It's been a whirlwind! Trying to catch up on all the laundry and animals and gardening and general life in our giant, cluttered and needy house... but mostly failing at that because we've been busy every moment going to events and going to work and getting ready for school and....
Our days have been rich and full and fun and jam-packed, and I am really missing long aimless days at the lake. Vacation is over with a vengeance, people. But life is still pretty good.
The way I see it, you have two choices for how to spend the day after you get home from vacation: either unpack and clean all day, or go to the fair.
Can you guess which one we chose?
Hot, crowded, half-price ride wristband day... and picture perfect. Our kiddos got their money's worth on their wristbands for sure, riding everything they could while the adults found shade and chatted....
We did ride the Ferris wheel, of course.
The rabbit barn was a favorite, of course. Good thing this guy was not for sale or we'd have another rabbit.
I love our tradition of visiting this fair every year with our friends.
I also love goats.
Friday highlight: Swim team end-of-season party. It was a blast. The kids had a great time breaking the "no floaties" rule as they had the pool to themselves.
Awards we given and pizza was eaten and the grownups had a great time alternately chatting with each other and being the paparazzi for the kids.
Our boy cleaned up with a few more ribbons (which went to 25th place for championships). I think he was pleased.
Here you see some of the older team members dragging coach Dan into the diving well.
One of the best moments of the night: As everyone was packing up to leave, here's Jack hanging with the 7th graders, chatting it up under the lights. Later learned that Aaron and Sophie were giving him middle school advice, and Sophie offered to tutor him if he took "Global Issues" for MSSP...
When did my awkward little boy turn into a social butterfly with older girls offering to "tutor" him??? The swim team has been great for him socially-- lots of time to develop relationships slowly and feel confident. Also it doesn't hurt that he was one of the biggest point scorers for the team this season so everyone knows who he is.
Personally, I've really enjoyed meeting the other "swim moms" and a few nice conversations at the party. I hope everyone continues in the fall so I don't lose these new friendships!
Saturday: Good day for the lake! Met my mom and Pip at Rocky River Beach where we could have stayed for a week, it was so nice.
Ran into some friends and the kids played and played...
Then, off to Penitentiary Glen by night for the "Super Star Party." Which really was super. A sweet little event in a wonderful place that we always forget about.
They've added a new area called "Nature Play," which is where we started our night. It is a fabulous resource, full of wonderful natural interactive opportunities.
Our kiddos jumped right in and responded the way they always do in nature-- with calm and focus and even some positive interactions between the two of them.
As it got dark the "star party" really got under way.
Face painting of the little dipper...
Crafting constellations...
Viewing raptors by night...
And the highlight of the evening: a night ride on one of the mini steam trains. Clacking through the darkened wood, the smell of burning coal, waving to other trains, weaving over tiny bridges. Magic that makes us all feel young. I love these guys who volunteer their time and their beloved trains to light up the lives of so many people.
We also spent a good deal of time watching for shooting stars (everyone saw at least 3!) and looking through telescopes (we saw Saturn! AND a globular cluster!), and waiting to look through telescopes, in lines full of happy people who were so very excited to be standing in that field. You call it a party, and it becomes one! We had a great time.
Sunday: Lake day take two!
This time, Fairport Harbor, for paddle boarding and a meet up with new friends.
We spent the afternoon with one of Nat's co-workers and his family. Had a great time getting to know them, and the kids got along pretty well, as you can see.
We were there for a good 5 hours. We settled in to sandy chairs and ate sandy nachos and sandy ice cream and got a little bit sunburned and it was great.
Not pictured: Monday and Tuesday, where we had no time for the lake as we were busy shopping for school clothes, going to various meetings, and spending a lot of time at school. Jack had his first East Side Kickers practice Monday, Ivy had an all-day playdate on Tuesday, I started my Mindfulness class, Nat was "Super PTA Man"... Phew.
After two days like that we needed a vacation.
Enter a day trip to Put-in-Bay.
A great last hurrah before school... This island that exists solely for leisure...
The kids loved the ferry ride (and Winter got used to it eventually).....
We rented a gold cart for the day and everyone loved that. Something about a golf cart just underscores that you are doing recreation...
We went all the way to the north end of the island. Here it is. Looks like the end of an island, doesn't it?
Then doubled back and visited the Perry's Victory National Monument. We met a nice papillon who played with Winter while we went up two at a time to take in the view.
Got to go up with my boy. I don't spend nearly enough 1-1 time with this young man. He's a pretty great person to spend time with, it turns out.
We enjoyed seeing all the way to Canada (the Canadian islands are just 5 miles away).
Then, to downtown for ice cream and the sights...
Winter charmed everyone she met, practically holding court on the gazebo by the ice cream shop...
At 3:00 on a Wednesday, the scene in downtown Put-in-Bay is pretty calm and family friendly, it turns out. We didn't stay too long downtown though because the kids wanted to swim.
This tiny little rock beach didn't look like much but the water was so perfect. Especially out past the buoys, it was deep and calm and soft, like swimming in a hug.
The other families at the beach were super friendly and super tolerant of our dog, who insisted on taking her fetch toy back to them instead of us, nearly every time.
We closed the day with beer (root and otherwise) and fries at Joe's Bar, which was the best possible choice. The fries were amazing and beers were just what we needed. Felt like we were in the middle of an ocean vacation in the Carolinas... two hours from home on a last-minute day trip.
And... back home in the soft shining light of the evening.
A nice ferry ride chat with my boy...
... and a sleepy ride home for three little ones who had a great time partying it down at Put-in-Bay.
Next post: Back to the real world. Kind of.
