 degrees. But the sun was in full blaze, shining to send her off.

Bye little brother

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Samuel made the trek to the bus stop with us. Here is Abigail bidding him farewell.

Aviary trip

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

This past Monday we took the kids to the National Aviary here in Pittsburgh. I had always wanted to take them, especially Josiah, who has always had a big love for birds. We had a great time. There were so many cool birds. Josiah says his favorite was feeding the lorikeets, and Abigail says the spoonbill was her favorite. My personal favorite was the rhinoceros hornbill, who was huge and jumped around on the tree branches. He reminded me of my sweet little Josiah hopping around the house.

Look, it's eating

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Abigail had a great time feeding the lorikeets.

Eating with Josiah

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Josiah was so fascinated by this little bird eating right out of his hand. Even the keeper made a remark of how well he did with the birds.

Josiah's little buddy

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Here is Josiah stalking his new little buddy a blue crowned pigeon. It was in the rainforest exhibit and he just walked around. I'm really surprised at how well Josiah contained himself and did not chase it.

Penguins!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

We really enjoyed the penguin exhibit. There were plenty of chances to get really close to them. They are funny little things. The best part was when one lost its tag and a keeper had to try to come in and catch it and all the others ran away and dove into the water. She caught the penguin though.

Taking a rest

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Josiah chilling out in the bubble in the penguin exhibit.

in a bubble

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Abigail looking cute in the bubble in the penguin exhibit.

HI!!!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

A penguin checks out Abigail as she checks it out.

Josiah and a penguin

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

How cool it was to be so close!

A boy and his elephant

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

What a fun time, playing with my little man!

I want that elephant!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Wow! This is really crazy for me, my 8 month old has been pulling up and standing strong, and even cruising a little. He actually has been pulling up since before he could crawl. I tell him, he just needs to sit back down and be little for a little bit longer. I know he won't though. But I'm just not ready, for what I know is not too far away, walking! Not because I'm afraid he'll get into stuff, I'm just not ready for him to be big just yet.

Ugh, Mommy moved it!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

In order to entice Samuel away from the stone, I moved the elephant, none too sly, actually he was on to me.

I got it!!!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Samuel is very happy to have the elephant!

Lake Erie!!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Friday we took the kids to Lake Erie for the day. It was an awesome time! It was raining earlier in the day, but by the time we got there it turned into a beautiful day. Summer's coming to an end, but we're still loving it!

Splashing!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

I loved how shallow the lake was so that even Samuel could sit and enjoy the water. He'd sit and splash and then crawl down the waterline, i'm pretty she he would have crawled right out into it if I would have let him.

Checking it out

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Samuel checking out a big ole gross pile of weeds!

Big man

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

He's growing up so much! He'll be three next week, so hard to believe. My sweet little man.

Swimming together

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

They loved swimming in the lake. I think we must have been in it for over an hour, and even then Abigail didn't want to get out.

Sitting in the water

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Isn't she beautiful?!?

Splashing around

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Josiah looking at his splashes.

Woo hoo Idlewild!!!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Last week we took a trip to Idlewild park with the kids for the first time.We enjoyed some Chick-fil-A with our friends then we all headed to the park for some fun. It was a great time, though we had to cut our time a tiny bit short due to a huge storm blowing in. But we ran like crazy, even sweet little Abigail and made it to our car about 2 minutes before the rain started pouring.

Here the kids are on their favorite ride, The Turtle! It was worth the entire trip just to watch Josiah laugh uncontrollably as they'd go up and down the little hills. Abigail was being so cool putting her arms up, enjoying the full thrill of it all. What a great time!

Driving slow

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

One of the things I remembered most from Idlewild as a kid and was telling our kids about before we left were the old cars you got to drive around the track. They were there, they were just the same as I remembered, but funny thing was our kids were not all that excited about them. I think they enjoyed them, but guess there just wasn't enough speed for their taste.

Fly kids

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Josiah and Abigail ready to pilot a biplane at Idlewild. Abigail really liked that she could pull on the stick and make it go up and down.

Dragon

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Josiah all ready to take on the dragon.

HI!!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

I know the picture is blurry. But I still think it's cute of Abigail waving to her Daddy as she rides around on the dragon. She loved that it went way up in the air.

SQURT!!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

In the water area there were these really big guns that were all in a circle and squirted water. The kids really loved them!

Get you!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Cool Josiah giving a gun a squirt!

AHHHH!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Abigail generally doesn't like water on her face so we were really surprised when she ran right into, all on her own, the big circle surrounded by kids squirting huge water guns at her. And she loved it and just giggled the whole time.

Getting wet

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Josiah walking slowly through the guns squirting him with water. It felt so good on a hot day!

Tunnel time!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Samuel officially crawls EVERYWHERE! Here he is taking on the tunnel for the first time. He loves it! The funny thing was that he crawled about half way stopped and sat up and just talked for a long time, then proceeded to crawl the rest of the way out. Silly Samuel!

Get you!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Samuel trying to get the camera as Daddy snaps the shot.

Too cool

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

The other night on a walk Josiah took his hat off and put it on Samuel. Samuel thought it was really silly and Daddy got this picture with his phone. Couldn't you just squeeze that face?

What are you doing in here?

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

So when Samuel woke up the other morning, I like always, just let him lay in bed and talk to himself for a while. It's so sweet to listen to, and it's good for him to learn to not be attended to right away. Well anyway, Josiah disappears from the living room where we are playing and I here giggling. I go to check on him, and he is IN Samuel's bed. Samuel, of course, thinks this is hilarious. My funny boys, I love them!!

Battle wounds

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Poor Josiah. He fell on the steps out front a few weeks ago, and got a little scrape. That in and of itself was not all that bad, no tears, and once it was cleaned up he was fine. What was crazy was that over the course of the next 2 weeks he busted the scab back open like 5 times. Like here at Bonky's after a fall running down the hill. He now has a pretty good sized scare on his knee now that all has healed. Oh a boy in the summer!

Ribbit!!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Josiah showing off a toad for the camera at Bonky's!

Princess and the toad

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Our sweet Abigail. Sometimes she is absolutely all girl. Her love for dresses that spin, and tap shoes, and toenail polish. But then there are other times when she is a true tomboy. Like this one. She is excitedly holding a toad at Bonky's house a couple weeks ago. Cole had caught it before we got there, and she wanted to hold it right away, but we had to wait until his mommy could see it. Well Abigail carried it's little cage around for hours, poor little guy, i'm happy to see it survived.

VROOM!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Samuel driving the car at Bonky's house a few weeks back. He is a very happy kid!

Hot cheese fireman

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

This is so funny. For some silly reason recently Josiah has been pretending this old basket is a firefighter helmet. So here he is with it on his head, ready to go out for a swim. He is also enjoy some hot cheese, you know the kind with hot peppers in it. He loves the stuff!!!

Handsome face!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Sweet Samuel all wet from swimming in his pool.

Getting big brother

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Now that Samuel is crawling he makes it a point to come after whoever he wants. Here he is tackling big brother. I'm sure there will be many such scenes in the future.

Birthday girl

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

This year for Abigail's birthday we took her out on the town instead of doing gifts. It was so much fun. We went to Eat and Park for breakfast and then to the Children's museum and then home for some naps then to the movies to see "UP". The boys and Bonky joined us for breakfast and the museum, but stayed behind for the movie. Such a fun day celebrating our little girl!!!!

Big slide!!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

I think one of the coolest things was this room that you walked in that was tilted and then it took you to this incredibly fast slide. You just shot down out of that thing like crazy. So fun!!!

DRIVE!!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

One of the exhibits is a room where there is a bunch of mechanical stuff, including this Mini Cooper that kids can get in and drive. There was a gear shift and everything, which they particularly enjoyed. She is one pretty girl there driving!

Pumping gas

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Abigail had a lot of fun using the gas pump. Look at that concentration.

Can we drive it? Yes we can!

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

One of the exhibits was Bob the Builder where the kids could get in big replicas of all the characters. Here is Josiah driving away!

Planting flowers

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Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Abigail really loved the part of the Bob the Builder display where you could "plant" flowers by Wendy's trailer. They had a huge bunch of flowers and wheelbarrows and then places you could take them to with holes in the floor to plant them. Good fun!