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. 

A Ton of Fun in 2021: Week 30 Recap

Monday found us gearing up for Allen County 4H Judging. Olivia took her sewing and cooking project and Isaac took his laundry project, but gardening waits until Aug. 19. Olivia did her sewing project first and said it went well.  She had to take a cooking test first before they judged her project portfolio. She didn't get judging sheets back for either, so wasn't sure how she did. Isaac talked to the laundry judge for the entire time Olivia did both projects. LOL. We found out the next day that Olivia was the sewing alternate for State Fair and Isaac was the State Fair selection! So I guess Aug. 3 we are headed to Columbus!

After the 4H judging we were all packed up to head to the Lakehouse for Cedar Point and Soak City on Tuesday. The hope is that because we go on a weekday it will be way less busy. I'm too cheap to get a $15 locker, so I had to carry my keys around (annoying) and go out to the car and get my phone to use our drink pass (annoying), But at the end of the day, it was great and we talked Grandma Barb into coming over around 4 to join us at Cedar Point.  Olivia had had enough, so she talked Grandma Barb into heading back to the lakehouse.  Isaac and I started riding every roller coaster, but he started with Top Thrill Dragster.  I waited in line with him, but told him I couldn't go on that first as I needed a warm-up coaster.  So he did Top Thrill by himself.  I then waited with him in all the other lines to ride. Jeremy had a work trip on Wednesday, so he surprised us around 7 by coming into the park. We enjoyed the evening riding all the rides with not too bad of wait times at all. 

When we got back home, Isaac wanted to go camping and has been begging to sleep in a tent in the backyard. Thank goodness Paw agrees to this crazy idea, because I'm certainly not sleeping outside. No thank you. Olivia and Maw slept inside too, but the boys slept under the stars all evening.  

This weekend the kids were invited to the Hamilton's to enjoy the birthday festivities of both Morgan and Grady.  Complete with a WATER bounce house, they had an absolute blast.  Morgan was turning 4 and Grady was turning 10. We left Jeremy at home so he could do his homework, but we had an absolute blast. 

GAHHHHH, we are so excited that the Olympics are starting. Karin and Mandy decided it was the perfect excuse to throw a party. Complete with kid games, themed food, and coordinated clothing, it was so fun to hang out with our dance family friends. Even though we found out at the party their girls were choosing to move to another studio and focus on gymnastics more (insert sad face), we are still happy that dance introduced them into our life. We had a great time at the party even tho we watched very little of the Olympics and just talked most of the evening!

Sunday night ended with Fam Jam Swim Night at the Ottawa pool for our church. We've never been, so we were excited to try out a new pool.  We headed over and the kids found friends right away and ditched us. Jeremy hung with Isaac and went off the diving boards and slides.  He lost his watch in the bottom of the pool and two girls found it and came to tell their mom's who happen to be sitting right next to me.  So we decided to play it cool and let him freak out about it when he discovered it.  Olivia asked him what time it was so he would notice it was missing. We all giggled as we watched his face turn white and freak out.  We didn't let him suffer long before we finally told him we had it.  

A Ton of Fun in 2021: Week 29 Recap

Well we are one week out from 4-H judging.  So in typical fashion, it was time to buckle down and get their projects done. Olivia took Cooking and Sewing.  This week was time to buckle down with the sewing project. She picked out a super soft material with butterflies so you have to make sure that the pattern is all going the same way. Her pattern also included pockets.  They actually aren't near as hard as double bias tape. UGH. Bias tape has to be pinned on perfectly and then held into place as you sew and make sure it doesn't move...and it's so thick. I made the top, mask and slippers.  Top was not that bad, but I did have to learn how to make a buttonhole on our new sewing machine. The eye mask I made from scratch.  It's suppose to be a butterfly.  And the awful slippers. I had to make four until I got them right.  They were hell. Olivia's foot is 3 inches bigger than the little pattern. The first pair were too small. The third slipper I had upside down and when I slit the tear away part, I actually slit the material. I had a melt down and then finally got it for the final pair. Here are some pictures of her working on it and the finished product.

It can't be all work and no play this week. So we had a nice day to actually get out on the Indian lake this week tubing. Maw and Paw asked me to go along so someone can help out watching for boats and to drive when Paw decides he's brave enough out there too.  I think it's impressive at 70+ he's still tubing and Maw too-but getting on the tube is entertaining!  Kids love eating at McDonalds on the lake then going out tubing. I like when the go together vs. going by themselves. 

16 years on the 16th of July. Yep, this is our 16th wedding anniversary. Awe, seems like a not THAT long ago. So Jeremy got us reservations at the Met here in Lima. I was so excited to see their special- chicken that was sautéed in white wine with green olives! Uh, yes please. It was amazingly delicious. And I still enjoyed the company- even after 16 years ❤️ The kids also made us gifts and decorations for our special day. They're getting so big and so creative. 

On Sunday we made plans to go visit the Cousino's. We haven't been able to spend tons of time with them this summer, so even though Griffin wasn't home, we still made the trip down to visit the rest of them. We haven't been able to get back there since they moved. Kids enjoyed swimming and we enjoyed just sitting around outside and catching up.