MLK Weekend in Pittsburgh

We drove out to Pittsburgh Friday, late afternoon, and spent the weekend at Karlye and Mike's. We had a great time, and I think this was my favorite trip yet to Pittsburgh. The kids were great in the car, and they made contemplation of a trip out West this summer seem realistic. Saturday morning Ken treated all of us to the most wonderful donuts -- and apricot sticks -- from a bakery that's within walking distance of Karlye and Mike's. They even sell donuts that are twisted like soft pretzels! Then we walked four blocks to the elementary school so the kids could explore the playground. Per Luke's coaxing, even Aunt Karlye went down the roller slide.

Then back to Karlye and Mike's.
No visit to Karlye and Mike's would be complete without some drumming!


Great Nana and Uncle Tim arrived around 12:30, and we had a nice lunch with them. Luke regaled Great Nana and Uncle Tim with his (Luke's) sense of humor. When asked how old he is, Luke replied, "98." When asked later how old he is, Luke said, "10." Never a straight answer. After nap time, we headed out to Doug and Beth Nury's. Bryn can sometimes be painfully shy and clingy in new situations, but she did GREAT! She started playing with Kate from the moment that we arrived. Most of the time was spent playing dress up, and Luke and Will, who's two, got in on the action as well. I've asked Beth for her stromboli recipe. Mmmm!
When we got back to Mount Lebanon, Karlye took me to Marshalls, and we found a gray Puma track suit for Luke, so now he looks just like Troy Bolton, the basketball player in High School Musical. Bryn got an all-sequined, leopard-print tank dress for her performances. I got some basic long-sleeve shirts to layer under sweaters (or by themselves) and most impressively a sweater that had retailed for $160 but that I got for $15! Karlye was right about the bargains to be had at the Marshalls near her. :)
The next morning we ate at Eat n Park, and then we took the kids to the wonderful Children's Museum. On this visit we spent time in the art room where Bryn and Luke got really into making sand paintings in which they applied Elmer's glue with a paint brush to a piece of paper and then sprinkled colored sand on top. We also cut out shapes to make silk screen prints. In the "garage," Bryn really enjoyed completing an electric circuit to make a motorized scrub brush move on its own. These photo booth images, taken on our way out, are priceless.We didn't get in the car to drive home until after 2 pm, and only then did we discover that our DVD player wasn't charged. But thanks to a 3-hour nap that Luke took, the kids were GREAT in the car, and we're ready for our next big adventure.