At the Philly Zoo...

Boy, Gabriel LOVES his uncle Jordan!!

They we're talking about all the really cool stuff we were seeing.

Like this totally hilarious Giraffe, he looked so cute!!
He noticed us laughing at how he has to stand to eat off the ground!

I don't think he likes to be laughed at but it's so cute!!

I really liked the African wild dogs...

The Cheetahs were really neat!
This guy just wanted to let us know he is the boss around here!

There were 6 hens around this peacock and none of them would pay him any attention...

He was trying so hard to impress the ladies! I thought he looked great!

Jeremy got a quick shot of one of the eagles.

This guy was so beautiful, he was lounging the carnivore section.

what a cute guy!!

Philadelphia Zoo...

We really had a great time at the Zoo.

Here are a few more highlights from our visit...

an adorable tortoise!

the elephant was busy throwing dust most of the day...

a glimpse of Hippo Love!



One of the attractions we really enjoyed was "Big Cat Falls"


He was making that really awesome "urrrrrrrrrrrr" sound they make to talk to each other!

It may look like a "ROAR!!" but it was really a yawn!

This guy was so cool-
he kept starring at the little kids like they were supper!


Jeremy took this pic- isn't it great!?!

This tiger was enormous! As it walked past the glass, Gabe was like- "no-no" he was ready to get the heck out of there!!
He was so beautiful though- Just amazing!

hiding from the weather...

Gabe and I are staying in to avoid the ridiculous weather we're having. I just snapped a quick picture of him enjoying his favorite show Sesame Street..

busted by the kiddo...

One more picture of kiddo- he caught me taking pictures of him while he's trying to watch his show! We're just bored (especially me) stuck inside since it's crazy winter- ice storm here!Hey Mommy! Whatcha Doing? (I love the way he looks when he's all snuggled up!)

feels like Michigan...

I'm getting that "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes" feeling. This was very common in Michigan, but now it seems to have followed us here to Philly! Yesterday and the day before it was sunny and in the low 70's! Today, they are closing businesses left and right due to ICE!!

It's completely ridiculous! It's been freezing rain, sleet and snow all day today! There is a 3/4 inch thick layer of ice on everything!

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

Two days ago we were enjoying summer weather, and today it's winter again... Whatever happened to SPRING!!??!!

Day out on the town....

We decided to head down to King of Prussia for the day- We went to the mall and out to lunch at TGIFridays! Here's a picture of my guys at lunch- fyi... Daddy's smiling because of the June Bug (HA!)

Note to self: Walk the gigantic mall first next time and THEN sit down and eat a huge delicious meal and have a yummy drink! (HA!)

Some snapshots from our tour ...

Here are a few of the sights from King of Prussia Mall...

It's all set up like a 40's-50's diner with motorcycles... it was neat! (I know I'm a dork)

This just made me laugh... what are you supposed to do if your dog isn't cool?

It was my first time in an Apple store, it was really neat- they had everything!!

I really liked all the watch/clock faces with the different times from around the world, they all had the green glow behind them-

I just thought it looked neat.



I was so excited the first time I saw this store, I used to have to order my make up via the phone or internet, now I can go in and see all their products in person! (sorry, it's a girl thing)


oooooooooooooooooooooo, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

At home resting after a long eventful day...

The boys are ready for a rest after a long day of sight seeing in King of Prussia!

All better- headed to school tomorrow...

Gabe's spirits picked up today by leaps and bounds and he finally said he's ready to go to school. (It's a good thing too, because he's going tomorrow regardless!) I'm ready for a mommy holiday! (HA!HA!) Just wanted to let everyone know he's back in good heath and ready for his one day of school left this week! XOXO!! Kari

On the road to recovery...

Hello!
We're pretty sure Gabriel's fever broke at some point overnight or this morning while he was sleeping. He didn't wake up until around 11am so, he slept around 13 hours. We went to the doctor just to make sure he's out of the woods, but so far- the fever is gone and he's back to a normal routine. They prefer a child goes 24 hours with no fever before they return to school so he won't be going back to school tomorrow. He'll be going to school on Friday though and then he'll be home for the weekend! I swear- that little stinker just wants to hang out at home! (Just Kidding) Gabe loves school and I can tell already he's excited to get back there as soon as we'll let him. So- all is well on the home front and we're well on the way to a full recovery! Take care- I'll check in again sometime this weekend. Love and Miss you all! -Kari

Walker/Gait-Trainer Video's....

Hello All- I wanted to try a new way to post video of Gabe, so I'm using some of the Gait-trainer video from Nov/Dec 2006. A few of you may have seen it, but I know most of you haven't so ENJOY! I mostly want to see if using this way to post video is better than the other way. Take care, and again ENJOY!! -Kari

Gabe Gait-Trainer Video...

this one is really cute...

another quick video...

Check the little guy out!

Walkin Guy...

Walker video of Gabe in Nov/Dec of 2006:

Home Suggling...Resting... and getting sick of Mommy!

Gabe is still home with a fever, he's eating well and keeping him drinking is pretty easy with the new cup. Just grabbed a few quick snap shots of Gabe snuggling up with his new blanket.

(Made for him with love by Mommy!)

He can be such a trooper when it comes to giving me some cute smiles when I ask...
Cheese!!
Unless he's into Sponge Bob....

OK, I think I'd better stop flashing pictures of him before he kills me with that look!! I think I captured the official end of his patience with me!! These are the moments when he reminds me the most of me!! HA!HA!HA!

Hopefully, he'll be feeling better by tomorrow, if not we'll have to go and see the doctor to get some medicine. For now, more rest, more fluids, more advil, and more Sponge Bob!
Take care! -Kari

more at home time...

Well, Gabe woke up around 12:30am crying and had a fever- so no school Monday or Tuesday for Gabe! Hopefully he'll be back in school on Wednesday. He is in really good spirits, just laying around- it's all about rest, fluids, and snuggles. Hope everyone is doing well- I'll update you on Gabe as soon as I know anything new- seems like it's just a winter cold, but we'll keep a close eye on it just in case.
Take care- I've got to get back to Mommy duty.
Love, Kari

Hanging at home...

Hello All!!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been a bit busy with Gabe home so much. He's had four days with 2 hour delay- 2 days with school closed- one day home sick- and he just had a four day winter break on top of that!

We've been spending a lot of quality and quantity!!

We're both getting a bit spoiled I think- not to mention I haven't been able to work in a while. I'm not complaining by any means- he's a total sweetie!

Anyway...

We found a cup that Gabe likes and he can drink by himself- I just took a few quick picks of him with Daddy and thought I would share them...

Love and Miss you-

Kari

two hour delay...

Gabe had a two hour weather delay today so we hung out, watched cartoons and suggled on the couch to keep warm. The high today is 21 degrees. That's pretty darn cold for Philly! Anyway, I snapped a few quick shots of the kiddo while we were holding up inside!

Hangin' with mom watching some Clifford Puppy Days! He's getting so big and grown up- I'm glad he still likes the simple things like Sesame Street and Clifford now and then!

You can tell he thinks I'm goofy- but that's ok, because he tells me he loves me and THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS!

(oh yeah, and I am kinda goofy- so....I can't really complain!)

reading with daddy...

That's my guys right there- what can I say besides...I just love them!

They're TOO CUTE!!

sup PLAYAS!!!

You know it's off the hizzle for shizzle.... sho-nuff! (HA!!!)

You know we're so cool it's actually painful! (HA!!)

keep on a truckin...

A couple of pictures at a rest stop where Gabe was convinced I was going to give him a turn to drive on the way back home! Hey- It's my turn to drive...RIGHT???

MOMMY SAID YEP!!!

(JUST KIDDING- OF COURSE WE DIDN'T LET HIM DRIVE)

Say Cheese!

Daddy, Gabe, Auntie Cassie, & Uncle Jordan.

Michigan visit with the Andersons...

Just a couple of quick pictures of Gabe when we were up in Caro at

Grandma & Grandpa Andersons!

Gabe with Daddy and PaPa relaxing and holding his favorite Sponge Bob ball.

Gabe just loves his Uncle Jordan- they are always cracking up! Jordan makes Gabe laugh and you just can't help it once Gabe starts laughing- it's totally contagious!!

Told Ya!!

Busy as a bee...

Wow, it's been a very busy month- sorry it's been that long since I last checked in. We had a family visit, therapies, doctors appointments, Michigan trip (a quick one) and all kinds of other stuff going on over the past month!
I'll be posting some pictures from the PA visit this weekend as well as giving all the updates (school, doc's, therapies, equipment, work, my weekend in MI, etc..etc..etc!!)
Love and miss you all! (well at least quite a few of you! - HA!!)

Our Little Guy!

We took some more video of Gabriel in his gait-trainer and I pulled a few stills off of the video. He has such a great time walking around in that thing. We're working with the therapist to get him to walk more "functionally" but we just can't help but let him have some fun getting around in it with the extra support. There's a time for work and a time for PLAY!!

He went from one end of the basketball court to the other for over an hour. I swear, we were more tired of walking than he was!!

He just loves it!

If he's not cracking up because we're chasing him or he's chasing us, then he is just grinning from ear to ear because he is so proud of himself and having SO MUCH FUN!!

It really is contagious to watch him, my face hurts from smiling and laughing every time we go out for a walk! Sorry the pictures are a little blurry- I made stills from the video and he's moving in some of the pictures, so there not as clear as usual.

I just thought these moments were so adorable I had to share!

I plan on posting the entire video soon I just need to edit it and decide about where to post it, I think I'm going to use Picasa for everything now and stop using YouTube. I just need to make sure and then I'll post the stuff- ANYWAY!! (sorry to babble on and on!)

Hope you enjoy, and I'll post more pictures later! -Kari