"Sunny Days...

....chasing the clouds away. Find my way to where the air is sweet. Can you tell me how to get...how to get to Sesame Street?"  

We had been planning for months to take Abby to Sesame Place as a special family treat before her baby sister is born. Meeting Elmo (and friends), spending the day on fun rides and seeing Sesame Street shows...this day was filled with little dreams coming true. Grammy and Uncle Bradley came with us which was an added treat.  

I can't explain to you the feeling I had all day as I watched Abby's excitement. Her eyes were wide with wonder and happiness. There were multiple times when I was so overwhelmed with the sweetness of it all that I was tearing up with joy! It's a memory I'll cherish forever! 

The day started out really rainy.  We came prepared with big yellow Mickey Mouse parkas and umbrellas. There was no turning back now. This girl was ready and excited to meet Elmo. We weren't about to let a little rain stop us.

Daddy and Elmo led the way.

Abby fixing Abby Cadabby's hair  for Sesame Street

the look on her face says it all

the rain wasn't going to stop us

When we went through the park entrance,  a worker handed all of us (including Abby) maps of the park. Abby excitedly said, "Daddy, I'll use this to find Elmo. Let's go!"

In the days leading up to our trip, we would ask Abby who she was excited to meet. As she went through her list of characters and each time she got to Cookie Monster she would say, "I don't want him to bite me!"  I guess his eager cookie munching intimidated her a bit. So, you can imagine how funny it was that he was the first character we saw on Sesame Street that morning. We got in line for a picture, but note that Abby only felt really secure when her Daddy stood in between her and Cookie!

Just moments later, we saw Abby Cadabby walking through Sesame Street. Abby was really excited to meet her and show her the little Abby Cadabby doll Grandma gave her. As we waited on line for a picture, Abby was shouting, "Hi Abby! Look at me! Look what I have...it's YOU!"

Her first ride with the Merry-go-Round with Daddy and Uncle Bradley. She wasn't interested in riding a horse. She wanted to sit on the "couch". :)

We loved spending the day with Grammy!

 

Abby was captivated by her first Sesame Street Live show. It was also her first sighting of Elmo for the day! She was pretty sad that she couldn't get on the stage to see him at the end. She asked her Daddy to run, so they could try to catch him. 

 

They didn't catch Elmo, but we found Zoe. Abby loved her hair and tutu. 

Abby loved going on rides and was pretty fearless. 

Daddy and Uncle Brad were her riding buddies. When her stomach started to drop on this worm ride, she quietly and seriously just slipped her hand into Uncle Brad's. 

Clearly her courage was way up because she insisted on trying the next ride. THE FREE FALL! We did everything we could to instill a little bit of healthy fear in her before this one. We wanted her to know what she was actually getting into. This was a big kid ride and we all knew what her stomach was going to feel like as soon as she DROPPED OUT OF THE SKY! My little two year old adventurer insisted on trying it. We even let her watch other people on it a few times, but it didn't phase her. She wanted to ride it with her Daddy. So, you can imagine why I started laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes when they made their first drop and we saw this look on Abby's face: 

 

Goofing off with Mommy before lunch

fish kisses

lunch wouldn't be complete without an Elmo cupcake for dessert

Finally, the moment had arrived. Time to meet Elmo and it was such a sweet moment for her. He was the only character that Abby would hug. She even gave him a kiss. As Joe and Abby were starting to walk away, Abby turned to Elmo and asked where Ernie was. Elmo enthusiastically (and wordlessly) started pointing down Sesame Street. As soon as Elmo was out of earshot, Abby looked at me and said, "Elmo didn't talk Mommy! Why wasn't Elmo talking?" Smart and inquisitive girlie!

the one ride with Mommy

teacups with Daddy and Uncle B

Elmo's World Live Show

family photo on Sesame Street

strolling down Sesame Street

The day ended with a big parade down Sesame Street. It was lots of fun to have all the characters dancing right in front of us. Abby loved waving and seeing her "friends" notice her and wave back. The look on her face made my heart overflow.

watching the parade from Uncle Brad's shoulders

"Hey Elmo! It's me, Abby!"

This one's for my Mom!  Ernie was my favorite when I was little. She told me she felt the same way when she watched me with Ernie for the first time at Sesame Street Live!

The rain held out and it turned out to be the perfect day! Thank you Grammy and Uncle Brad for helping to make the day so special. Looking forward to our next visit  to Sesame Place sometime as a family of four!!

Lots of Pretty Dresses and Dancing...

....also known as a wedding! Though this wasn't Abby's very first wedding, it was the first wedding she's been to since she can walk and talk. It was really nice to be celebrate with Joe's cousin and her husband on their wedding day. Abby loved being with family, watching the princesses in their dresses and dancing the afternoon away! Once she got warmed up, we couldn't keep her off of the dance floor. We had to physically restrain her during the Father/Daughter dance. She cried because she didn't understand why she couldn't dance with her Daddy too. The wedding was on my birthday, so that made having Abby there with us extra special for me.

pretty in pink

walking with Nana :)

Let's go party, Nana!

sweet moments

Abby loves when G-Diddy feeds her!

admiring the pretty bride!

dancing away

priceless!

love this moment.

Nursery Rhymer

While we were in Florida at Nagymama's house:

Happy Birthday to my Mommy!

Memorial Day Weekend 2012

Spending Memorial Day weekend at the Bluff is one of the best ways to kick off the summer! It was nice to have the chance to be there this year and spend time with lots of family. The Bluff was Abby's oyster! This year, she was old enough to appreciate all the new found freedom she had playing and exploring her days away (which meant the rest of us were kept pretty busy following our little adventurer around). It was so much fun!

eating with G-Diddy: the best guarantee that Abby will finish a meal

G-Diddy teaching Abby how to hang the American flag

walking stick

"Let's go guys! Time to get moving." 

Off to explore the top of the Bluff with Grammy and G-Diddy

running around with Uncle Tommy

story time with Nana

All dressed up and looking lovely.

Abby loves walking with Nana and her walker

with Grammy

Uncle Tommy

family shot

Abby kept asking G-Diddy if he would take her for a boat ride. We were all excited to get a ride on such a gorgeous day. There is nothing like Memorial Day weekend by/on the water. Abby was smiley and excited the whole way to the boat. She hopped right in, but the second the life jacket went on she put on her serious "I'm brave" face. She was determined to enjoy it (despite any uncertainty or fear she was feeling) and enjoy it she did....she just had her game face on the whole time.

Abby and Uncle Tommy led the way

Started on Grammy's lap

mustered up enough courage to the front of the boat with Daddy...

...and ended the ride in the back with Mommy

playing with Uncle John

trying to be like G-Diddy

 

Abby and Lauren loved playing together. It only took a few minutes for them to warm up to each other and become best buddies. Sandboxes, ice pops, swing sets, bubbles, picnics and 'happy hour' at the family party. They found lots of fun things to do together.

Abby loved waking Nana up every morning and playing in her bed

Joe and I also celebrated our five year wedding anniversary that weekend! It's hard to believe it's been five years since our amazing wedding day. Time flies! My mother-in-law even got us a cake with peach and green (our wedding colors) frosting. So sweet...literally. ;) Love you hubs! Happy Anniversary! Here's to many many more...