Tour of Bethlehem Steel

Now that we don't have much time left in Bethlehem (less than 1 month) we are trying to make sure we  see all the sights we've been meaning to see.

Today we went on a walking tour of the Bethlehem Steel campus. We learned about the blast furnaces, the buildings and their purposes, and some other fun facts. Did you know that new workers had to wear a large red "x" on their hard hats so that the crane operators above them would be extra careful (since they didn't know how to stay out of the way, yet)?  Similar to being a freshman in high school, the long-time workers would sometimes pick on these "rookies" by doing things such as hoisting their clothing away when they were taking their shower in the locker room, and other pranks. The entire campus spans four miles.

I didn't catch a lot of the information since we were trying to keep a busy Nathan out of the road, and off the walls, fences, and other things he found to play on. Meanwhile we were trying to keep Seth quiet, and Cambria content, since she kept requesting to go home. Eventually Seth fell asleep and Cambria scored an iPhone, but Nathan stayed busy the WHOLE time.

This is nathan wearing a little "newbie" helmet like the new steel workers had to wear, with their red "x."

Then, once the tour was finished, we headed to the ArtsQuest building to cool off and explore. The kids had a blast with the staircase and elevators.

Playing in the elevator with dad.

 Seth got his turn for a photoshoot, and his iconic "circles" photo before we leave.

Photoshoots

I took Cambria out this morning to take her photo in the circular bike racks at the Steel Stacks.  After her photoshoot, we headed downtown to the running shoe store to find me some running shoes. I loved having a date with my little girl. We got to walk downtown from the library, and every time I found a good spot for a photo I had her be my little model. We grabbed a drink at a little shop that she shared with me.  On our way back to the car, a lot of local vendors were out along main street. There was a man with great little wooden toys. He gave Cambria a little wooden turtle, and I got from him a nativity ornament made from scrap wood from the Martin Guitar Factory. A little piece to help us remember Bethlehem, PA.

We got so many great shots!

She fell asleep on the way home, so I took her to bed. Nathan was awake and needing something fun to do, so I asked him if he'd like to go on a photoshoot. He was SO excited, so I got him ready and we headed out to the steel stacks to take photos with the bike rack, trains, and my favorite yellow wall.

He was funny. He'd follow my posing instructions for about 3 minutes, and then would say "I'm done." And at that point he would be ready to go to the car and go to the next spot, or go home.

I had so much fun with the little's today taking their photos!

Color me RAD

I have started running, and have always wanted to do a color run. These runs have become quite popular, and are based off of the "Holi" festivals of the Hindu faith. During these festivals, to celebrate the beginning of spring, participants throw colored powder at each other and celebrate wildly.

So, my friend Jenae and I signed up to run the Color me Rad 5k!  The rule is that you must wear a white shirt to start. At 5 different stations along the route, people spray you with liquid color, and throw colored powder at you. By the end, you look like a rainbow!



We arrived and started in the second wave. We met another runner who didn't have any running partners so we invited her to run with us. She was a sweet girl who lived nearby.

Mom & Dad came up from MD to see me run! This was my second time doing an organized run (the first time was the Red Rock Relay in Utah).

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand." -Albert Einstein

Had a great time! Thanks everyone!

Wicked on Broadway

In my 30 years I have seen some great shows. My mom always took us to the local theater productions at the Weinberg center in downtown Frederick. It was old-fashioned, ornate, and a really neat place to go.  I have been to see the Sound of Music in the West End, in London, which was also fantastic, but never have I been to a Broadway show on Broadway.  This is something I wanted to do before leaving America, so my friend Jenae and I headed on an adventure into the city.

We got there late in the evening, when the lights are spectacular. There really is nothing like ascending up from the bus station or subway and feeling the heat, lights, and hustle-bustle of the city.

We walked around, and headed back to our hotel and got in around 1pm.  Then, like girls do, we chatted until probably 2am before our heads finally hit our pillows.

I showed her the toys R us, with a ferris wheel inside (the kids rode this last year)

The next day was our show, Wicked, in the afternoon. We walked around the city, saw the New York LDS temple, and had some lunch before heading to Gershwin Theatre.

 

A day for Daddy

Nathan was daddy's little man this morning.

He wanted to cuddle with daddy and lay on his chest when he woke up. Then he saw him put on deodorant after his shower and asked "I have some?" Then he got some aftershave on his hands, rubbed them together, and put it on his face, like daddy does.

He helped daddy get his belt on and asked "buckle in?" yes, Daddy was buckling himself in :) Then he went and grabbed a tie from Amos' tie rack for himself to wear, and said bye bye dad! and made sure to bid him goodbye from the window when he left. Such a sweet little guy!!


Then in the evening Cambria was doodling and made a heart. She got really excited "I made a heart for daddy to love me!" (I made a heart for daddy, is what she meant) She wanted to send it to him in the mail, with a stamp. I was entertaining the idea but didn't want it to get lost in the mail! So, we got an envelope and she picked a stamp for it (I have muscle car stamps at the moment - she picked the one with the most purple - her favorite color)  She fell asleep holding her letter to daddy. So precious.



And in happy Mom news, Seth slept from 10:30pm until 6:30am!! Yay for a full night of sleep in my own bed!!!!

A post full of boys

I have this picture of Nathan on my wall, and one day Seth happened to be sans clothes in about the same spot so I thought it would be neat to replicate the picture.  Here are my little guys around the same  age in the same spot!

And for even MORE excitement, here is AMOS at about the same age with his brother Ben! 

Seth's first Haircut!

I had to cut off his little curl. So sad!  (it only showed up occasionally) But much better!

Cambria turns 3!

We got to have her celebration a little early, but we still made sure to celebrate on her real birthday as well.

She saw a picture of a canadian flag cake, and since then has been insisting on a "naple leaf cake" = "maple leaf cake."  So, she got what she wished for. A white cake with a maple leaf on it, with the number "3" inside.

The lucky little girl also got to go out and get an ice cream from the ice cream truck while hear brothers were sleeping.