Stay-cation 2011

The boys and I just finished up our summer stay-cation. We started the week off by going to play mini-golf and arcade games. Colin was super speedy and as sad as I am to admit it, I believe he had less strokes than I did.

Our next excursion took us to the beach at Maumee Bay State Park. The boys had a great time playing in the sand building castles and playing catch in the water. I'm so glad we decided to skip the Lake Erie shore this year. It was nice not having to worry about blue-green algae or some other nastiness.

 

 
The big thing we did new this year was go to Greenfield Village. At first I thought the trip was a total bust. Eli was fussy almost the entire time and refused to walk anywhere and Colin just flitted from one house to the next, acting bored. However, we came across the trains at the end of our day and it was a real hit with the boys. They loved looking at the engines in the round-house and kept talking about how it was just like their train table at home. Then we rode the train, which Colin loved. Eli eventually enjoyed himself on the ride but that was after a full 8 minutes of screaming that he wanted to get out of there while covering his ears because he was worried the whistle was going to be too loud. The people sitting behind us really enjoyed our family. I'm surprised they didn't move to different seats. Even though the boys said they had fun at the end of the day, I think they definitely enjoyed the Henry Ford Museum more.
 

 This expression exemplifies Eli's mood for the day.

On the train.

The next day the forecast called for rain so we went to Imagination Station. The kids spent most of their time in the Little Kidspace playing dress-up, grocery shopping, climbing the treehouse, and playing in the water room. We also spent time in the Mind Zone and Engineer It. Even though we have a membership and have already gone a couple times this summer, the boys still had a great time and it was nice for Chris to be able to enjoy it with them. 



On our last day of stay-cation we went to the African Wildlife Safari Park. This year we spent very little time in the regular zoo area. We are definitely spoiled being members of the Toledo Zoo. Not only are there very few animals to see at the Safari Park, but it was *really* stinky. Even the kids were offended by the stench. After a quick walk around the zoo during which we spent most of our time watching the boys climb rocks, we got back in our car, bought our food and headed into the safari area. This part was still a blast and thankfully there was no major damage to our car which we will be trying to sell very soon. Just a little dirt and a lot of snot. It could have been much worse. The best part was that this year Eli participated in the feedings. He didn't feed out of hand like Colin, but he threw carrots out the window. He was slightly terrified when two creatures stuck their heads in his window to try to get more carrots, but I can't blame him. I screamed when the buffalo stuck his head in my window and I didn't have any hands free to roll up my window because I had a cup of food in one hand and our camera in the other. Good times!

 

 

 

This was a nice end to our summer. Now we need to buckle down and get ready for the new school year!

Summer Camp

I decided to sign Colin up for a short summer camp this year (just 2 mornings for 1 week). I wasn't sure how it would go. He was really excited about going but I wasn't sure how he would react to a me not being there, a new teacher, kids he doesn't know, etc. I signed him up with a friend hoping that the two could stick together if things felt uncomfortable for him. It was an incredible success! So much that I've signed him up for a second week. He adores his teacher and really enjoyed doing something different from our regular routine. Dare I say he might be a little bored being out of school? His first week the theme was "down on the farm". They got a chance to churn butter, do farm crafts, make salads out of fresh produce, bring home plants for our garden, sing songs, and on top of that they learned a little Spanish and French. Next week the theme is "under the sea". I'm so glad he's having such a good time and I love that his self-confidence and independence are continuing to grow.

Fruits of my Labor

My garden has started producing edible delights! We have a ton of raspberries which the boys have been eating by the handful and which I've also turned into jam. I discovered some hidden cucumbers this weekend as well. Yessss! I picked three, but only have a picture of two since we ate one with dinner tonight. Just a couple more weeks and we'll be swimming in tomatoes. I love gardening!!

Hello Baby Lucas!

Today we went to the zoo to see the newest baby elephant - Lucas. He is very cute and playful and the boys simply adored him. To demonstrate, this is how Colin felt when I asked him to stop watching the elephant just long enough to smile for the camera.

I got fewer scowls when I just took their pictures without asking them to stop gazing at the baby.

We walked around to look at some of the other animals while we were there and to play at Nature's Neighborhood, but at the end of the day, baby Lucas won both the boys' hearts and was hands-down their favorite animal at the zoo.

Our Trip to Appalachia

Last week, the boys and I road-tripped to North Carolina. Chris dropped the kids and I off in Asheville to stay with my sister, then continued on to Raleigh for work. We were welcomed by her next door neighbor who was hanging out his 2nd-story window, sans shirt, while eating a bowl of cereal and hollering "so, where's the baby daddy?". I just knew this trip would be highly entertaining. The boys and I had a blast exploring the mountains with Kasey. Our first day started off with a hike to Catawba Falls. We never made it to the big falls but we saw a mini-version that was good enough for a 2 and 4 year-old. It was a really cool experience because there was a local dog that walked with us the whole way and kind of acted like our guide. We also had a fantastic tour-guide in my sister who continuously spouted off information about the mountains and all its flora and fauna.

The river where I almost turned back. Thankfully Kasey is much more bold and sensible then I am. Kids don't need to cross walking over the slippery rocks - just take their shoes off and wade through the 6-inch deep river.

Later that afternoon we headed to one of the many parks in the area. After such a busy day, we all slept well that night.

The next morning we beached-it at a local lake. We took what we thought was a "short-cut" up to the lake so we wouldn't have to pay for parking but which turned into a half-mile trek... up-hill... both ways.

Despite the small quarters, the boys and I slept really well at Kasey's. I mean, Eli didn't nap, but by the end of each day, we were all exhausted and probably could have fallen asleep anywhere. Although, I am sure my sister is happy to have her space back since Colin took up her living room, Eli took up her kitchen, and I completely invaded her bedroom. We sure travel with a lot of stuff. I blame the kids.

Friday morning we checked out yet another park, hoping the early morning heat wouldn't be nearly as stifling as the afternoon. We were wrong. That afternoon we headed to ice cream and air-conditioning.

Chris joined us that evening, at which point we headed to a hotel because there was no way another body would fit in Kasey's apartment, and got to spend the day with us on Saturday. We went for another hike Saturday morning at Bent Creek then headed to downtown Asheville for the afternoon. The boys played at Splashville for an hour before we walked around town taking in the street performers and noshing on pizza at Mellow Mushroom.

Splashville

Stopping for a cold drink at Green Sage.

Living statue

Reading books at a book store, trying to beat the heat.

This living statue gave the boys a Hershey kiss after I gave her a tip.

Tap-dancers

After the boys went to bed that night, I got to check out some of the mountain night-life at Shindig on the Green. Folk music and cloggers galore.

We all had a great time and were sad to go. It felt like we were on the go the whole time we were there and there's still so much we'd love to do. Hopefully we'll get a chance to go back soon.