I believe it’s important to instill in your children a healthy fear of tigers. After watching back this video from the Philadelphia Zoo and hearing myself repeat “Say hi to the tigers!” numerous times (I edited out all but one instance), I realize I’m not doing my job.
One of the highlights of our Philadelphia trip was the Please Touch Museum, where Charlotte pretended to be all kinds of things: a farmer, a ship’s captain, a race car driver, a character in Alice in Wonderland.
But above all else, “McDonald’s Employee” was her favorite.
We couldn’t get her out of the uniform.
Mailbaby was high on her list, too.
Her stint as a grocery store cashier wasn’t very exciting. She didn’t seem interested in following in her dad’s footsteps.
She did like riding the carousel. Maybe a career in the equine arts is in her future. Or a carnival gig.
We had a wonderful weekend in the greater Langhorne, PA-area. In addition to another couple of trips to Sesame Place, we hit up the Please Touch Museum and Philadelphia Zoo. That all was a great deal of fun, but not as exciting as the Residence Inn pool. Photos and videos to come.
Above, Charlotte and Ellen are re-enacting the famous FAO Schwarz scene from Big at the Please Touch Museum.
Here Charlotte tries on her mom’s heels and marches around a bit. Bailey guest stars.
Bailey has just about given up trying to prevent this.
Right now Charlotte’s dream job would be at a DSW. Or perhaps as a model for a weird oversized-shoe catalog.
We have a season pass to Sesame Place, so we’re trying to pack in as many visits as possible until Baby #2 makes wandering-around-a-theme-park an unacceptable weekend activity.
This time Grandma and Grandpa Mielke tagged along.
And by tagged along, I mean chauffeured us around and bought Charlie enough stuffed toys to require their own stroller.
Almost all Charlotte’s Sesame Street favorites were on hand.
Ever been to a concert and heard a song you didn’t really care about beforehand, but the act of hearing it live turned you into a huge fan? That’s what happened with Charlie and Rosita.
The same thing can’t be said for Prairie Dawn. But Charlotte was happy to say hello.
The kids still simultaneously love and are a little freaked out by Oscar the Grouch.
When you ask Charlotte which character on Sesame Street loves cookies, her answer is “Me!”
We didn’t get any pictures with Grover or Snuffleupagus. But we’ll be back.
Charlie, you stare at the TV. Bailey, you stare at the Tostitos on the nightstand. Ready…go!
Charlie woke up with a wild ‘do this morning. At first she thought it was funny, but she didn’t appreciate the breakfast photoshoot or the Ed Grimley cracks. (She can’t stand Martin Short.)
When Charlotte tickles Bailey, listen for the fake laugh Charlie supplies.
Charlotte’s hair was getting unmanageable, so we brought her to see a professional. I was expecting the worst—arms flailing, scissors flying, tears streaming. But she was a real trooper. The smock was a big help. As Ellen explained, “It doubles as a straight jacket.”
With the first haircut behind her, Charlotte slipped into something more comfortable and spent the rest of the day lounging.
Yesterday Charlotte made her first pilgrimage to Sesame Place, an Anheuser-Busch theme park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. In the above photo, she’s doing her I’m-so-freaking-excited dance in front of Abby and Elmo (also known as her spinning-around-in-circles-while-shrieking dance). But the highlight of the day was the parade, where she got to greet her favorite Sesame Street residents.
Telly!
Elmo!
Cookie Monster!
Though she was a little creeped out by Mr. Noodle’s nephew, Mr. Noodle, whom we met during a live taping of “Elmo’s World,” I think we can call the day a success. (We’re going back later this month.)
