Dragons Game and Camp Out

Last night Ben and his Dad took the kids to a Dayton Dragons game. The kids always have fun watching all of the antics between innings and even paid attention to the game too. Ben said they were well-behaved and had a great time. I enjoyed a relaxing evening at home. The picture is them with Heater the dragon.

When they returned, the four of us had a camp-out in the tent in the backyard. We had promised the kids to do it Saturday night, but the weather was not going to cooperate. We all got in the tent around 11:30 and Maria fell right asleep. Sam sneezed quite a bit - this allergy problem may need medication by the fall, he definitely had more trouble sleeping outside. I told him I would sleep inside with him but he of course said no. Ben and I finally fell asleep, only to be woken at 3:30 by police sirens, and this weird howling noise that seemed alarmingly close. I got ready to go to the bathroom, when Ben told me I might want to wait - the noise was a coyote in the field behind our house. So we laid there hoping to hear the coyote bark again, only farther away, so we knew he was moving away. After a half hour we finally used the flashlight and couldn't see him anywhere, so we both took turns going to the bathroom. I still couldn't get back to sleep, so at 5:00 I gave up and came inside.

I really wanted to sleep in the tent with the kids, but I wasn't getting any sleep! Ben and I are both pretty tired today. But the kids had fun, weren't awakened by the coyote, and we got in our camp-out before the storms this evening.

What I Missed The Least

After being away from the kids for five full days, I have decided what I missed the least.

Sam using the word poop all the time - in conversations or in songs that he makes up as he goes. I never once thought while I was gone, "Boy, I wish someone would sing about poop to me."

A Few Vacation Pictures

This is the ten of us who stayed in the house in Key Colony Beach.

This is Maria and Sam at a park where Grandma and Grandpa K. took them hiking.

This is at Independence Day where the kids and Grandpa K. helped their team win the Tug-of-War.

This is Ben and I just after sunset at Key West.

Home Sweet Home

We got back last night around 6:30, after a long day of traveling by car and by plane. First we drove 2 and a half hours to the Miami airport (from Key Colony Beach - about halfway down the Florida keys), and then flew from Miami to Atlanta, from Atlanta to Columbus. We had a great time but are happy to be home.

The kids spent the five days with Ben's parents, and had a fun time going to parks, hikes, miniature golfing, etc. They were thrilled to see us when we got home, and we are adjusting back into our usual routine easily. We have decided that we are all going to take at least one 2-3 mile bike ride each day now that Sam is riding on two wheels. We already took one last night and one this morning.

Maria and I also have some 4-H work to do - the Skillathon is a week from tomorrow. We should be able to get the project book done tomorrow, but then have a lot of studying to do. We are going to have to sit down for maybe an hour (or more) each day next week and practice. I'm not really looking forward to it, but at least then it will be done. I think next year she might do a cooking project - she has much more interest in that area, which will hopefully make all of this easier.

Ben should be posting some vacation pictures in the next few days. He starts band on Monday so he is busy with work stuff too - can't believe how fast the summer is going by!

Dolphins!

This morning Ben and I went on a dolphin encounter at the Dolphin Research center on Grassy Key which is near where we are staying - Key Colony Beach. We were able to get in the water with them and give them commands, shake hands, etc. It was awesome.

We are having a great time but I really miss the kids and am glad we are going home tomorrow.
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Fireworks

Last night we went to Red, White and Boom in downtown Columbus. We've lived in central Ohio for 15 years now and have never made it there, and now that the kids are getting older we thought we'd try. The weather was iffy - it rained all morning but cleared up (mostly) by late afternoon. We got there around 5:00 and parked in lot near the arena district. We were one of the first ones there - the lot was almost empty - and so Ben picked a spot by the entrance and backed in, so that we could get out quicker. The problem was, the entrance was on the opposite end as the exit, and we assumed the entrance was the exit. So it still took us a half hour to get out of the parking lot after the show.

All went well, and the fireworks were, in Maria's words, "Spectacular." We had two short, light rain showers while we were waiting for the fireworks, but we had umbrellas so we stayed dry. We got home around midnight, and the kids went straight to bed.

Today it's been raining all morning - a pretty depressing 4th of July. We are busy getting ready for our trip to Marathon Key - we have to meet the Hummels at the Columbus airport at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow. Ben's parents are visiting later and then staying the night before taking the kids back with them tomorrow.

Red, white and Boom

Here we are waiting for the fireworks. We watched the parade and have been in this spot since about 7:00. Showers have been light and we have umbrellas. Kids have been playing Nintendos, adults have been playing Blackberries. So far, so good.
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No Training Wheels!

Sam accomplished riding his bike with no training wheels for the first time tonight. Ben first took the wheels off over a month ago, and tried to teach Sam in the same way he taught Maria - running with him on the bike until he felt secure on his own. Sam hated it and wanted the wheels put back on. Ben refused, saying he was ready with them off, and he keeps wiping out with the training wheels on because he tries to go too fast around corners and the wheels get caught. I told Sam that I would get a bike, and then we could "learn" together.

But then, as usual, life got in the way. T-ball games, golf camp, short trips, etc., and before we know it it's July and Sam hasn't ridden his bike yet. Last night, he expressed interest, but would let no one help him and could not get started on his own. He did keep trying and trying though.

So today we went to Wal-Mart and I picked out a bike. Just a 7 speed beach cruiser, but exactly what I wanted. This evening we got it out, and while Ben was adjusting the seat for me, Sam decided to try going down the hill in the side yard on his bike, which we had tried to talk him into yesterday as well. (We had taken Mike's suggestion and lowered the seat all the way so he would feel in control.) And he did well in the yard, so he started riding on the driveway. We are now working on corners and going on the road. He has learned how to fall by letting the bike fall under him. It saves him falling but his legs are going to be bruised.

I don't think we're going to be able to get him to come inside very easily tonight!


Update - we just got back form our first family bike ride - Sam did pretty well, except for turning around. But great for only riding for an hour!

WALL*E

This afternoon we took the kids to see WALL*E. And I have to say, Disney Pixar has done it again. A great movie that we all enjoyed. This is the first movie that Sam has not had to make a trip to the bathroom once. (I believe that many of those bathroom trips over past years was due to boredom more than need.) I didn't think I would like it when I heard that it was mostly silent, but it wasn't boring at all. And the environmental message was important as well - maybe our children will be able to take better care of our planet than we have.

Interesting side note - Sam saw more outer space in this movie then when I took him to the planetarium last week - he recognized the moon, sun and Saturn. I definitely chose poorly when I took him to watch "Larry the Cat Goes to Space" last week!

Sad News

Today we learned that Kapra Quain, a classmate of Ben's and friend from college, passed away over the weekend. She was 38 and died of natural causes. Ben kept in contact for several years after graduation, but lost touch recently. Needless to say, the news is a shock to most of us. It has hit Ben fairly hard, he and Kapra had almost all of their classes together. I didn't know her that well, but all of my memories are good.

The services are all in Minnesota, where her family lives (Kapra lived in New York and was still in the Army), making it impossible for her college friends to attend. They are trying to plan a weekend in August to get together and celebrate Kapra's life. We're hoping Ben can make it, given what his schedule looks like after band starts up.

Good-bye Kapra, you will be missed.

http://www.legacy.com/StarTribune/Obituaries.asp