I finally figured out how to make the most of your camping experience

Step 1: Leave the kids and Aron at the campsite.
Step 2: Enlist the aid of a driver that 1.) Has no interest in drinking and 2.) Is willing to park himself in an open field at a local winery and read a book. See also below:

Step 3: Buy yourself a wine tasting sampler platter because it's a better value.

Critical: DO NOT SHARE
Step 4: Complete your goal

Step 5: Be the happy camper you've always wanted to be.

And they all lived happily ever after.

Someone's got a new sidekick...

She's a 2nd grader?!?! When did that happen??

Ready to take off...
Time for one last picture at home...

She delegated holding her backpack (good girl)...

Walking down the alley headed to school...

Gimme a happy smile for the classroom...

MOMMY SAID MAKE IT A HAPPY SMILE SO LET'S TRY IT AGAIN!!

That's better, sweetie. Now get your rear out there and have a good year.

Lake Erie

We went to Lake Erie for a couple days so here are some cute pix of the kiddos splish splashin around.

Luke has a friend!

Turns out that when we moved into our new house a couple months ago, it came along with a built in neighbor friend. I love to watch Luke and his friend ride bikes together in our driveway. They're so stinkin cute together. It's his first friend that Ella hasn't made first and then let him borrow. He's the one in the neon yellow t-shirt.

The view out of my front window includes these 4.
Why is Luke's friend wearing snow boots and gloves, you ask?

Well, apparently you didn't know that the boots are his "safety" boots and the gloves are his "motorcycle safety gloves."

Love it!

Dinner at the New Sandusky Fish Company

We took a recent trip to Lake Erie and enjoyed eating at this fine establishment (aka hole in the wall) in Sandusky, OH. It was super tasty.

New Sandusky Fish Company (click on the link to learn about it)

Yes, this was an exaggerated shot of his eating...
So of course, this guy had to do it...

and this one, too...

It was our mini vacation so we even let the kids get a soda for dinner. Notice his death grip and stink eye...

Yeah, this one's got a two handed grip and the stink eye, too.

Might as well tell on myself, too

Just so you don't think that Luke has fallen too far from this, ehem, tree. I'll share with you a little interaction from my own childhood.

My Mom to an estimated 9 year old me: You are not allowed to say "damn" or "ass." I don't care what you hear at school or coming out of your grandfather's mouth.
9 yr. old Me: But when can I cuss? How old do I have to be before I can use those? I need to know when they can enter my vocabulary.
My Mom: Uhhhhhhhhhhhh...
9 yr. old Me: When? I need an answer.
My Mom: (laughing) Um, how about high school.
9 yr. old Me: Sounds good.
Flash forward to a 14 year old me getting off the bus on my first day of my freshman year.
14 yr. old Me: My ass hurts from riding on that damn bus.
My Mom: Of all the things I tell you, that's the one that you remember?

Boys and Girls Part 2

Scenario #3

Kid: Hey! Did you know that "pooted" is the same thing as "farted?"
Me: Yup.
Kid: Ok. So can I eat a whole box of squeezy sauces? (don't know what a squeezy sauce is? click the link)
Me: Nope.
Kid: I just pooted.
Me: You're still not eating a whole box of squeezy sauces so move on.


Scenario #4
Me: Hey you wanna go to Macy's and smell all the perfumes?
Kid: Sure.
(Five minutes and 7 scents later...)
Me: You want to smell this one next?
Kid: No. My sniffer's broken. Can we go?
Me: Yup.

Boys and Girls

In our house, we have a clear division of boy and girl thinking. I'll let you figure out which is which.

Scenario A:

Kid: You're a nice mom.

Me: Oh yeah?

Kid: Did you know that not everyone gets a nice mom?

Me: Yup.

Kid: That's what I thought. I'm lucky to have you, huh?

Me: Yup.

Scenario B:

Kid: Knock knock

Me: Who's there?

Kid: Poop, butt, fart

Me: *Sigh* Poop, butt, fart who?

Kid: Ha! Dad doesn't like it when we say those words!! Tricked you!

Might not be a gender difference I guess. Might just be the difference between a child who is 7 going on 40 and 5 going on.......well........5

The finale: Softball edition

Ella's by the girl standing up (she's eating her ice cream)

Ella's the 2nd girl from the right (no visor on)

Ella had a great time with softball this summer. The girls lost their first game, won the second, then lost the third and were out. She was happy because she got a trophy (who wouldn't be?!).

Field trip--Canoeing edition

L to R: Ella, Luke, Allie, Arlene, and Vincent
Ice cream face, Ella

Luke with a black hole for a mouth.

Ice cream noses: Allie, Luke, Ella, Vincent

Preparing to canoe

Swimming at the beach

A couple weeks ago, we teamed up with our old friends, Arlene and Vincent, as well as a new buddy, Allie, to go canoeing. Sorry, I have no pictures of the actual canoeing. It was super fun, no one tipped over, and many fish were fed goldfish crackers as we ate our lunch in the canoe.

After the canoeing, we went to Alum Creek State Park for a bit of swimming at their beach. When the splashing and general hijinx were completed, we went for ice cream.