Mother's Day in Baltimore

To celebrate Mother's Day this year, we did what any mom would want to do...we drove to Baltimore to see a baseball game. We spent some time in the Inner Harbor, climbed the steps of Federal Hill, watched the Kinetic Art race through the city, swam (in a pool, though if Asher had his druthers, it'd have been in the Harbor), and, of course, went to an O's Game. While the Birds were handed a whoopin', we enjoyed the weather south of the Mason-Dixon. Charm City has always been one of our favorite trips and it was a great weekend to enjoy the city one more time before the big trek West.

Mommy and Asher at the O's Game

Eutaw Street, Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Asher and Daddy with ol' number 5. This is either a tribute to #5, the former high school catcher in Gunnison, or to Brooks Robinson, Hall of Fame third-baseman. We're still unsure.

Asher's saying, "Mommy's #1" on this Mother's Day weekend.

The big guy at the hotel after swimming.

You Look Like a Monkey...

Mimi came to visit at the beginning of April and the rain clouds parted just long enough for a day at America's oldest Zoo--the Philadelphia Zoo in Fairmount Park. Asher loved gorillas (probably because they reminded him of Pop-Pop, who he'd just seen in New York). He got to ride the carousel with Mimi, saw all kinds of animals, and made it home in time to catch the end of the Fightin' Phils.

Mimi, Asher, and the Bear

Take THAT Geese!

Spot the Great Ape in the Picture...

Asher tries to get up-close and personal with Baloo

New York, New York

It's been a busy Spring at the Woytek household--full of visits, working, and thinking about packing (because there hasn't been a whole lot of actual packing going on...yet). At the end of March Nana came for a visit and we made the 90 mile trek to New York City where Pop-Pop was chaperoning a student trip. We made record time until we actually crossed the Hudson into the city where the last 3 miles took us one hour. All in all we had a great time in NYC and Asher loved seeing his Nana and Pop-Pop. He played in Central Park, checked out the toys at FAO Schwarz, took a boat to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and met his first love in a New York diner!

Sliding in Central Park

Statue of Liberty

Pop-Pop and Asher with Lady Liberty

Nana enjoying the Audio Tour and Asher enjoying Nana's Audio Tour player inside the Statue Pedestal

Asher looking at his Great-Great Grandma Susan Scavnicky Woytek's name on Ellis Island

Oh, Shenandoah

Over Memorial Day Weekend, the three of us packed up the car and headed South across the Mason-Dixon Line to Northern Virginia. We stayed in Front Royal at the north entrance of the beautiful Shenandoah National Park. We took a drive up the famed Skyline Drive, which runs along the Blue Ridge Mountains. We loaded Asher in the backpack and took a hike to Overall Run Falls, which, with a height of 93 feet, is the Park's tallest waterfall. Asher enjoyed the fresh air, chirping birds, and the greenery. Mom and Dad enjoyed the weekend with no homework, lesson plans, or work-related obligations.

Overall Run Falls, Shenandoah National Park

Taking a break above the Falls

Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley

Mom and Asher taking a look at Overall Run Falls

Resting

Asher was a bit worn out after the hike

Master Mommy

Asher attended his first graduation ceremony in May and made it all the way through the two hour ceremony with no major meltdowns...a huge accomplishment. The greater accomplishment, however, was Cori's. She was hooded in the ceremony as a Master of Science in Reading Education from Gwynedd-Mercy College. While the diploma isn't quite in hand (she'll be completing a practicum in North Philadelphia this summer) she finished her classes with a 4.0 GPA. She's set quite an example for the little man to follow! So, congratulations, Master Mommy! We are so proud of you!

We were so lucky to have both of our moms out to celebrate and to watch Asher while we got to have a nice dinner in Center City and go to a Sugarland concert in Philadelphia. It was wonderful having Nana and Mimi for the weekend.

Master Mommy--All Smiles!

Celebrating at Home

"I'm proud of you Mom!"

With Nana and Mimi. Asher says, "Hey Mom, gimme that diploma!"

Mommy's First Mother's Day

For our first Mother's Day, we decided to take advantage of some relatively nice weather and take a drive to the First State. While Delaware has no mountains (Iron Hill isn't so much a hill as a speed bump), it still has some nice trails to hike. We took a stroll along White Clay Creek, sat in the grass, and had a wonderful day outside. Asher loved riding in the backpack and ate his fair share of leafy greens along the way. Here are some pictures of our latest adventure, which was capped off by a great lunch and good brews at the Iron Hill Brewery

Hey, whatcha doin' Dad?

Come on Mom, let's GO!

I LOVE my backpack!

Family photo (take 25)

That was fun...you're not putting me in that car seat again are you?

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The Great Outdoors

sLately, Asher has told us that the East Coast rat race has been getting to him. He's sick of his commute and really gets tired of all the traffic, especially on his way into the city. Thus, he's begun to take his R & R in the Great Outdoors. Here are a few pictures of the little man enjoying fresh air and sunshine.

Asher stuck in traffic.

Asher, Mom, and Dad taking a break to look at the ducks and muskrats.

Backpack...the way Kings travel.

"Hey guys, this sure beats driving!"

Although he travels by backpack during most of his outdoor adventures, Asher still works up an appetite.

Visitors, visitors

The end of March and the beginning of April was full of visitors and all kinds of fun. Here are a few pictures of Asher's adventures with the grandparents.

Two Guys and a Gal at Five Guys'

Worn out after cheesesteaks on South Street

First trip to the Liberty Bell

The newest cast of Jersey Shore

Spring is Here

After a cold, wet, and overall dreary weekend, complete with a sick Mommy and Baby, we decided we should remember better days. Last weekend it actually seemed like spring here in the Mid-Atlantic, and we decided to take advantage of the weather. So, we headed down to the mighty Delaware River for a stroll. Asher tried out his shades for the very first time. Though they were still pretty big on him, he still wore them like a rock star. Now, if we can just string a few more of these nice days together!

"Enough with the pictures! Let's go!"

Cori and Asher by the Delaware River

Jimmy and Asher

Worn out!

With Villanova dropping 5 of their last 7 games, March isn't shaping up like Asher had hoped. With that in mind, he's looking forward to the Phils starting hot in April.