Okay!

Okay, so 2+ months later I have finally come to the end of blogging about our fantastic summer vacation. We made a lot of great memories, unforgettable really! And had many great adventures! It was kind of hard to come home and be thrown into reality again. But, I must say we will not miss those traffic delaying "toll plazas" found everywhere on the Pennsylavania and New Jersey turnpikes (I finally took a picture of one).



Not a one will we miss! They take our change and souvenior (or ice cream) money (however you want to look at it) just to drive on not really great roads! Oh well - I guess better to have a road at all, huh? Anyway, it is always nice to be home! :)

Philadelphia, PA

So when we got to Philadelphia, we were running out of time. So, we decided the most efficient way to see the city was by taking a tour on the "Double Decker Big Bus."

Kavan was so excited. He thought it was great that he got to sit on the top, outside, with no seatbelt!



And although we saw lots and lots from the house of Betsy Ross to the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin, I thought I'd share just some of the things that made the kids go Ooooh and Aaaah!

The cemetery that Nicholas Cage runs through in the movie "National Treasure." (It seemed much bigger in the movie!)



The awesome old train bridge (seen in the "Rocky" movies).



William Penn found atop Philadelphia City Hall.



The "Friendship Gate" found in "Little China." It is put together like a puzzle - no screws,bolts, nails or glue. Pretty amazing! And if I remember right there are only 3 like it in the world, but I can't remember why. Sorry!



Philadelphia has a lot of great architecture, but they also have really great statues. That we loved!



And of course you can't go to the city of Philadelphia without acting like Rocky!
(I remember my dad taking us to see Rocky III in the theater with my Grandma Burgy! It was a favorite - and who doesn't love The "Eye of the Tiger" song!?!)





That Kavan is so competitive - did you see him push Kenzie and I at the beginning? That stinker cost me the race. Kyler won! (Hmmm, where do you think he gets that competitive edge frpm? - Yep, must be Layne, notice he didn't even race 'cause he was scared of losing! :) Just kidding! The kids raced so hard all the way to the top! And don't you love how other people started racing, too!)



Gotta love that Rocky for running up those steps of the Art Museum!

-But more than Rocky is the history of our "Founding Fathers."
Independence Hall...



And symbols that all Americans recognize! Got Liberty?!? Thank Goodness! :)