Philadelphia Highlights

We took advantage of Rojelio's professional conference and turned it into a mini family vacation.

We ate breakfast at Reading Terminal Market, which was right next to our hotel.They had the best fresh squeezed orange juice!While Rojelio was busy at his conferences, Annie & Lucia had time to enjoy the pool.

Swimming really knocked Lucia out!

A post swimming & nap snack in the hotel.

At Franklin Square there was a giant sand sculpture to cheer on the Phillies in the World Series.Rojelio & Lucia with Independence Hall in the background.Annie & Lucia in front of the Liberty Bell.After a long day of swimming, trick-or-treating & site seeing Lucia was pooped.Rojelio wouldn't let us leave Philadelphia before having a Philly cheese steak.We went to the famous Pat's.

Rojelio was so excited!Riding back to the hotel with a belly full of cheese steak & fries.Lucia with her souvenirs.Goodnight Philadelphia, thanks for a wonderful time.

Halloween in Philadelphia

This year we happened to be in Philadelphia during Halloween.

Lucia sported her lovely Halloween striped cat shirt.

Demonstrating her cat, monster & witch sound effects.

In the afternoon Lucia was happy to get dressed up in her turtle costume.

We walked over to the historic district in downtown Philadelphia.

Franklin Square had a children's treat-or-treating event.

Lucia got to decorate her own goodie bag.

After her bag was done, she was ready to go off to the stations.

Getting some candy from the goose & lady.

Lucia enjoyed conversing with the frog.

We had a great time trick-or-treating at Franklin Square.

We made sure to stop & get a Tastykake milkshake for the walk back to the hotel.

Our Halloween night ended with one of Lucia's favorite stories, Five Little Pumpkins.

Children's Museum in Philadelphia

While Rojelio was busy at conferences all day in Philadelphia, Annie & Lucia met up with some friends and went to the children's museum.

Lucia was just a little too short to fully enjoy the giant water tables.

Lucia & Stella playing in the nature center.
Sitting on a swan in the nature center.
Playing with the bendable cat tails.
When the lily pads are stepped on a pond noise plays. Lucia found the lily pad that had a thunderstorm sound & vibrated when stepped on.
A giant floor piano, just like in the movie Big. Lucia loved dancing on it.

She sat and played the toy piano so nicely.

Moving her little fingers up & down the keys.

There was a whole section dedicated to The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland.

Lucia had tea with some new friends.

She was a very good hostess & went to Alice's kitchen to get more tea for her guests.

A hidden slide in Wonderland.

Moving on to another area Lucia found one of her favorite animals.

She wasn't quite expecting the cow to talk to her.

Captain Lucia took Stella for a boat ride.

When Lucia turned the wheel the front of the boat moved up & down.

Lucia took care of the babies in the Medical Center.

I think she was trying to get a urine sample.

So many babies to take care of.

After her shift at the Medical Center Lucia went to the McDonald's.

Then it was off to grocery shopping at the Shop Rite.

We were at the museum over 5-hours & had so much fun. There was a lot to do. We saw a black light puppet show, rode the carousel & had lunch there too. Annie took so many pictures that her camera battery died before we were done. Lucia was asleep in the car before we left the parking lot! Thank you Billy & Stella for sharing a great day with us.

Boo at the Zoo

The weekend before Halloween we went to Boo at the Zoo, which was at the National Zoo in Washington, DC.

Lucia was a turtle.

Annie went as a frog (it's kinda hard to see, but she is wearing a frog hat).

Rojelio was a puppy dog.

We were lucky it stopped raining just as we got to the zoo.

Lucia really enjoyed trick-or-treating.

Towards the end of the night she started saying trick-or-treat after the treat was dropped into her bag.

The Whole Foods stand gave out organic apples.

There were grave stones around the zoo that represented extinct animals.

Getting ready to dump our loot.

Lucia went through all her goodies.

We had a great time trick-or-treating at the zoo.