America week!

During our final full week in Pennsylvania, I decided it would be important to show Nolan and Oliver some quintessential Pennsylvania past times ( and the Super Mario Movie).

We started today with breakfast at Daddypops- a place I hadn't been since my dad took me sometime during the early 2000s. Coffee (or chocolate milk /hot chocolate) on a drizzly April afternoon was certainly a vibe I enjoyed. The kids loved their pancakes, and Ollie and I shared the strawberries from my stuffed french toast. Nolan got two cups of whipped cream! 

After brunch, it was our last session with Nolan's BSC, Mr. J. I am super grateful to the time and effort put in by Mr. J in helping Nolan (and us) in his growth through the last three years. We especially loved our time at the park near our old apartment complex, and our sessions at the library. He will be missed dearly! I took my final afternoon at the library to look at a book on how to pack suitcases for any trip. I did take some of its advice, and have thinned out my clothing load by about a third, but I'm still thinking we could use the full nine suitcases that are allotted to us, rather than the seven I am currently working with. (My sister's car says otherwise, but I think we can make it work.) 

Next, we tried to get into the 230pm showing of the Super Mario brothers movie, but that was a little optimistic. Since I couldn't book seats together, we walked over to our favorite little arcade and played some games for a half hour. Unfortunately someone was playing Kid Chameleon on the machine Nolan plays Smash Melee on, so that was kind of a bummer for him. But we pressed on and a large cherry icee from the concession stand made him feel a lot better. 

For his first time in movie theatre, Nolan was a little jumpy and restless, but he did really well! Oliver had been to the movies several times to see Sonic and some other films, but with Nolan's emotional uncertainty it was hard to commit him to 90 minutes in a dark room with speakers that are too loud for even an adult. But, if he was allowed to dance on the steps to the music, he was enjoying himself.  Oliver and I enjoyed pointing out the bits from the movie that we knew from the video games, and of course, the Peaches song. At the end of the film we danced in the little landing at the front of the theatre to the music. Nolan did burst out of the room afterwards and I lost track of him for a few minutes, but he was up by the ticket machines and we had a conversation about safety. 

Mr. J. had given the boys a little five below gift card as a going-away present, so I took them to pick out a little something ( suitcase approved) from the store. 

Hoping tomorrow is just as fun!

-Kristin