Rainiers first day at the ZOOOOOOOO.

I was so glad I was able to spend a beautiful day at the zoo with my beautiful little boy and see the excitement in his eyes with each new discovery.

Noise

There was a strange noise around my house today, I think it's something called silence.

These four all woke up early and put on their new duds, and ventured off for their first day of school.

Thomas hopped on a bus to CMU and the girls, Rainier and I went on our way to Colfax Elementary established 1911.

We scaled the massive steps, to the massive school and entered into a very cool, unique place.

Alli was thrilled that even though she is only entering into 5th grade she already gets a locker. But since she is entering into 5th she is too "old" for me to walk her into class. This is me pouting about it: boo-hoo.

Claire and Ainsley's classrooms are in the basement.

They reported today that not only do they also get lockers, but they all get to have swim for gym, they each take spanish and Alli and Claire have 9 periods. Claire says she feels just like a high schooler. I am so glad they had such a great first day, I was a bit nerved up about the whole deal and worried they might not fit in, but Alli already had kids screaming her name out of the bus windows on the way home and Claire and Ainsley had this or that to tell about their new friends.

I realized today that I wasnt happy because the girls were out of my hair, but I was genuinely happy for them to be busy, learning, and making friends, doing what they're designed to do.

Also

Did I forget to mention I was thankful to the Pitts for good neighbors to deliver these yummy peach pies too?

Oh I did? I'm sorry,

I'm thankful for good, friendly, neighbors as well.

Thankful

The Pitts have allotted me a few things since we've been here.

They have allowed me enough self introspection to realize I am a whiney, spoiled baby that is almost 30 and needs to shape up.

It has allowed me to truly value the friendships we make in life,

 opened up my heart to the goodness of all people, big or small, missing teeth or dentured, rich or poor, Steelers fans or not. So many people in this world have so much to offer.

Its given me a love for my long gone western roads and highways planned out with precision, traffic laws, and right hand turns on red.

It's reminded me of my best friend of all, Thomas, who most of the time I take for granted, but every now and then I settle down a bit, and am in awe of what a wonderful, talented, intelligent and extremely fun man I married.

Probably the biggest gift the Pitts have given me is the opportunity to do a lot more with my kids.

Last week we were a wee-bit stir crazy and loaded ourselves up into the family wagon and headed on out to Simmons Farm in McMurray Pennsylavania.

Sometimes it is a bit of a shocker to think that we are actually here in Pennsylvania. I'm not sure why.

But here we were in these gorgeous peach orchards.

Just plucking away,

inspecting the fruits of our labor...pun intended.

What a glorious day,

even though Rainier preferred to throw the fruit instead of pick it.

At the end of probably only 15 minutes we had our half bushel full,

and we were ready to go on our way.

But not before we made our final stop at the petting zoo.

Where we had the animals all to ourselves.

Which was too close to comfort for this little guy.

Especially since this mean rooster kept fluffing its feathers, ready to peck us to death.

and baby goats were ready to eat us to death.

P.S. What kind of mother lets her toddler suck on candy while inside of a filthy petting zoo? Oh wait, thats me.

Can't wait till this little beauty turns into a big, bright, orange beauty. 

We'll see you in October Simmons Farm... but probably with our scarves on.

Future

A day at the Carnegie Natural History Museum

Made a couple of girls happy.

A boy in goggles cheese-a-licious.

Gave an opportunity to dig for actual dinosaur bones,

and a breath-taking display of dinosaur artifacts.

Allowed Thomas an opportunity to get a little bite to eat,

and an opportunity to wrestle an almost 2 year old.

And the chance for all of us to watch a few paleontologists do their job.

Which in turn inspired a museum on the third floor of the Gearhart Dormitory.

With special exhibits by each museum member.

And Claire declaring her future dream to become a Museum Curator.

Date Night

Thomas took me out for date night Friday night.

We took a stroll across the 6th street bridge downtown.

And enjoyed some spectacular weather...

and spectacular views.

We went to a Pirates baseball game at PNC Park.

Apparently their baseball team isn't that great,

but the good news is all Pitts teams have coinciding colors, yellow and black, so you don't have to invest double the money to show your spirit.

It was a splendid night...

that ended with a saxophone serenade, by a man who doesn't like his picture taken.

(I learned that the hard way.)

But I also learned that downtown Pitts does actually have some laws.

I've just learned the best one the other day. Its called the Pittsburgh left.

I'll have to show you it next time I'm driving around town.