Playing our way through Pittsburgh

They say when you’re behind on photos to start in the present and catch up by working your way backwards. Soooo, my sister Johanna is here this week. We’re having a blast hanging out and taking the kids to do fun things. It reminds me of my mom and Aunt Karen when I was growing up.

Night one we took the kids to see The Croods in a nearby park. It was a little colder than expected so we all wrapped up in our blankets and chair covers.

I’d never seen it before and was pleasantly surprised at how cute it was.

Wednesday we headed down to The Frick Historical Center. It’s no secret I love The Frick House. They have a free art museum, car and carriage museum, and greenhouse. With ten kids (we had an extra friend) free is awesome. Even better is that The Frick offers free family tours to children 12 and under on Wednesdays throughout the summer. Um, done…. so we made a day of frolicking about the grounds and touring what we could. (unfortunately the car museum is closed for renovations)

We hit the art museum first and the kids did a pretty good job walking through and looking at the paintings. They have a Edgar Degas exhibit right now that I was excited to see.  Johanna and I probably had the best time out of all of us. The kids moved on to the scavenger hunt in the greenhouse, which was more their style.

It was getting to be that time so we pulled out our picnic lunch and made ourselves at home on the lawn. Mi casa es su casa, as the Frick’s used to say. (I kid, of course)

Piper had her first “solid” in the form of a veggie stick. She basically sucked on it until it disintegrated.

We had a few minutes to kill before our scheduled tour since the car museum was closed so we (and by we, I mean the kids) played sharks and minnows in the park across the street from the estate.

At 1:15 we took the Clayton House by storm…. I’m not sure our docent was excited to take 10 kids on a tour… we’ve definitely had better in the past but the kids didn’t complain – in fact they were quite the angels asking questions and keeping their hands behinds their backs. (no pics allowed inside… boo)

After our tour, we finished out our day by sharing a few desserts at the Cafe. I could’ve eaten all the coconut creme brulee by myself, but I was nice and shared it with those brave enough to taste the “fancy pudding.”

Thursday Johanna and I spent a few hours in the morning out and about (namely shopping for supplies for a surprise birthday party that will be posted in the next few days), and then spent the afternoon with the kids at the pool. The day was perfect and with that many older kids, Johanna and I managed to sit under an umbrella chatting and posting selfies to Facebook (I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I like it!)

The little girl fell asleep in her chair surrounded by the sounds of kids playing in the pool and birds chirping in the trees. I couldn’t help but snap a picture of her tiny painted toes (compliments of her sisters and cousins)

Today we’re finishing up our visit and will sadly part ways in the afternoon. I’m trying to hold in my tears until they leave. It’ll be a sad day in the Marquiss house. Kidding – – Johanna’s right here as I type and I want her to feel guilty enough to stay another night. Tee Hee.

So much more to catch up on… stay tuned for Chicago, Piper’s 7-month update, family pictures, and more!