Please Touch Museum

Today was a beautiful day... sun shining... a little on the warm side, but we're happy that the sun is out!! We went to the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia. Very simple set-up but most definitely lots of fun - for both kids and adults. It's a centre that has different themed areas of play for the kids, like a barnyard, bus station, supermarket/bakery and etc. They also have magic shows, story-time and puppet shows all encouring learning and play. Here's the link to the website http://pleasetouchmuseum.org/






We started off with a magic show that focuses on the ABCs... very entertaining and educational too. Although Valerie may not be old enough to understand the ABCs yet, but she loved the ending - which was getting to pet a furry, white rabbit!!! (sorry, we were too loving the rabbit that we forgot to take pictures)





Valerie going on a Chocolate Milk slide!!























This is the barnyard section - with Valerie driving a tractor.... she's really into cars... and driving... you think she might be the next race car driver? I know there's one professional female race car driver here in US.



Help... Valerie is stealing the baby chicks!!! Quick, get her before she eats them for breakfast!


Ding Dong, is anyone home? Piglet deliveries.....

Atlantic city: A day in the beach

As usual, we slept till about 11am. The weather forecast for today was a high of 69F. Was hoping it would be hotter so that we can have a splashing hot time at the seaside. Sadly, the sun was shining but the wind was strong. We stayed in the hotel watching Backyardigans and had brunch and didn't get out of the hotel room till 2pm.

The beach was ok... warm when the sun's shining and it gets a little chilly when the clouds comes our way. But overall we still had a good time. Valerie and Paul playing in the sand, Valerie chasing after birds but when the birds turn her way, she would run the opposite direction.

We couldn't swim in the sea as it was so, so cold... But we did manage to get our feet wet and Valerie had a blasted time. We chased the waves that were coming to the shore. She didn't want to go.... she kept on running to the cold water... brrr....

After about an hour on the beach, we walked back to the hotel. On the way back, we stopped for ice-cream at the boardwalk. While having ice-cream, Valerie wanted me to carry her (so I hand the ice-cream over to Paul) and after that she said "hold" to me and point towards the ice-cream. Hmmm.... she wanted me to carry her and hold the ice-cream as well. I then commented that if that's what she wanted, she could have ask Daddy to carry her. Lo and behold, she put her arms out (her sign for carry) and asked Paul to carry her and straight after that, said "hold" to Paul, making sure he was holding on to the ice-cream. What a character.

It's hard to describe the situation but we just giggled our way back to the hotel. Knowing that our little girl is having a mind of her own... and knows how to get her way most of the time!!

Valerie's vocab has increased tremendously the last month or so. She can have a conversation with you know (that is if you understand what she's saying) and even tell you what and what not do to!!! She can even order you around, asking you to "come", "go out", "take off" and etc. It's so much fun and also

2nd stop: Lancaster, PA

We flew from Las Vegas to Philadelphia on 12Sep and took a 1hr drive west to Cochranville. We stayed in a farmhouse, kinda like bed & breakfast but on a farm called Elver Valley Farm http://www.pafarmstay.com/elvervalley/index.html . The host Vera and Elvin were farmers and after retiring, they set up this place to welcome guests in their home.

Very beautiful place, fresh air, fresh flowers, fresh grass ... fresh fertilizers too...

Pic 1: Front view of them house we stay in. There's actually another doorway to the section of our room on the right. There's a living room and 2 bedrooms with private bathrooms. There's a door that separates us from the hosts' living room and kitchen. Vera and Elvin were very hospitable. We are allowed to use their living room space (which is where the LCD tv and internet is) and we have breakfast (Vera provides a home-cooked breakfast) in their kitchen.

Pic 2: A hand built playground by Elvin. Lots of swing, slides and rocking horses for Valerie to have fun in.

Pic 3: Valerie and Chip (Vera's son's dog). Chip didn't really like Valerie, he kept walking away when Valerie tries to go near him. He didn't growl though but just kinda distance himself, and Valerie keeps wanting to go to him and pick him up!!! I was so afraid he might snap at her. So finally I had to pet him to get him to stay in place and at the same time get Valerie to pet him too. That's how we got that pic!!

Pic 4: That's Vera and Valerie at the kitchen table, having breakfast. The door on the left of the TV is the door to our living quarters. There's a tv there too but we prefer the big screen in the main living room.

Pic 5: Valerie found her "pocket"!!! All her clothes do not have pockets until this pair of jeans came along. So while trying to keep her occupied in the airport, we would put coin and stuff in her pocket and get her to find it. From there onwards, she's been hanging out with her pocket like a pro - a model in making! hahahahaha The dad says, future Tommy or Guess jeans model.

Pic 6: Clothes dryer for the countryside.... The clothes line run from the back of the house to the tree on the top. Very very long line. We had to wash some clothes and we got to dry it up there. See the colourful flags hanggin? hee hee hee...

Overall, the first day in Lancaster county was relaxing. We slept till we were ready to wake up... which is when Valerie wakes up (quite late in fact as she was still in Phx time... 3hrs behind PA). Had an enjoyable breakfast (brunch actually) and just soaked in the freshness of the country. Taking a walk in Vera's garden... looking for fishes in the creek, sat in the swing gazebo, played in the playground... running around on the fresh, clean grass and smelled the fresh "air" from the goats. We even had time for a nap in the late afternoon. Woke up at about 6ish and went out for dinner at a Chinese buffet restaurant. Most American restaurants close at 5pm or 8pm. There aren't any chain restaurants, all are locally owned restaurants that do not care much about tourists that takes naps and stay up late. Hahahahahaha....

1st stop: Las Vegas

Our holiday started on 10Sep, and our first stop - Las Vegas for 3D 2N. Arrived pretty late on the 1st day... by the time we checked in and had dinner, it was time to go to bed!!! Were suppose to be staying at the Tuscany Inn and Suites for free.... but found out at check-in that we were booked from 9-11Sep instead of 10-12Sep. Had to hurriedly find another hotel. Thanks to my friend Akiko, we manage to find another hotel for a reasonable price not too far from the Strip. Sigh.... one less Coach bag....

2nd day was spent shopping at the outlet... didn't buy much cos we didn't want to lug all the stuff through our holiday and worrying that we may not be able to bring it back with us. So, just a couple of shirts and bags. Was hoping to get a pair of shoes but didn't see anything that I love. At this time, we have to be choosy. Only buy things I love, not only like. Hahhaahahaha....

We didn't take many photos... too busy shopping... and also kinda not in the mood for holiday yet. Still stressed from the packing!!

Wanted to bring Valerie to see the Dolphins at the Mirage, but they were closed. So had to settle for a picture with the statue instead.

Valerie was putting on her daddy's socks and shoes on... all on her own!

Valerie enjoying a Pocky or two. A biscuit stick covered with strawberry cream, mummy's all-time favourite too!

All packed and ready to go....

The boxes have finally left...3 weeks of early morning garage sales, a week of crazy packing, and multiple sleepless nights...

With all that gone and out of the way, we're now on our "final" holiday before going back to Singapore on 29 Sept.