Visit from a beloved person..

The reason I didn't write on my blog the last week is that I got some special visit from Austria- MY DAD!!! We had a lot of activities going on and really did loads of cool things, so I really didn't have time to tell you what's going on- we fell in our beds every night! :)

He arrived at the Phila Intl'l Airport on Tuesday afternoon, where I picked him up- it was such a great feeling to see a known person standing there waiting for me!

This evening we just brought his suitcase to our home, where he would stay, and went  to the Glen Eagle Shopping Mall- he got a first impression about American shops and me driving the Durango, and after we did some walking around we had dinner at the "Outback Steakhouse", which became one of our favorite's :)

our first evening together after 2 months..enjoying it with a cinnamon dessert :)

We came home at 9 pm, and although my kids usually go to bed at 8 pm, they stayed up longer because they couldn't wait to meet my dad- it was so cute! Kyle and Kaitie were jumping around and Kaitie welcomed him with German words.."Hello Mr Mayrhofer, wie geht's da?" So adorable! :)

I had to work the next day, so we were just hanging out during the day (it was raining anyway) and then we went to the Lego- Club, where kids play with lego and then present the things they made to the other kids..we stayed there and my dad played with Kyle- they built a soccer Field!

:D

After that day we decided to go to the Amish Farm and House, where we were taught about the life of Amish a lot..after that we went to the Lancaster Outlets, and guess who we saw there?!!-- some Amish people shopping at Skechers! It was so funny to see that.. :) (but we were too shy to ask them for a picture ;) )

Girls wear this their whole life from when they turn 14..

After we've also done sooome shopping, we went home to get some rest- because the next day was taking us to NEW YORK CITY!!

We were doing a hop on hop off bus tour, the Downtown and Uptown Tour, and we had a blast!
The tourguides were funny and gave us good information- so we saw where John Lennon died or where Gisele Bündchen, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are living.. I mostly forgot the other parts of the tour.. just kidding ;)
The weather was wonderful, but a little cold..
I liked Central Park, Soho and Greenwich Village a lot.. my dad and I also found out that you can't reeeally get the food you are looking for in China Town or Little Italy, when you don't know a specific restaurant.. so after we were looking for one we just ate some pizza somewhere- we weren't pleased when we noticed that there would have been nice and delicious restaurants and bars just a few streets away from us..but it was still funny :)

Papa at Times Square :)

Got me!

@ Top of the Rocks

 Papa really enjoyed Top of the Rocks- we could have spent a whole day at the Rockefeller Centre figuring out what each building has inside or what the name is..it was really asesome!

Empire State Building

On the Statue of Liberty ferry- brrrrrr..it was freeeezing cold, but still super!

When we got home from New York, it was time to celebrate Halloween!!
First we went to Longwood Gardens, a huge Garden which was beautiful to walk through, where we saw kids already dressed up and ready to go do trick-or- treat and had a look at some of harvest's friends...

Pumpkiiins!

In the evening we went to the Bate's Motel- a scary motel, hayride and corn maze where you have to go through with other people (or on your OWN!!) and dressed up people who look scary jump out from nowhere and scare you to death! I enjoyed the Hayride best- I was a target for most of the scary people who had to make us feel uncomfortable- they always hoppen on me or grabbed me..it was just awesome, I never screamed and laughed so much at the same time ever before! :D
And Papa enjoyed it too- he had a blast trying to keep me safe (I didn't let go off his arm) and enjoying this event!

Of course, as I just live half an hour away from Philly, we also went there- we took a trolly tour and had a joking guide what was really nice- Papa and I enjoyed listening to all the stories about Philadelphia, walking through the citiy and having lunch at a local market..and we had gorgeous weather!

at the Love-Park

On the other days that were left we went shopping or just exploring the area and doing some grocery shopping for Mama and Claudia, because my dad hat to take home a lot of American candy- yum!
It was good just to be able to hang out with him!

Having lunch

Picking up Kyle from the schoolbus

Playing football- äh- Soccer!- at the wooden park

the kids enjoyed hanging out with dad!

Bringin my dad to the airport the last day wasn't an easy thing to do, and I really had a hard time to keep myself from crying..but every vacation has an end..and we really had a good time- I was glad to see him and be able to spend some one-on-one time with him...! Thanks dad! :)