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

Birthday at the Pumpkin Patch

Because Asher's first birthday was on a Wednesday, his birthday bash had to wait till the weekend. However, he was lucky enough to have his Nana and Mimi show up early in the week. Cori played hooky for the day (Jimmy seems to be in a state of perpetual-hookying) and we headed to Duffield's Farm in Sewell, New Jersey for the day. Asher made it through his first corn maze (also known as a maize maze), took a hay ride, picked a pumpkin, and capped it all off with some apple cider doughnuts and presents at home!

"Hey, can someone help me pick this thing up?"

Heading through the Corn Maze

With Nana and Mimi on the Hay Ride to the pumpkin patch

"I...want...THIS ONE!"

"I'd pose for the family photo, but this is way too interesting."

New York, New York

The last stop on the Mendelson-Woytek Summer Tour 2010 was New York. Ah, the Big Apple. We shoved as much as possible in the two days we were in the city. Times Square. Check. Little Italy. Check. Chinatown, Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, Ground Zero, Central Park, Yankee Stadium. Check. Asher was amazing in his backpack...a real trooper. We think he's now well acquainted with the MTA Subway system, so he'll be the tour guide on the next trip.

Asher at Stage Deli on Broadway taking his first bite of cheesecake.

From Left to Right: Alisha, the Naked Cowboy, Cori. Wait, the Naked Cowboy?

Brooklyn Bridge

Asher was far more impressed with the traffic below than with the Frenchman taking our picture. Fromage!

New Yankee Stadium for the Yanks-M's game. Asher felt obliged to wear a Yankees shirt as he was with the New Yorkophile Mendelsons. Daddy, however, wondered how much trouble he could get into with a Phillies hat...and a Mariners shirt. The answer was none. The Bronx ain't so bad. Go figure.

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!"

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