A Ton of Fun in 2021: Week 36 Recap

Ever since I've started teaching at ONU, I've always had Wednesdays to work from home.  Started off as 'dissertation day' since I needed a day to work on my research and occasionally drive to BG to meet with my adviser.  After completing my degree, I called Wednesdays my 'mental health day' still working from home. Since my kiddos are still on summer break, I was excited to hang with them on Wednesday. I asked if they would tag along with me in the morning to the YMCA. They agreed, but the Y was doing maintenance and so the alternative was to run outside. We ran down to the park and I let them play for awhile before heading back. Isaac wore crocs to run in, so we only clocked in a 2.5 mile run, but it was better than nothing. 

Thursday night found us packing up all their school supplies heading to meet their teachers at the Elida Open House. This year Olivia will also have the chance to participate in Lifetime Academy a bible school during free period. We got to meet all their teachers (we obviously knew Olivia's teacher, Mrs. Jenkins, since Isaac had her the year before). Isaac got to meet his teacher Mrs. Donley. She is new to Elida schools this year, coming from Van Wert schools, but she was so kind. I think it will be a great fit for Isaac. 

Now typically I head to work on Fridays, but this Friday was the last day of summer before school starts for the kiddos. So after open house we took off for the lake. We didn't pull in until nearly 11, but we were all exhausted and headed to bed to get ready for our last day at Cedar Point.  Olivia decided she'd stay with Grandma Barb, but Isaac was determined to arrive when the gates opened at 9 a.m. We made it around 9:05 and headed straight for Maverick as SV wasn't running and a big old crane was parked up next to it (see picture). We got around 3 rides in before the park opened to the rest of the public. We rode Maverick and Millennium Force and the train between them several times. Then we headed up front and did the sky ride to the very front to meet Mom and Olivia who were coming in to just renew their passes for next year. Yeah, several hours later (think like 4) Mom had enough and left Olivia with us because we ran into some great friends from Elida.  We totally crashed their family vacation and closed down the park with them.  So. Much. Fun. 

Jeremy came up Friday evening to fish on Saturday. But Dad said it was just us so we didn't have to leave at the ridiculous early times he usually does. Instead we all got up between 8:30-9, ate breakfast, and decided we'd all go fishing! We have the kids Dramamine so they didn't get sick out on the water because it was pretty choppy.  Well it did Isaac in and he slept about 4 of the 5hours we were out on the lake.  Poor guy.  It took Olivia a little longer to cash out, and not before she seriously hooked and reeled the biggest walleye into the boat.  Before she fell asleep she told us to wake her if anyone caught one bigger.  LOL

Sunday found us searching for something to do in the afternoon since my parents went back home to attend Dad's 50th class reunion from Bloomville elementary. We landed on eating lunch at Matt and Chet's and then heading over to Goofy Golf. We did 18 holes of putt-putt and then gave each kiddo $10 to spend. Isaac picked to ride two go kart tracks and Olivia picked playing arcade games. We had a great time. 

Sunday night Jeremy had to head back home to work on Monday-boo.  So we decided to eat at The 'Que. The food was pretty good, but the pictures in the oversized chair at the end made the entire trip worth it.  Isaac kept poking Dad, which was making him laugh and fight back. The entire thing was funny and we joked that Dad looked like baby Huey in the chair.  

A Ton of Fun in 2021: Week 31 Recap

Finally, it's been warm enough to have over friends at the pool. From dance pals to college pals, we scheduled some days to have our friends and their kiddos over.  It's amazing that our kids are so used to the pool that they are inside more than outside (which is annoying for me), but they do play with my friends kiddos in the pool a little.  We had Lill and her momma Rachel over from dance, and then Shannon and Amanda and their kiddos over mid-week.  We always take the token diving board picture of the kiddos. 

On Tuesday, Olivia and I picked up my mom and headed to Cleveland. My dear college friends were meeting up for dinner (Ashley and Megan) and because it was such a long drive we decided to make a day of it. We went to Halo's first to introduce Olivia to all the goodness of buying bulk paper.  She was in heaven because she enjoys crafting too, so buying the colored paper by the pound was amazing. Then we headed to a few shops near Medina before heading to Aurora Farms Outlet. We shopped what seemed like for 1 hour tops and then it was time to head to Megans to visit long lost friends.  Gosh it was great to catch up with everyone. Megan had a ninja warrior course in her backyard and Olivia thought it was the coolest thing ever.  Three hours of reminiscing went by in a flash! We ended up driving mom back to Attica before pulling in our driveway around 1 am.  It was fun and totally worth it.

Wednesday was the most anticipated day of the week for Olivia--- SODC Competitive Dance Tryouts. She said she was nervous. She isn't typically but as she gets older her nerves start to come into play. Afterward she said she thinks so nailed it...which we found out Friday that she did and make the Junior team. Here is to another great dance season!

I haven't been to the YMCA in forever.  It was time to return, but I have no where to take the kids really so they came along. I told them they were to workout normal on a machine and explained it wasn't a toy.  They both worked out for 45 minutes alongside of me.  Love it. 

Goodbye Beta- Hello new fish! We moved our fish tank and it must have been too much for Arctic our beta fish.  The kids flushed him down the toilet in a very thoughtful fish funeral. Then it was off to the pet store to buy some new fish to fill our tank.  We came home with the three amigos, Molly, Shelly, and Fred. 

Baseball is over, but that doesn't mean we don't miss it! Jeremy decided to host a pool party for the entire team on Friday night. While the entire team couldn't make it, those who could had a good time. Awards were given for their runner-up status in the league and a parents vs. kids game of whiffle bat occurred over at the  church field. 

Summer is quickly going bye-bye. Sadly we know our free weekends are coming to an end too, so we headed to the lake again this weekend. Jeremy went fishing with Dad so the kids and I decided to chill around the lake. After heading over to Cedar Point beach/soak city and not being able to park in the back because it was full, we didn't even stay.  We ate some Tofts before deciding to head into Port Clinton to their park.  It's all lake-themed and super cute. The swing gives the feel of a roller coaster, so we made that fill our need. Here is Isaac's Video and here is Olivia's video on the swing. 

  

On Sunday the boys headed to Cedar Point. Jeremy had promised Isaac fast passes at some point this summer and today was the day. They went on 30 rides and had an amazing time. We didn't want to sit around all day, so we talked Dad into taking us to Kelly's Island. Well it ended up being REALLY choppy, so he was pretty leery of taking us girls as his co-captains. That's when mom looked into the ferry's that head to Kellys. We ended up taking the Kelly's Island Ferry over for a beautiful day. We had a blast and the weather was absolutely perfect. I ended up buying that sun hat and mom bought a lightweight coat for the spring as they were marked down. We rented a golf cart for 1.5 hours and tooled around. It was relaxing and no one had worry about driving a boat in rough waters. All in all another ideal summer weekend. Just perfect.  Check out my photos here.