Home again

We just got back from our annual trip to Ohio. When Russell started going to summer camp 5 years ago, I started taking Zeke to Grandma's to spend time with the cousins that are his age. This year we had the week packed with exciting things to do and Grandma, as always, was a huge help.

We started the week a little early this year with the Dayton International Air Show. The Air Show happened to fall on my fathers 59th birthday this year. The whole family(except for my older brothers daughter -- Jane Ann) went to the show together. We even splurged a little and got reserved parking and nice seats and umbrellas. Our seats were awesome as was the show. We were able to pack our lunches and the kids had room to move and play and sit etc. . . There were really no problems with any of them. Even Olivia did ok. Even though it was very warm I think it turned out to be a great day. The highlight of the show -- for me -- was the F22 demonstration. I must say it has been a very long time since I have been impressed by a fighter aircraft demonstration ( gunships are way cooler ), but the F22 was absolutely incredible. After the show we went back to Grandma's house to have cake and ice cream.

Sunday we all got up and I helped get Zeke, Caden, and Olivia ready for church and off with Grandma and Grandpa. Meanwhile, Russell and I packed our car and headed for Camp Joy in Whitewater Wisconsin. I am pretty sure I wrote about Camp Joy last year. I went to Camp joy when I was Russell's age. It is a very inexpensive Christian Camp that has maintained it's standards over the years. He loves it. This year was his first year of Teen Camp. It is 12 hours of driving in one day but it is a nice drive and for the 6 return hours I listen to my own music and the thoughts running through my head. It was really a very pleasant trip.

Monday, after I slept in a little we went Bowling with all the cousins (including Jane Ann), and then to this really awesome park near where Kristi and Stephen live. The boys played for 3 hours and it didn't seem half that long. After that we went back to to Stephen and Kristi's house and Kristi and I fixed dinner for everyone. It was a very fun day. Unfortunately, sometime over the weekend Grandma came down with Bronchitis and Laryngitis. She spent most of the week recovering, but it didn't seem to slow her down too much. Of course she is probably feeling it now. LOL.

Tuesday, we went to Kings Island. Kristi's mom watched her two younger boys, and my mom came with us to help keep an eye on Olivia and Caden. The weather was perfect and there were NO Crowds. It was awesome. The only low spot was that Jacob was, literally half an inch from being able to ride almost all the rides. Jesse and Zeke were good to go but Jacob could not ride nearly as many rides as we had expected. He and Caden did pretty well hanging with Grandma though, and we alternated big rides with smaller ones so that they all got a chance to ride plenty. The coolest was getting to ride roller coasters with Zeke and Jesse. We rode the Beast ( my favorite ) first, and then we rode the Vortex -- 5 times -- there was no waiting. YEAH.

Wednesday morning was recovery time. We hung out at grandma's and then ran a couple errands before heading to meet the cousins for a baseball game. We went and watched a Dayton Dragons game. It was so much fun. Unfortunately Kristi's babysitting fell through so she had to bring Toby and Casey, but they were really well behaved and I am sure they had fun too. The Dragons won with a home run in the bottom of the 9th -- So Cool. After the game we went over the 5 Rivers Park and watched the laser light show. That was really neat. I wish Caden had been there to see that, but he was with Grandma.

While we were at Kings Island, Grandpa picked yellow squash, zucchini, and cucumbers from Grandma's garden. There was way more than she could eat so they set up a little road side stand. Zeke manned the stand and Grandma split the profit with him. I think he made $5. He also made a little money from Grandpa for washing his tractor for him.

Thursday, we went to the Cincinnati Children's museum with Grandma and all the cousins it was so much fun. I think the age for it tops out somewhere between 8 and 10. Russell would not have had fun. I am so glad Grandma suggested we go. There are also a history museum and a Natural history museum in the same building. We will have to go back again sometime. When we left the museum we dropped Jesse and Jacob off at their other grandparents to go to Lake Erie the next day.

We didn't do much but hang out and rest on Friday. Grandma did watch the kids again for me so I could hang out with Kristi for a couple hours. The week slowed down after that. We had fun hanging out with Grandpa and Grandma. The little ones got more time than ever before with them. They really had a good time. Once again on Saturday I had to get up early to be at Camp Joy by 10 and bring Russell home. When I picked Russell up he had apparently broken a finger earlier in the week, and he lost his voice, but other than that he had a really good time. We got back to Grandma's house at a decent time and then I had to pack to leave on Sunday.

Sunday, we went to church in the morning and then had lunch out. I really like the church my father currently preaches at. Or maybe I just like to here my father preach. It is definitely comfortable. Finally, after church I got a call from Lori(Barnhart) Moore. I had not seen Lori since her husband was stationed at the same base as me when Zeke was 2. I had been trying to get in touch with her all week only to find she had been visiting relatives in Washington State. We were able to swing by their house for a few hours of catch up before leaving town. It was great to meet Lori's other two children and catch up a little after all these years. We plan on getting together again around Thanksgiving. I am so excited.

We got home at about 5 am on Monday morning, and things have been going non-stop. Music lessons, Library, Dogs, Football. . . etc. On that note, I need to feed the boys before football. More later.