Summer nights - Venture Out

Every friday, there is a festival and movie in the park.  This week, there was a giant slip and slide.  Steve even got in on the action.  He did not mean to, but slipped when he was giving the girls a boost.  Once wet, why not really give it a go!

Cousins

They are as nice as they are cute!

Ohio Vacation

Summer Vacation

2 weeks of fun and family

Stop #1 was in Dayton.  We enjoyed time at the pool with Emerson, a trip to Young's dairy with Katy and family, and the fourth of july festivities in Centerville.

 

 

 

Stop #2 -- we spent a few days in a cabin in Hocking Hills.  The zip line was a treat, learning card tricks and reading the "Little House on the Prarie" together as a family while sitting on a porch swing were also a hit.  How fun it was to have my parents and Emerson join us for part of the time.  The hike in Old Man's Cave was fairly short, but oh so scenic.

 

 

Stop # 3 -- Hudson Ohio.  Steve enjoyed an Indian's game with Bill, while the girls, Carol, and I enjoyed an evening in Brecksville (driving by the old house, performing for Grandpa Harry at the cemetary, and a dinner at the Pickle).  We also took grandma Carol to see Wonder Woman.  We enjoyed a day at the pool/golf, followed by dinner with all of the Altmans.  We did our annual bike ride on the tow path, complete with sweet corn for lunch at the farmer's market.  We even saw our friends, the Dassels, who just moved from SLC to Cleveland.  Other than biking, it did not look like I pulled out a camera.

 

 

Stop # 4 -- Niagra Falls.  The girls recently got passports, so we needed to cross a border!  And, according to Lizzie, "Niagra Falls is the coolest city ever."  The wax museums and rides and fun houses and arcades that line the street probably explain her excitement.  The falls were pretty spectacular, too! Grandma Carol decided to join us.  While the food was not all that good, I think she enjoyed our evening at the Rainforest Cafe, sitting next to the gorillas that came to life every 15 minutes.

The blog wont allow me to turn this photo upside down.... it was in the upside down house.

 

Of course, we all put on our red raincoats and went on the "Horn blowers" boat (Maid of the Mist).  

Seeing the power of the waves and rapids downstream from the falls was pretty awe-inspiring.

The four of us went on the sky wheel -- a very large ferris wheel.  Look at my face below.  I did not like just sitting there.  It was much better once we started moving.  The view of the falls at dusk was spectacular.

 

Stop # 5 - back to Dayton for a few days of R&R.  Of most importance, we celebrated my dad's 70th birthday together.  I am happy we were able to be there for this milestone birthday.  No pictures, other than the girls helping him scratch off his 70 lottery tickets (with hardly any winners!).  We also got to tag along to a special tea party with my grandma and her two sisters -- these would be Carolyn and Lizzie's great grandma and two great-great aunts.