Last Day of Summer Vacation

Today was the last day of summer vacation for the kids.  They are pretty excited to start up at school again.  Ryan luckily just had a surgery to assist in this morning and had the rest of the day off. So we went to the zoo, which I seemed to forget to take pictures of. Then we took our dinner to the beach and ate there.  It is always so peaceful by the water!  This is by far one of my favorite activities.  Then we had to skip rocks.  It was so cool this time because the beach has TOTALLY changed since the last time we were there. I don't know if it was from a storm or what but you can walk right up to the water now.  There is a concrete wall which used to be in the way but now the sand and rocks come up to the top of them pretty much. It made for a fun night. Then we had to head to Jerry's which is our tiny town's favorite ice cream shop.  It was a fun day!

Lake County Fair

Last night we went to the county fair with our awesome neighbors.  The kids had so much fun that this morning they each at different times told me they wanted to go back. This was the only ride the kids rode on.  Reuben and Kaitlyn opted for playing a game.

This is Lincoln's first carnival ride ever!  He loved it and would have gone on it a hundred times if we'd let him.

In this arena they had barrel racing and other horse races.  The kids were speechless!  I must say I didn't mind watching either!  Now they all want a horse.

Reuben getting pointers on shooting from Ryan.  Reuben wore this hat and his cowboy boots to the fair!  

Ryan and I shared a deep fried snickers bar.  It was yummy!  I don't know if I'd get it again, but at least we've tried it.

Last night in the Grand Stand they had a car stunt show.  It was pretty cool!  

This truck went all the way around the track on two wheels!  It was amazing!  I don't know how the driver was able to balance it that long especially on the curves!

On the front of the car about to go through the fire was a person laying on the hood of the car.

This was the finale.  The car on top went off a high jump and landed on these and fire was involved of course as well. There were lots of other stunts like four cars driving bumper to bumper at high speeds and motorcycle stuff.  It was fun to watch everything.

I have to have a quick mommy bragging session... Kaitlyn won two games right in a row which left Reuben pretty bummed that he had not won one.  So Kaitlyn was allowed to pick out any prize and she picked out Brutus (the Ohio State mascot) and gave it to Reuben because she knew he wanted it!  I am so proud of her!  

Their was so much to see.  We were able to see lots of livestock and everything too.  I just love fairs!  Can you tell?

Camping at the Zoo Safari Style

Last week our troop was able to camp overnight at the zoo.  The program was awesome and had the girls scheduled all evening and day.  They played games at different stations throughout the zoo, roasted smores, did a craft, went to a night hike where they used night vision binoculars, went on a day hike using a GPS, and much more.  The girls had so much fun they all want to go back and do another one.  I guess they have a winter one where you camp in a cabin near the wolves and one in their Australian Outback area.

They had a couple of animals in the evening that we learned about and could touch.  The picture above is Kaitlyn with the millepede. It was pretty nasty looking but didn't feel too bad.  My favorite was the hedgehog, the barn owl was pretty cool too.

 
We learned why flamingo's are pink.  Hint it is something they eat...

Flamingo's are pink from eating shrimp, at the zoo they just put food coloring in their food because shrimp is expensive.

Here is a picture of our troop and the wonderful zookeepers who were with us for the whole program.

In the morning we checked out the special exhibit that they have this summer.  All of the dinosaurs move and make noises.  I don't know how they know what noises dinosaurs make.  But oh, well. The last one spit water out.  The girls loved this and could have stayed there all day!

Month in Virginia Post #3

The kids loved going to the pool!  My Mom was great and took the older two in the deeper water which Kaitlyn and Reuben loved.

We visited a couple of museums in July.  These seem to be the only pictures that I took though.  I thought Reuben was pretty creative thinking of this pose.  Kaitlyn joined in the fun as well.  

Well these our the last pictures from Virginia that I took.  My Mom and I went to West Virginia to go to a peach orchard.  We had so much fun!  The GPS couldn't find the place and the google directions we printed out were wrong as well.  It made for a fun trip with A LOT of laughing!!  Thank goodness for patient kids.  This month seemed to fly by!  Thank you Mom and Dad for making our month SO enjoyable while Ryan was gone!  Love you BOTH!!

Month in Virginia Post #2

Lincoln loved my Dad.  Lincoln loved playing with the water while my Dad watered flowers and just hanging out with him outside. One of the month's highlights for the kids were their walks they went on with my Dad.

One Saturday we went to the farmers market, which was amazing!!  There was even a clown and musicians, and lots more to see.

These pictures are from Burke Lake Park.  I have good memories of going here when I was a kid.  We were able to take a little hike with the kids there too.

This seems to be the only picture I took at the Zoo.  At the zoo they are doing a huge construction job making a new habitat for the Elephants.  It looks like it will be nice.  We'll have to go back when they are done.

Month in Virginia Post #1

The kid's were able to sign up for the Library program which they loved.  All the libraries in the county there are run together so we were able to visit a few.  In front of each library there was a painted book sculpture, each painted uniquely.  (This one had seen better days, but it's the one I remembered to get a picture in front of)  The kids attended a couple of programs at the library.  The first was a watermelon themed one where they were able to paint a tile with a watermelon on it for free.  In a week you could go back and pick it up after it had been fired.  Another program was put on by the Maryland Science center.  It was about flight and they even blew up a little blimp for us.

Of course we had to try out Cupcakes Actually.  All I can say is delicious!!

Above are some cupcakes that I made for a  wedding shower that my Mom threw.  White cake with a light fluffy buttercream, chocolate with chocolate ganache, chocolate with buttercream covered in ganache.

There's No Place Like HOME

We're back!  After staying at my parent's for the last month we arrived at home today.  Ryan did a rotation at a hospital in Tacoma, Washington for the month of July.  So, the kids and I stayed at my parents, which live right outside of D.C.  It was such a fun month, keep a look out for some posts coming soon!  It was a wonderful month and was SO fun to be able to be with my parents!!!  But I cannot explain how nice it is to have a husband home again and to know that he is not scheduled to leave anytime soon for another rotation!