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Mini Vacation Day 2-Cincy

We continued our mini vacation in Cincinnati by heading to the zoo. We got out of our hotel room early, and headed into the rush hour traffic so we could be at the zoo gates when they open at 9am. We really wanted to beat the crowds and see the animals when they would be eating and most active. We pulled into the parking lot and were ready to go when a zoo employee told us the bad news-there had been an electrical fire the night before and the zoo was without power and would probably be offline for a few days. Ok, fine. We really wanted to go to the zoo but we knew we could also go to the Museum Center and headed in that direction. The Museum Center did not open until 10am and we got there about 9:05. There is one perk to getting there almost an hour early-you don't have to pay the $6.50 parking fee because there is no one in the parking booth yet. Yeah for us.
We went into the Museum Center which has 3 museums in it and an Omnimax theater. We decided to buy the tickets that let us go into all 3 museums and the movie. TPG enjoyed the movie about dinosaurs, DCG put up with the movie about dinosaurs.
This picture is a view of the ceiling in the Museum Center located in the Union Terminal-pretty cool.
While in the natural history musuem, TTG got to meet his hero-Sherlock Holmes. Holmes was helping us solve the mystery of glaciers and ice ages.
TPG spotted a wild animal while DCG was scaring it with her claws.
We then went into the children's museum which caused both parents to break into sweat and have heart palpitations. Way too many kids running around like idiots. The kids enjoyed themselves until TPG got a huge bucket of water dumped on his head by a random child. I saw the whole thing and can attest to all of you that he did absolutely nothing to provoke this. The kid came from across the room and just dumped it on him. Oh well. As you can see, DCG is now interested in a job in road construction. I think she is smart cause she chose the sitting down job and driving the truck.
Even thought TTG was on vacation, he could not help but face up the shelves in the pretend grocery store. The kids did not mind helping.
We then traveled back to the great Commonwealth to visit the newest member of the family. Aunt A, Uncle C and cousin A welcomed a new baby girl last week and we were all very excited to visit. TPG sat and held her for at least 30 minutes and did not want to put her down.
DCG was mad because she realized that her cousin A is a big sister and DCG is only a little sister. Nonetheless, she LOVED holding the baby.
Uncle T enjoyed his time with the newest member of the family as well.

Mini Vacation-Cincy

We decided again to stay close to home for a little vacation. While I really, really, need to get to a beach, and quick, it just did not play into the cards for this summer. If anyone finds themselves at a beach in the next few weeks, please stand at the water's edge, take a really deep breath as the water hits your feet and send me some of that smell, feel, and calm. I need it!
Ok, so we went to Cincinnati and decided to go to King's Island and then either to the zoo or the Children's Museum (the decision is being made by T and the kids as I type this). The first night involved eating at Big Boy and some time in the hotel pool.











After the hotel pool the kids were happy as clams in front of the TV until bedtime. Doesn't take much to make my kids happy. Not sure why I try so hard. We got up early and headed over to King's Island.













While there we road the rides, ate yummy LaRosa's Pizza in the Festhause and got our faces painted.
On a final note, TPG has had a huge last few days. In just a few short days, he has figured out how to ride his bicycle with no training wheels, figured out how to swim the length of a pool without drowning and today he rode on a ton of the real roller coasters with NO fear. His favorite was the Beast. I am in complete shock that he has gotten so big. I am a little afraid of what comes next-armpit hair??? But, you know, he still loves his mom and did not mind holding my hand as we went down the really big hills of the coasters. I think he may just turn out ok after all.

Chicago

I am in Chicago attending the American Library Association Conference this weekend. I realize that I have not posted anymore pictures from our trip to Akron and I promise to do that soon. But, I am sitting here in the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago and just spent some time walking through Millennium Park here in Chicago and wanted to post these pics before I called it a night. We had a pretty long drive after driving for an hour and having to turn around and head back to Richmond to get something and then running into terrible rain and stand still construction traffic. Driving into Chicago was a bit crazy. The vehicle traffic was not fun but the pedestrian traffic was the worst. It was almost impossible to make a right turn-ugh. We made it and here are a few pics.
Some tall buildings!

The "bean" or it's real name Cloud Gate with me, TN and JT from EKU Libraries.
Touching the bean
View standing under the bean looking up
Now I am touching the bean

We made it down to Columbus and got ready for the Special Olympics opening ceremonies. We remembered from last year that Miss Ohio would be in attendance so TPG made sure he was ready with a sign.
While we were waiting for the parade of athletes to begin, we hung out with some of our friends.
TPG was not too happy when he saw what Miss C was doing behind his head.
But, TPG was excited to hang out with the infamous "Spider Man Todd"
DCG liked learning sign language from Miss C
The Masons raised a ton of money for the Special Olympics and they greeted us as we came into the stadium.
There were lots of athletes and lots of fans
TPG found Miss Ohio. She stated "This is my first marriage proposal!"

Just hanging out waiting for the torch to enter the stadium.

Finally, the torch came through and the games were officially open! Tomorrow we swim-ugh.

Akron Trip

I took the kids to Akron to spend some time with Aunt C and Uncle A. On the way, the kids enjoyed eating beef jerky (DCG calls it beef turkey) which stunk up the car terribly, watched ET on the DVD players while wearing TTG's Nascar headphones, and stopping at a rest area (TPG calls them pit stops) for a picnic. Every time we go on a roadtrip, we always pack our meals and have picnics instead of wasting money and eating crap at fast food restaraunts. When we return from whatever trip we have taken I always ask the kids what they liked best about the trip. They have done and seen some pretty neat things like, see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, ride a boat out to Fort Sumter, watch dolphins being trained, see manatee, swim on the beach... but the thing they always say is their favorite is the picnics at the rest area. I think next time we are going to save ourselves the trouble and just drive up I-64 to that rest area near Frankfort, have a picnic and head home.

We will be heading down to Columbus this evening to participate in the Ohio Special Olympics. Tonight is the opening ceremony where we get to march in the parade with the athletes and then tomorrow is the big meet. My race is the last race of the meet-around noon-prayers please! I MUST win Gold this year! Pop Pop Silver and Miss Jill will be meeting us in Columbus and we just can't wait for the fun.

I will post pictures soon.

DCG-be afraid

This is a drawing that one of DCG's teachers at her school drew of her. I think it is the truest depiction of DCG that I have ever seen. Curly hair, wearing a dress and high heel shoes, carrying a purse and looking mean and bossy.

Survived!

TPG survived kindergarten with only a few minor glitches along the way. The Spanish Immersion Program at Liberty Elementary was not always the easiest choice for TPG. There were definitely tears and frustration but in the end I think that TPG is doing well and ready for another year. One of his teachers, Senora Szwilski, will be teaching first grade and TPG is excited that she will be one of his teachers.

Below is a photo on TPG waiting to get on the bus on the last day of school.
The next day TPG and I spent the day together. We started out going to EKU so I could go to a meeting. After running around the library for a while we ended our time with a visit from a few wonderful men from the EKU locksmith shop. They were so kind to let me back in my office after TPG locked us out and all my stuff in. Oh well. Instead of heading home on the interstate, we decided to take a more scenic route. We drove all the way down to the Kentucky River and rode on the Valley View Ferry to get back to Lexington. We were both nervous about driving onto the ferry but the man operating the boat assured us we would be fine. He even let us get out of the car and walk around. And the best part-it was free. :)
TPG will spend the rest of the summer with his sister at the preschool where he spent the first five years of his life. He will be in a school age program where they spend most of the days outdoors. He can't wait.

Fair and Strawberries

We spent this weekend at our church's fair. The Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Country Fair is always tons of fun and this year was the first year that both kids were tall enough to ride rides without us going on them with them. Fair food is always on the menu even after TPG thought he was going to puke after riding on the Pirate Ship.

DCG is worried about TPG on the Pirate ride.
TPG on the pirate ride-sitting on top row with mouth open.
The ride lasted about 30 seconds too long and ended in tears and fears of puking for TPG.
There were many more tame rides that both kids enjoyed.
TPG liked riding in the "army" copter
and on the swirly boat ride
DCG likes to ham it up for pictures

Then it was off to Boyd's Orchard to pick strawberries.
DCG did not like the slide.
TPG did!
We picked a lot of berries



I have no idea how to can items and frankly I am afraid I would preserve some super strong bacteria that would kill all of us so I was just as happy to make a bunch of freezer jam. We ate the first jar on strawberry short cake we made. We even had cream left over in the fridge (see previous post about making butter) and made fresh made whipped cream. Yummy!
Of course the family fun could not last because my children are, well, mine. We ended our Saturday with both kids screaming and crying through their entire shower. I have no idea what they were crying about. DCG kept saying that she did not want to cry forever. When I told her to stop, she said she needed some pills. Should I be afaid??? TPG just begged to go to sleep. My children are weird.