Ohio

A weekend or two ago, we hit the road again (48 hours after our visitors left) for Ohio.  We were excited to be able to travel to Columbus for my sister-in-law's graduation from OSU.  We were able to spend 5 days with Amy and Brian and my parents, as well as some visiting with some of Amy's family.

On the first day, we visited the Columbus Zoo.  It was awesome!

There is a water park adjacent to the zoo and we spent part of the day there.  It was a bit chilly but still a fun time.

The best part about these two pictures is that they were taken less than 30 seconds apart.  During that time, the bear kind of leaped up on the window as Brian and Abby were posing.  It was pretty sweet.  Too bad we didn't get that picture.

The next day we went to the Hopewell Culture Center.  It is run by the National Park Service and teaches about these ceremonial and burial mounds built hundreds of years ago.  Apparently there are a few sites around Ohio built by the same groups of Native Americans.  It was very interesting.  Abby continued her habit of earning her Junior Ranger badge.

On our last day we visited some parks in Columbus.  These were taken at the topiary gardens downtown.  The garden had lots of topiary figures that replicated this famous Seurat painting.  It was pretty impressive!  (Notice Abby's missing tooth.  Grandma pulled it pain free!)

I'll post some other pictures (from the graduation) soon.  (I need to prove that the others were there as well!)

Visitors

Today grandma, grandpa and N left after a 2 week visit.  We enjoyed the company, the extra playmate, help with dishes, etc., etc.  It was fun.  Here are a few pictures.

We took an obligatory trip to the horse farm - always a fun time.  Briton and N are less than 2 months apart in age and it was a lot of fun to watch them play so well together.  (They also had their "moments" but overall did very well.)

Mike and I took advantage of the visitors and took off for the weekend.  We bought a weekend stay at a B&B (Inn at Honey Run) through Groupon getaways.  It was so great!  The Inn is in Amish country in Ohio and is beautiful (both the Inn and Amish country).  The time away was needed and appreciated.  I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed it.  This is a picture of the two of us at a garden we visited.

Last weekend we spent 2 days out at the beach (Ludington and Silver Lake State Park area).  The beach is always fun and one of our absolute favorite things about living in Michigan.  (1 - We walked out to and climbed a lighthouse in Ludington; 2 - The second beach we visited had a river entering it and the kids loved the "tidal pools" as Abby called it; 3 - Notice the nice green water?  The recent heat has been good for algae:) 4 - Hannah is really warming up to the water!)

Here are a few other highlights:  1 - Lots and lots of stories;  2 - Our last day of playgroup (with a cousin); 3 - The MSU Bug House while mom and dad were out of town;  4 - A yummy (and entertaining) meal at a Japanese steakhouse; 5 - Lots of playtime at home

Pictures

We have been eating a lot of cherries lately (especially thanks to Grandpa Dave who commented this morning, "These cherries seem to be multiplying!" - he's the one who was bringing bags and bags home)!  Hannah has been having fun eating and wearing the cherries.

This is from Father's Day.  A few days before Father's Day, I suggested that Abby make a card for her dad.  She decided to make him a bow tie.  It was awesome.  He wore it on the way to church but took it off when we arrived so that everyone could see the pink tie she gave him as a gift.

We have started trying our hand at grilled pizza, thanks to this tutorial.  It is good.  (I like my toppings a bit more well done than what the grill can offer so we usually stick it in the broiler for a few minutes after we grill it.  Does that defeat the purpose of using the grill?)

Briton's received his first (much needed) haircut at the salon a couple weeks ago.  Mike said that he was somewhat terrified and that translated in him not moving a muscle and not making a peep.  That translated into him falling asleep in the chair.