A Visit With the South Carolina Grandparents

Last month Natalie and I went to visit family in South Carolina.  We both had a wonderful time with Grandmother and Granddaddy.  Between this and the previous New York trip Natalie has gotten quite a bit of traveling experience.  She is becoming quite a pro.  I am very proud of her.

Natalie pulls her own little suitcase (full of toys) all the way through the airports.

Eating dinner at a Korean Restaurant

Flying Chopstick Airplanes

The Aquarium in Charleston

Walking in a pretend bog at the Children's Museum

A Day of Firsts at Coney Island

On our last full day in New York Natalie, Sissy and I took an hour long train ride to Coney Island.

On the way to a fun filled day

Natalie wanted to ride this swing ride which was rated "High Thrill".  Sissy and I both thought that the 100 foot assent into the air might be a bit much for Natalie's first ever amusement park ride, but Natalie was determined to try it.  She was not a bit scared.  After the ride was over she said she had fun, but that it didn't go fast enough :)

We rode a few tame rides.

Natalie decided she wanted to ride this roller coaster which was rated "Medium thrill".  There weren't any big drops - just lots of tight curves and super fast speed.

Natalie had a big smile on her face after her roller coaster ride and was ready to do it again.
She also rode the log ride which had a 40' extremely steep drop.  That was her favorite!

Natalie also experienced the ocean for the first time.  At first she was a bit scared of the motion of the waves, but after a short time she fell in love with it and it was hard to drag her away.  We played in the sand, looked for seashells and jumped the waves over and over and over.

 

 

On the Train ride home

The Brooklyn Children's Museum

Natalie and I had a wonderful time visiting The Brooklyn Children's Museum.  We went last year also, but found many fun new exhibits to explore this year.

Peekaboo

The new sensory room was a big hit.  Natalie especially loved the hammock swing.  She buried herself in it and laughed hysterically while I spun her in big circles.

This year we discovered the interactive gardens.  My favorite part was the fragrance garden.  They had mint, geranium and other plants that you could rub between your fingers and smell.

"The driver of the bus says 'move on back'" (from Wheels on the Bus song)

Working the desk at the pretend theater

Making pizza

Eating pizza

We Love New York in June, How About You?

Natalie and I had a wonderful time with Sissy and Stella in New York this year. We went on lots of walks, played princesses, went to the Brooklyn Children's Museum and took a trip to Coney Island. (Pictures to follow in future post)

Walking Stella in Brooklyn

Getting a piggy back ride from Sissy during a sudden rainstorm

Forever Friends

Natalie and I just returned from our annual pilgrimage to NYC.  Our first day was spent with our very dear friends in Long Island.  Natalie had a wonderful time playing with "S" (age 10) and "A" (age 6), who were also both adopted from China.  The older girls were so sweet with Natalie. It was wonderful to see her interact with them and fun to see her hold her own.  Natalie is definitely no shrinking violet; she is a girl full of plans and ideas which she loves to share with others.  Natalie had the time of her life and I think she would have been thrilled for us to move in with this amazing family.  

Portrait of "S" taken by Natalie

Tuckered out girls take a 5 minute rest before bouncing back up to conquer the world again.