Potty training took place over Labor Day weekend. The expectation was that fall activities would be limited to the Conshohocken area, that Dad would find local things to do, where we knew the toilet situation, and could race home in case of an emergency. That plan didn't last through the first week. We were as busy as ever.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2024
Charlotte started full-day preschool after Labor Day. This meant taking a nap at school for the first time which meant Elle, the elephant soother, would be spending a full day at school. And wouldn't you know. Elle disappeared the third day of the school year. Oh know. And wouldn't you know. BLANK produces stuffed animals in limited runs. Elle was no longer available on their website. Dad scoured the internet with no luck. On Saturday morning we drove to all our favorite children's stores. No luck. We circuited through the King of Prussia Mall. Finally find a hint of success at Nordstrom - no elephant but a bunny...a bunny that provided a better search term for Google. The Chocolate Goat in Lafayette, New Jersey, only two hours away, had two Elle's in stock. Dad called in advance to reserve one. The next morning we were off on a road trip to start the fall season. So much for staying local for potty training. First stop - the Frenchtown Diner, Dad and Charlotte's favorite place along the upper Delaware. After picking up Elle we began the return trip home following a different route.
For lunch we stopped at Hot Dog Johnny's. New Jersey diners receive a lot of love with the hot dog stands, which are equally 100% a New Jersey thing, flying under the radar. For our money and local experience, the hot dog stands should stand shoulder to shoulder with the diners. Look at that beauty down below.
Charlotte started full-day preschool after Labor Day. This meant taking a nap at school for the first time which meant Elle, the elephant soother, would be spending a full day at school. And wouldn't you know. Elle disappeared the third day of the school year. Oh know. And wouldn't you know. BLANK produces stuffed animals in limited runs. Elle was no longer available on their website. Dad scoured the internet with no luck. On Saturday morning we drove to all our favorite children's stores. No luck. We circuited through the King of Prussia Mall. Finally find a hint of success at Nordstrom - no elephant but a bunny...a bunny that provided a better search term for Google. The Chocolate Goat in Lafayette, New Jersey, only two hours away, had two Elle's in stock. Dad called in advance to reserve one. The next morning we were off on a road trip to start the fall season. So much for staying local for potty training. First stop - the Frenchtown Diner, Dad and Charlotte's favorite place along the upper Delaware. After picking up Elle we began the return trip home following a different route.
For lunch we stopped at Hot Dog Johnny's. New Jersey diners receive a lot of love with the hot dog stands, which are equally 100% a New Jersey thing, flying under the radar. For our money and local experience, the hot dog stands should stand shoulder to shoulder with the diners. Look at that beauty down below.
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The reason for the different route home was for a stop at the Crayola Experience in Easton, PA. Children under three are free - Dad thought with the potty training we wouldn't be able to squeeze in a visit before Charlotte turned three but we turned missing Elle into justifiable excursion.
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The Crayola Experience is filled with hands on experiences. Dad's favorite was taking a photo together with Charlotte that prints onto a page that can be colored - we framed ours. Other activities included creating crayons, pronounced "crowns", with your name, melting crowns into a car mold, and spinning melted crayons unto a disc. Even the educational elements, such as an explanation of how the Delaware Canal worked, were fun and interactive. There's an indoor playground. If we lived thirty minutes away vs. an hour, Dad would purchase a membership and we'd be here once a month.
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It was suddenly quiet while cleaning the dishes after dinner. Where was Charlotte? Secretly eating Nutella on the stairs. Forget a sweet tooth, this girl has a full sweet mouth. Dad said no more ice cream after Labor Day and Charlotte ensure none went to waste.
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SEPTEMBER 13, 2024
Back to staying local. Conshohocken has several stores that have been around forever. We went to Edwards-Freeman Nuts to pick up some bay leaves for upcoming soup season. Seeing Charlotte's face when we turned the corner to find a huge Pez display was the phrase "like a kid in a candy shop" come to life. Every time we visit Edwards-Freeman Dad wonders why we aren't in here on a weekly basis - it's tough to resist all their candy.
Back to staying local. Conshohocken has several stores that have been around forever. We went to Edwards-Freeman Nuts to pick up some bay leaves for upcoming soup season. Seeing Charlotte's face when we turned the corner to find a huge Pez display was the phrase "like a kid in a candy shop" come to life. Every time we visit Edwards-Freeman Dad wonders why we aren't in here on a weekly basis - it's tough to resist all their candy.
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Candy shops by day. Carnivals at night. The Spring Mill Fire Department hosts an annual carnival fundraiser. It's your quintessential carnival with bad fried food, games of chance, and sketchy rides. I don't want to know how they collapse and move the Ferris wheel from location to location. Just sit back and enjoy the views.
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Mom came this year which meant we had a ringer for the carnival games. Dad never plays the carnival games but Mom is a natural. Her carnival game dominance extends around the world from Valencia to Conshohocken. At the dart game, you had to pop three balloons, with three darts, to win a price. Mom popped FOUR. What a big dog. She then beat two kids in water spray game winning a Sonic the Hedge Hog. Dad stopped funding the carnival game enterprise at the basketball shoot - he knew darts and spray guns were more of Mom's speed. He was right.
Note for future years: two years with the same bad food. The ice cream and French fries taste weird.
Note for future years: two years with the same bad food. The ice cream and French fries taste weird.
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SEPTEMBER 21-23, 2024
Another stay local weekend. Dad took off on Friday and we went to Peddler's Village. Every October Peddler's Village has a scarecrow contest - Dad remembers visiting as a kid. You think that every weekend will be the weekend we will go to Peddler's Village, then it's the end of the season and you never went - we made a commitment this year. Lots of great scarecrows.
Another stay local weekend. Dad took off on Friday and we went to Peddler's Village. Every October Peddler's Village has a scarecrow contest - Dad remembers visiting as a kid. You think that every weekend will be the weekend we will go to Peddler's Village, then it's the end of the season and you never went - we made a commitment this year. Lots of great scarecrows.
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That night we went to a Filipino Fundraiser and Charlotte drank chocolate milk for the first time.
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On Saturday Dad planned a local "industrial" tour of manufacturers in our area. First stop, Victus sports, the Company that makes all those awesome bats used by the likes of Bryce Harper, etc. His cool Phanatic bat? That's Victus. Those awesome pencil bats? Those are Victus too. Beginning in 2025 Victus will have an official licensing deal with MLB, which hopefully means that they can begin mass production and selling of cool bats like the Phanatic. Dad can't wait for Charlotte to start softball - he may even pick up a pencil bat years in advance.
Victus is located on the back side of King of Prussia in an industrial park off First Avenue.
Victus is located on the back side of King of Prussia in an industrial park off First Avenue.
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From bats to silly putty. Crazy Aaron's makes all types of silly putty, from slimy to glow-in-the-dark varieties. You can test out all types. The best part is that you can even make your own silly putty and personalize a tin for its storage.
Crazy Aaron's is located on Ridge Pike heading south out of Norristown.
Crazy Aaron's is located on Ridge Pike heading south out of Norristown.
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And we weren't done. We squeeze in an evening stop at Conshy Fun Fest. Charlotte got behind the wheel of a Tesla Cybertruck. She wasn't impressed.
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Then on Sunday we attended Dad's cousin's son's christening at the other Charlotte Hamill's former church. After the ceremony I had fun with another of Dad's cousin's daughters.
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SEPTEMBER 28, 2024
It's raining. It's pouring. We've done the indoor gyms. The indoor playgrounds. Not doing Dave and Buster's. Can't do playground Ikea on a Saturday. Dad moved Google maps around and around. Jackpot. The Barn Yard in Collegeville. What a cool spot. Imagine instead of an indoor playground, someone said, "What if we created an indoor town? One with shops, a post office, police and fire trucks, homes, and a barn and stable? What if we did that?" Thus, The Barn Yard was created. What a great spot. We were here for three hours and could have spent another three hours. It was packed on a rainy Saturday but with so much to do, it never felt out of control in here. We will return here before cycling through other indoor spots.
It's raining. It's pouring. We've done the indoor gyms. The indoor playgrounds. Not doing Dave and Buster's. Can't do playground Ikea on a Saturday. Dad moved Google maps around and around. Jackpot. The Barn Yard in Collegeville. What a cool spot. Imagine instead of an indoor playground, someone said, "What if we created an indoor town? One with shops, a post office, police and fire trucks, homes, and a barn and stable? What if we did that?" Thus, The Barn Yard was created. What a great spot. We were here for three hours and could have spent another three hours. It was packed on a rainy Saturday but with so much to do, it never felt out of control in here. We will return here before cycling through other indoor spots.
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So much to do. Fun everywhere. Wish we knew about this place earlier.
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OCTOBER 5, 2024
"Arboretums are made for days like this" - some guy next to us in the treetop net on a gorgeous day. The Morris Arboretum was on our Fall List for two reasons: under three is free and we needed to stay local. We decided to check it out, the same day as Roxtoberfest, with low expectations, I mean what is an arboretum anyway? We were blown away with how awesome the Arboretum was and I don't believe it was because of the low expectations. Even high expectations would have been exceeded as soon as we saw the tree top net. A boardwalk leads to a net attached to two trees - all at least one hundred feet above the ground below. Too much fun to be worried about any fear of heights.
"Arboretums are made for days like this" - some guy next to us in the treetop net on a gorgeous day. The Morris Arboretum was on our Fall List for two reasons: under three is free and we needed to stay local. We decided to check it out, the same day as Roxtoberfest, with low expectations, I mean what is an arboretum anyway? We were blown away with how awesome the Arboretum was and I don't believe it was because of the low expectations. Even high expectations would have been exceeded as soon as we saw the tree top net. A boardwalk leads to a net attached to two trees - all at least one hundred feet above the ground below. Too much fun to be worried about any fear of heights.
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The boardwalk also leads to a Robin's nest with giant robin eggs. We left this area and walked around the rest of the Arboretum. One great photogenic spot after another. Surprised this place isn't more Instagram famous.
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On to Roxtoberfest. Yeah it was good but not Morris Arboretum good.
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OCTOBER 11-12, 2024
Dad's cousin Molly's wedding was at four on Friday afternoon. We spent the morning hiking the Forbidden Drive. Charlotte didn't want to turn around after walking a half mile, not sure that she understood that walking a half mile in one direction meant we'd walk one mile in total when returning to the car.
Dad's cousin Molly's wedding was at four on Friday afternoon. We spent the morning hiking the Forbidden Drive. Charlotte didn't want to turn around after walking a half mile, not sure that she understood that walking a half mile in one direction meant we'd walk one mile in total when returning to the car.
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Then to Point Pleasant, New Jersey for the wedding. Charlotte was visibly upset at not being allowed to ride with the wedding party on their limo/bus. It was a great wedding and reception at the Parker House.
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That Saturday was a Conshohocken Halloween Festival in the borough's recreation center. We painted pumpkins but weren't too sure about meeting Shrek.
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OCTOBER 19, 2024
Quiet weekend. We laid low with a big week on the horizon. We attended the Conshohocken Halloween Parade.
Quiet weekend. We laid low with a big week on the horizon. We attended the Conshohocken Halloween Parade.
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OCTOBER 22 - 24, 2024
Fall trip to New Paltz / Hyde Park area.
Fall trip to New Paltz / Hyde Park area.
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OCTOBER 25 - 27, 2024
We wrapped up a fantastic road trip with another busy Friday and Saturday. Annie had a grooming appointment Friday morning, so Dad decided to work from Lola and Papa's. Who can resist playing in the leaves during a break?
We wrapped up a fantastic road trip with another busy Friday and Saturday. Annie had a grooming appointment Friday morning, so Dad decided to work from Lola and Papa's. Who can resist playing in the leaves during a break?
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That night was Pool-o-Ween where the Greater Plymouth Community Pool turns into a spooky swim. We have not been here before, but Dad heard great things about the pool from our neighbor. Fun mayhem from arrival to departure. Charlotte immediately ran for the large slide, was corralled by Dad, and settled for the smaller slide. Beyond the slide there were also fountains, a water mushroom, and a spray to run through. All that with glow lights and Halloween music playing in the background.
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We had yet to go pumpkin picking, and with only one weekend to go before Halloween, we made our way over to Maple Acres. We picked up a few pumpkins, climbed a haystack, and enjoyed a strawberry slushy.
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At home Charlotte designed the jack-o-lantern. Talk about scary!
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NOVEMBER 1-3, 2024
The past two weeks were a bit bonkers in terms of adventures. Daddy needed a break and had to do a few things around the house so we finally laid low for a weekend.
The past two weeks were a bit bonkers in terms of adventures. Daddy needed a break and had to do a few things around the house so we finally laid low for a weekend.
NOVEMBER 9-10, 2024
We went to Downingtown. Environment/setting was somewhere between Warrington and Doylestown. There was a business section but not really. There was big box shopping but not really. Victory Brewing is always a good stop.
We went to Downingtown. Environment/setting was somewhere between Warrington and Doylestown. There was a business section but not really. There was big box shopping but not really. Victory Brewing is always a good stop.
NOVEMBER 14-24, 2024
Daddy get-a-way to Brazil.
Daddy get-a-way to Brazil.
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND
On Thanksgiving Day, we watched Moana 2. Then for dinner we met up with Lola and Papa at the William Penn Inn. Charlotte loves chocolate. Charlotte loves strawberries. She reached a state of euphoria eating at least ten chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. I'm surprised the William Penn Inn didn't run out.
On Thanksgiving Day, we watched Moana 2. Then for dinner we met up with Lola and Papa at the William Penn Inn. Charlotte loves chocolate. Charlotte loves strawberries. She reached a state of euphoria eating at least ten chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. I'm surprised the William Penn Inn didn't run out.
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On Friday we went to the Please Touch Museum - I'm not sure how much of a "museum" the Please Touch Museum is but it was a ton of fun. All sorts of great, hands-on exhibits appealing to kids ages three to six. We started the adventures floating ducks down a river. Then took a few spins around a one-hundred-year-old merry-go-round. The lower level has an Alice in Wonderland section. The last exhibit was a mini-city scape.
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