Music Program at Doquesne University

Now that my daughter   attends music program at Duquesne University, we get to explore Pittsburgh more.  The following photos were taken the last time I went with them.  There are so many beautiful buildings in downtown Pittsburgh with  beautiful details.  I like how the  old buildings  stands out  against the modern ones.

Anyway, back to the music lessons, I can already see the  big difference of my daughter's skills in  piano.  She practices more this time  and that's because her teacher there is more strict than the former teacher she had in our area.  It is very neat to go  there because you get to see so many musical instruments and other stuff like the  tce polytune and other  music-related  stuff that I never know existed.  

Apple Picking at Half Crown Hill Orchard

On September 26, the kids had  their Johnny Apple Seed day celebration at school.  I am sure that they had fun as   the homeroom Moms prepared fun activities for them. They also get  some treat bags.  

To top all the fun, we went to an apple orchard in Oakdale Pennsylvania called Half Crown Hill.   One of the engineers of the company where my husband works owns the orchard and he coordinated this event for a cause.  The company's employees and family were the only ones who were there at the orchard that day.

 The orchard is not that big but there's plenty of apples to pick.  I was amazed of how much fruits each tree has.  There were different kinds of apples.  Some are not ready for picking yet.  The prices of apples   varieds depending on what kind it is.

 You can either  buy  the apples that are already picked and displayed at the   receiving/reception/store area or you can pick your own.  The prices  of the apples also varies  on  how big the bag is.

Picking apples  reminds me of the aplle tree that we used to have in our backyard.  Over the years, the said apple   died  and we chopped it off.  We have never  gone apple picking before in an orchard  so this was our first time.  

 The kids were  very picky, they  search for the biggest they could find lol.  It was a good exercise as we  went around the whole orchard trying to find the best apples that we could find.

 My son has very good eyes in finding the  biggest apples in the orchard.  We all had fun  picking.

 I was  just in awe  of how much fruits  are in each tree, it's amazing.

 We will definitely do this again in the coming years.  We love  eating apple as snack so it's a must have in our kitchen.

I will continue our adventures on the next post.   Our fun did not end in apple picking, we did some activities as well.  I will also  post  the apple pie that  our 9 year old pastry chef  baked for us.  Thank you for visiting and for leaving your comments.

Shadow Shots

Planning A Trip? Essential Tips For Your Dog When You Go

If you adore traveling, but also have a family pet, you might find this obstacle a little tricky. You want to get out there and see the world, but you need to make sure that it is the right thing for your pet. One pet that requires effort and work is a dog. Dogs need constant attention and love. As such, you need to make sure that you plan your trips around their needs. Your dog should be a top priority in your household. That means that before you begin your plans, you need to think about his or her welfare. Here are a few essential tips for planning a trip when you have a dog.

Can you take your dog with you?

The first thing you need to decide is whether you can take your dog with you on your travels. A dog is part of the family, and so you should try and take your dog on vacation with you as much as possible. Decide what type of trip you are taking. If you are not traveling abroad, you can likely take your dog with you on your vacation. Make sure that you ask about pets when you book with your hotel. Sure, many hotels don't allow pets or dogs, but some do. For example, if you are planning an adventure vacation is a rural area, many of the hotels there will be more than happy to welcome dogs. 

If you are traveling abroad, it may be hard to take your dog with you. Travel documentation is always tricky when it comes to animals, and you might find that your dog needs extra vaccines. If you are planning to take your dog with you to a foreign country, it is important that you plan the trip way in advance. There will be many things you need to look into and plan for your trip. Most of the time, it is not advisable to take your dog abroad with you, but if you feel you must, make sure you know your stuff before you leave.

Preparing your dog for travel
If you've decided to take your dog along with you on your travels, you need to make sure he or she is ready to travel. Check with the vet whether your dog will need any injections or medication for the trip. If you are going on a road trip, for example, you might find that your dog need tablets to settle his or her tummy. Many dogs suffer from awful travel sickness and so will need medication on hand for the journey. Before you set off, make sure that your dog is in a calm mood. Experts suggest that a great way to prepare your dog for travel is to take him or her on a long walk before you leave. That will tire your dog out, and so he or she should sleep for much of the journey.

Essentials you should take for your dog

If your dog is traveling with you, you don't just need to pack for yourselves, you need to pack for your dog as well. You should take all manner of things with you to entertain your dog and keep him or her healthy. Take a leash, some dog toys, some medication and a flea treatment. Many owners fail to realize that their dog might get ill or catch pet fleas on the trip. When you expose your dog to new environments, it is natural that they pick up something. So long as you have the right things with you when you travel, you should have no issues with your dog. Make sure that you understand how to travel with a dog. It is not all fun and games. Your dog will need constant attention, and so you should make sure you always give it him or her.

Activities for your dog on a trip

What can your dog do on a vacation? It may sound like a silly question, but entertainment for your dog is just as important as entertainment for you. Many dogs get anxious when they travel to new places. That means that you need something to distract your dog with while you are on vacation. If you are taking a trip to the city, what will your dog do there? If there is nowhere for you to walk your dog, it might be best to leave him or her at home. If you take your dog to the countryside, there are likely many long walks to take him or her on each day. Make sure your destination is right for your dog before you decide to take him or her along with you.

Who can look after your dog?

If you decide to leave your dog at home, he or she will need proper care. Do you know a family member or friend who will look after your dog while you're away? Asking someone to pet-sit is a huge deal. You need to make sure that you're not imposing on the person's lifestyle. If you can't find anyone to look after your dog, you should consider putting him into a kennel while you are away. Kennels cost around $30-40 per night, and so are quite a large family expense. Making sure your dog is okay while you're on vacation is vital. Your dog trusts you as his or her protector. Make sure that you take the time to make the right arrangements to suit your dog and your family.

Preparing your dog for separation

Before you leave your dog, you need to prepare him for the separation. When you leave your dog for an extended period, he or she might find this stressful. Before you leave, give your dog a lot of attention and love so that they know you love them. Leave something that smells like you with your dog. For example, if you're putting your dog in a kennel, you might want to leave him or her a scarf that smells like you. Your dog will find your scent comforting when you are away, and it should help him or her to adjust to his or her temporary home.

An Urban Campus in a Park-Like Setting

On August 18, we  made a trip to  Pittsburgh  to get my husband's books that he needed for his classes in Duquesne University's  graduate program.  He is taking Master in Leadership in Professional Administration.  Last year, he  attempted to do his masters  through online school but he did not like the  setting so he cancelled his enrollment.  Then we  enrolled our daughter  at City Music Center in the same university, he decided to do his  schooling there as well.  I admire  my husband's perseverance in  continuing his education.  

Driving around in the city of bridges is very relaxing.  You can see beautiful  old buildings and modern ones as well.   Then as you enter Doquene University, you'll be amazed to see that this is an urban campus in a park-like setting.  It is beautiful inside.  I love how you can comfortably walk around the campus, it's friendly out there and it has the family-oriented atmosphere.  We have been in Robert Morris University several times when my husband was  having his under-graduate there but every time we were there, it feels very different there.

The Power Center is where we picked  his books at.  Instead of buying a new one, he rented it at their bookstore.  There is a skywalk that connects between the Power Center to Doquesne Square where my daughter's music program is being  held at Mary Pappert School of Music building.  

For the next coming weeks, only my  husband and daughter would go there.  I will be  staying at home with my son so he won't be so bored  over there when  his sister is  having her music lessons.  It would also give my husband  some time to do his homework at the library. Hubby is taking advantage of the education benefits that the company is giving to them.  He has to shoulder 10% of the expenses but it is so much better than paying  100% out of your pocket.  

Till next time folks.  

Energy @ Carnegie Science Center

 Oh boy, a lot of activities and events  keeps happening but I never get to  post them all.  Just like our adventure in Carnegie Science Center, I never get to finish posting everything that we did that day.  It's a shame but I don't have all the time in the world to really sit down and  post things on the blog.  Ever since, the kids got back to school, I have been busy doing stuff at home (projects, cleaning, organizing).

Anyway,  here's another  feature  that our children  participated into  during our recent visit.

 These two were truly engaged to these activities.  Here's my son listening to the sound of the digital drums.

 Here, my daughter is trying to build something in a way that it won't  fall but she didn't succeeded on it.  It's just so many things to do there that when one doesn't work right away, they move to another one.

 On these PVC pipes, they worked together to connect a path  where the ball could continue   go down without stopping.

 Communication and teamwork makes this activity a lot easier.

 And they did it!  Great job kiddos! Shadow Shots

It's amazing how kids have so much energy when they like  to do something.  I am glad that we took them there, it was a fun-learning experience.  We still like the Art Museum that we visited in Cleveland though.  Carnegie is one  good museum to visit as well.