Washington DC

I left from PA on Thursday the 3rd. I wanted to be home for 4th of July weekend, and with some time to get ready for Cooper's birthday on the 6th.

Mom, Cori, Tim, and Anthony took a quick day trip to Washington DC on Thursday the 4th. If you ask mom what her dream vacation is, this is it. She has always wanted to go to DC. I don't have much information about this trip since I was not there, but wanted to share a couple pictures. Mom really enjoyed herself, but obviously needs/wants to go back. Besides the fact that they only had one day there, there were many things they could not do because of it being 4th of July.

Mom, Cori, and Tim

Anthony and Tim
Mom and Tim

Trip to PA and NYC

After mom and Cori left FL I met up with them. I flew into PA on Sunday and they came in on Monday. We stayed with my cousin Tim and he escorted us to NYC. I was glad to have him with us. I am not sure mom, Cori, and myself would have been able to do it without him.

Tim has a very simple house with VERY nice things in and around it. I enjoy just being able to sit and relax at his house. I have attached some pictures of his back yard. Could you imagine drinking your coffee back there every morning? Tim's house can be quite a zoo (literally) at times, but I was still able to relax. He owns his own landscape and design company, and the business is all run out of his home. Besides the business he has, 2 dogs: Onyx and Peanut, 2 cats: Armitil and Tigger, 2 peacocks: Niles and Frazier, a roster: Buddy, and 3 ducks: Rudy, Bonnie, and Valentino.....see what I mean by a zoo.

Tim and Anthony both enjoy cooking nice meals. I had to take a picture of one of our dinners. I was thinking, "oh, how fancy" and Tim, on the other hand, is explaining how this is a normal Monday night dinner for them! We had tuna steaks....YUMMY!!!!

This waterfall is so peaceful to listen to.
His sitting area with hot tub and outdoor shower.

While we were still in PA, we visited a winery. We took a short self guided tour and bought 12 bottles of wine. We all wanted a couple of bottles, but got a discount for 12...what the heck!

On Tuesday morning we left for NYC. What an experience. I love that I went, and would love to go back. I could never live there. I don't think anybody ever relaxes. It is like everyone is always in a hurry. My life needs a little time to slow down once in awhile.


This picture is taken from Central Park. It was actually VERY BEAUTIFUL. I was amazed at how once you are in the park it is actually fairly quiet. You don't hear all the noises from the streets.

Our first stop was Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. What an amazing piece of art and history. Mom and Tim went on the self guided audio tour. Cori and I decided to take the time to take pictures, buy souvenirs, and look at all the names of people who came to the United States via Ellis Island.

The name Kepka is my maternal Grandmother's maiden name. We looked up other names too, but when I showed this to mom she actually thought that we have a wedding picture of Vaclav in the family somewhere.

Another picture in Central Park

Here we are in Time Square

While we were here we saw two AMAZING Broadway shows: Young Frankenstein and Chicago.

On the billboard you can see that both of them are advertised.

Here we are waiting for Chicago to start. I LOVED Chicago. I want to go back and see it again. However, if I ever make it back I would want to spend my time seeing something else.

This show had little scenery and/or props. The singing and dancing was fantastic they did not need any.

Young Frankenstein, on the other hand, was completely different. I enjoyed this one. They had many props, different scenery, and great visual effects. I was glad that we were able to see two shows that were so different. Megan Mullally (Karen Walker: Will and Grace) was advertised to be in the show, however, she did not perform that night. We had actually anticipated this because our cousin Mickey (from FL) had just seen it a few weeks prior and she was not there. However, Dr. Frankenstein was played by Roger Bart. Any of you who watched Desperate Housewives would know him as the pharmacist, George. He did a great job playing the part. This show was also very humorous and kept us laughing.

On the subway, trying to make our way to SoHo for some shopping.
We really enjoyed our trip, but it was by no means a relaxing one. I was ready to get home just so that I could relax for a couple days. Little did I know I was coming home to a 4th of July weekend jammed pack with activities.

Mom's 50th Birthday

I actually have some time so I am going to put a couple of posts about the trip. Mom got to spend her 50th birthday in Florida. Cori was able to join her on this part of her week long trip. I meet up with them later in PA (another post).

Mom and Cori were in FL to watch my cousin Mickey's last theatre performance before he is off to college. We know there will be more at UCF. They were only there a short time, but Aunt Tammi did her best to make her 50th a memorable one.

Mom got her birthday cake and tiara. I must say, mom was a trooper. She wore that thing almost all day. She wore it around the house, to the mall, and to dinner that night!!! She looks like she had a good time.






The Bahr family took mom and Cori to play disk golf. I know mom had never done this before and she enjoyed playing.

In this picture Cori claims that she is posing the same as the tree. She said it looks like a lady.

I think it looks like she is smelling her armpit! (j/k Cori)

Nice form Cori
The 18th hole!!!

Like I mentioned, they were in FL to see Mickey's last performance. Cori said that mom was like a little "star struck" kid when it came to meeting a few kids in the cast. Cori asked two of them, "would you make this 50 year old womans day and take your picture with her?"

Look how happy she is!!!

Cori, Mickey, and mom
Mom LOVED this guy!
Aunt Tammi, Cori, and mom

Mom and Cori had a great time in FL they just wished it could have lasted longer. They left FL for PA where I was able to meet up with them for the remainder of the vacation.

Cooper at "Nama" and "Dampa's"

Cooper spent the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa so that Joshua and I could go camping for the weekend. These are a few pictures that mom took with Cooper over the weekend.

This first one has a story. I will try to tell it as best I can, but I am pretty sure you had to be there. On Thursday after pictures, Grandma wanted go and get Cooper a new toy. I had told mom how worried I was about Cooper taking pictures and she (as was I) was so proud of how well he did, that he had to get a new toy!!! (We all know that is what Grandma's do....find excuses to spoil!!!) Anyway, I went off to look at some other stuff in Target while mom and Cooper went to the toy dept. I expected them to find me and when they didn't I went looking for them. As I was headed that way I saw mom walk by without Cooper. A few steps behind I see the little man walking along pulling this little wagon. He was walking as proudly as could be. It was funny to stand back and watch people look at him and smile....it was a cute site. Anyway, when I got up to him he had to show me his wagon. He had picked out another toy, but as soon as he saw the wagon he put it down and grabbed this off the shelf. He pulled this darn thing all over Target. However, the wagon was not his "prize" if you look in the picture, you will see the toy motorcycle in the wagon. This was his toy for being a "good boy". Grandma just could not take the wagon away from him. She decided he needed a toy box at home anyway, and this wagon would suffice as one.

You can see how happy he is to be pulling it out to the car. He literally did pull it the whole way.

Cooper reading the newspaper. Something must be interesting.

He enjoyed riding his motorcycle.
He must be watching "Wiggles".

Coloring with chalk (not sure why these are small)

Mom bought Cooper this new little bed. We have taken him out of the crib at home and this is what he will sleep in at their house now. It is pretty cute, it folds up and he can sit in it like a chair (seen in picture above).
Cooper likes to help feed the dogs.

Remember when you would build a fort!!!!!
Again, not sure why so small.

Cooper and Aunt "Dori"

Cooper spent a weekend with Aunt Cori about a month ago. Cori just recently gave me picture of the weekend and I thought they were cute. During this time she also watched our cousin's (Richard and Germaine) kids while Richard did some work on Cori's house. Their girls, Delanie and Maddie, are also in a couple of pictures.

This picture is actually at my house. Please excuse the laundry on the couch that Cooper had just taken off, put on the floor, and then decided he wanted to "fold" on his own. This picture was taken because Aunt Cori gave Cooper this shirt that says, My Aunt Rocks for his first birthday. I told Cori this would probably be the last time she saw Cooper wear it.