Day 8

Today was our last day in Ohio with Granddaddy and Minnie Mouse.  We didn't hurry in the morning, waking up and having breakfast - then the Caterpillars played on the computer for a while.

GO went back to sleep on her Daddy's lap!

Minnie Mouse had made reservations at a really cool place called "Bounce U", where the Caterpillars could all play.

B10 and CW ran around having a blast.

And I helped GO do a few things also.

(She did enjoy the slides - the little house only held her attention for 5 minutes!)

Then we headed home to relax for a few minutes and take family photos.

Before we headed out to celebrate Hubby's Birthday for the second day in a row.  This time he chose a Mexican Restaurant to enjoy dinner at (before we would head home and eat more of the cake)!

For some reason GO's naps were messed up today.  She was a pill at dinner, it was really the only time she got upset in public during the trip - but then she found the ketchup and fries!

Or that ketchup could be put in your mouth via fries-not sure many of the fries got eaten!

To end our vacation, it only seemed right that we help Granddaddy feed the birds again.

GO was very proud of carrying the peanuts all by herself.

THEN it got BETTER - Granddaddy let her eat the bird food!

B10 and CW ran around the yard, getting all their wiggles out.

I love these pictures of the Caterpillars together...

Tomorrow we begin a long drive home, and drop off the boys with their Dad for three weeks.  I hope GO does okay!  (She can't really understand WHERE the "guys" disappear to!

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

Day 7

Day 7 - or "Hubby's First Day of Birthday Celebrating" - was a lazy day.  We woke up and let the Caterpillars play on the computer for a bit.

Minnie Mouse spent the morning trying to convince GO that "Golddigger" was her favorite Glee Song.

She at least danced with her Minnie Mouse!

When everyone was ready (except Granddaddy - he had to work today), we headed down to one of the local neighborhood parks.  This was the first time Hubby has really gotten to "play" with GO on the playground.  She's actually big enough now to DO stuff.

She really liked the dinosaur ride.

B10 and CW met some other boys, and played Tag (or Robbers/Cops...or Spacemen/Aliens...whatever - it involved chasing each other).

But, they kept coming back and playing with their little sister some, too.  (Without me even asking them to do it!)

Hubby took GO up on the playground equipment and she had a blast!

Then we went out to the mall to have "food court" for lunch, before a lazy afternoon at home.

Minnie Mouse and CW went out to pick up Hubby's cake and balloons.

They were HUGE.

Seriously!  Look at the size of Hubby's head next to the balloon.

GO was amazed.

After dinner, we did a little more geocaching.  The first one was pretty neat (and pretty new).  It was near a playground with lots of trees so we could run around.

The giant airplanes reminded me of Germany!  I really like living near an Air Force Base.

The second one was HARD - I won't give away any secrets, but this is what it looked like:

Then it was back home for Hubby's birthday celebration.  CW picked out hats for everyone.

GO knew how to wear hers...but was confused by the Boy-Type-People in the family!

Delicious cookies and cream ice cream cake that Hubby picked out!

Minnie Mouse doing the honors of cutting.

GO really enjoyed cake!

Tomorrow is our last day!  Granddaddy is able to stay home and we have some exciting things planned for the Caterpillars.  YAY for vacations!

~Lone Butterfly  )i(

Ohio - Day 6 (Part I)

Today was a long day with lots of pictures, so I am dividing it up into two parts.  We woke up VERY early and we were in the car by 8:15 am headed to Caesar Creek State Park.  There is a small beach area there, on Caesar Creek Lake, and Minnie Mouse wanted to make sure we got there before it got crowded.

There was a nice bit of fog early on, but it was very pleasant.  Not to hot, not to cold, and very little direct sunlight.

GO was still a little sleepy.

But found it funny when Granddaddy put her in the "playpen" of his truck!

We walked down to the beach area, and everyone got dressed in their swimsuits.

B10 and CW were in the water quickly, but within 15 minutes B10 was searching for critters and CW was building a sandcastle (with lots of engineering going on).

GO wanted to help build the sandcastle.  Which led to her eating the sand.  First, we thought she was grossed out - but then we would rinse her mouth with water and watch as she ate MORE!

UGH!

The grinding of the bits of gravely sand in her teeth was GROSS!  (And I'm NOT a "grossed out" kind of person!)

CW was very good about not being upset when his sister destroyed his castle, and just kept working to make it better, with Minnie Mouse's help.

GO followed Hubby and Granddaddy into the water slowly and quickly became enthralled with the giant bathtub.

We finished out morning out by watching as CW and Granddaddy used the shovels and pails to demonstrate how the Army Corp of Engineers alters riverbeds and puts up dams, while protecting our waterways and cities.  Oh, the joys of homeschooling!

Part II on it's way!

~Lone Butterfly  )i(