"Crazy, hot fun" the trip report About This Page:

[mfirst]

Originally Posted by lauriep

Must have been so great to see your boys again! Their room is looking really good. Those loft beds are great space-savers. for Patrick and Nolan with their schoolwork! Hoping that I can say the same for Cullen soon with progress on the potty-training!

It was! Cullen made me pick him up and wouldn't let me put him down for at least an hour They were all talking over one another trying to fill me in on their days. As for the potty training? It's still a work in progress

Originally Posted by Cam22

The boys' room looks wonderful!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by chezp

The boys' rooms look great!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by mcc0313

I am sure there were lots of hugs going around when the boys got there. Loved the pictures of the boys room.

Definitly lots of hugs Thanks!

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

for the potty training! Send some to me for #2 will ya?!
The boys' room looks great! I bet they love it.

Thank you! Sending your way

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Great job on the room! Good luck with the potty training!

Thank you!

[mfirst]

First the trip report
Monday evening, we put the kiddos to bed (on time). That was pretty easy because they were wore out from swimming. It was the start of a really, really hot week in Northern Ohio. Once they were safely tucked into bed, Coach and I headed out for a belated anniversary dinner. Our intended destination? The B Spot at Crocker Park. For "foodies", the B Spot is one of Michael Symon's several restaurants in the Cleveland area. It was a short drive and we found a spot in the free parking garage and walked back to B Spot. The line was out the door for a seat, and Coach wasn't overly thrilled with the idea of patio seating so after glancing through the restaurant (I had to see my cousin's artwork proudly displayed), we opted for inside bar seating at Champs which was right next door. A plus to our decision? I got to watch a bit of the Tribe game. The food was a bit pricey. I ordered potato skins (4 for $10), and Coach ordered a grilled chicken sandwich ($15). We each had one FAB and our bill? $45 I thought it was a bit pricey considering the amount and the dishes, especially when I compared the food with our NY meals. Still, it was really, really nice to get a bit of "adult" time without the kids.

Tuesday morning dawned bright and early....4:45 early. Cullen crawled into bed and started prying open my eye lids. When I finally was awake enough to sit up, he started jumping on Coach yelling "sooo day", Cullen speak for Zoo day

I tried to convince Cullen to go back to bed, but he was having none of it. so I got up with him and had him help me make up breakfast. I scrambled a few eggs, made some toast, bacon and sausage and a quick fruit salad. Dad was pretty surprised to get a "warm" breakfast before leaving for work at 5:45. Mom and I were sitting on the screened in porch, sipping coffee while Cullen finished his 2nd breakfast when the older two wandered out.

At 9:00, Coach, the boys and I headed off for the zoo. I warned the crew that we would NOT be seeing the entire zoo because it was supposed to get really hot. How warm? Heat indexes in the triple digits. We had no trouble getting to the zoo, finding a parking spot and getting the stroller out, only I realized (too late) that Coach had brought the umbrella stroller instead of our double. Would Patrick's legs hold up? Once I turned our voucher in for our zoo pass, collected our free t-shirt and grocery bag I had to get into a different line to turn in our vouchers for passes for the Dinosaur exhibit. Coach was a bit miffed because we'd been given a family pass for the five of us, yet only rec'd four Dinosaur vouchers. I paid for the 5th ticket and we moved across the road to the front gates.

We turned to the left, pausing to take a quick photo of the elephants before they were crossed to the other portion of their enclosure


We made a right turn by the bird aviary and walked (and really walked too much in Patrick's words. We reached the Dinosaur camp just as it opened. It was now 9:30 and already 85 degrees. I felt really bad for the employees working at the "dig site" because they were really warm already. The dig site area was really cool. There were dinosaur "bones" to uncover, facts posted everywhere and the employees were ready to explain the different tools archaeologists use to uncover fossils. Unfortunately, the bulk of my pictures from this area didn't turn out.
Playing archaeologist:


Fossilized dinosaur toe bone




As we exited the "base camp", we followed a path around a small curve and found this guy:


I'll try to scan it later, but these dinosaurs were here at this zoo when I was pregnant with Cullen. My parents had taken Nolan and Patrick for the weekend, and we have a picture of Patrick (then 16 months old) standing and looking up at the T-Rex. Here's a picture from this day. Patrick is now 5


I offered to take a family picture for a young family in front of us, the mom was so grateful that she reciprocated. She apologized to me several times because I have a "fancy" camera and she wasn't sure how to work it, but the end result is priceless, because we have a family picture.

Just after she snapped the picture, the T Rex moved his head and let out a really loud ROAR. Cullen started crying and Nolan reminded me of Cullen's reaction last summer at the boneyard at AK...we had to take him completely out of the area and he'd refused to go near anything that even remotely looked or sounded like a dinosaur for a good many days.








Patrick was not shy about walking right up close to the dinosaurs, Nolan was a bit nervous but would still investigate them. Cullen? He didn't seem to like the noises they were making, nor did he like that they were moving. Once he got used to it, he was okay.


This should give you an idea of the size of the dinosaurs


All throughout the area, there were little areas where the kids could take a break and play archaeologist:


I thought the attention to the theme in the area was really good!


Even the lights carried the jungle theme:


Another dig site












Props along the way added to the theme of jungle exploration


Last weekend we had way, way too much fun. So much fun in fact that this past week seemed like the longest short week ever. Patrick had a soccer game on Thursday and scored his first goal ever....for the other team. Nolan was placed in the gifted extension program for our county and will be taking some free enrichment classes on a couple of Saturdays. Coach's car malfunctioned on Wednesday and we had just enough time to get it towed home and pick up a rental before I had to be at work that night. We got it fixed but it was an expensive malfunction (two knew wheel joints, new ball bearings and two new tires) Hopefully as I get a couple of work checks in we'll be able to replace our Disney vacation money we had to borrow from to fix the car. Thankfully, we had that money set aside and could use it.

The new job is going really well! I really enjoy getting to teach again and my students have so many varied backgrounds that it makes it challenging and fun to meet their needs! This week promises to be busy again between book club (Monday) helping with Kindergarten testing (Tuesday and Thursday) teaching Monday and Wednesday nights and an IEP meeting on Wednesday morning. Patrick has soccer on Monday and Saturday, and we have a PTO tailgate on Friday before the football game. I'm not sure I'll be able to get back on here to post again until next weekend, so please be patient.

The next update will include the rest of the pictures from the zoo, and picnic pictures with the boys' "cousin friend" from California. Ian is actually my cousin's son, but the boys still refer to his mom as an Aunt

[Cam22]

The dinosaur area at the zoo looks so cool! and for navigating through another busy week.

[chezp]

Looks like a fun time at the zoo, but what a shame it was so hot that day. Glad the new job's working out for you.

[mfirst]

Originally Posted by Cam22

The dinosaur area at the zoo looks so cool! and for navigating through another busy week.

The area was really cool! Almost like it had a Disney touch to it with the theming

Originally Posted by chezp

Looks like a fun time at the zoo, but what a shame it was so hot that day. Glad the new job's working out for you.

Unfortunately, it was just the start of a really hot week, and really our only hot week of the summer (until school started a couple of weeks ago that is).

[Colexis Mom]

Great pictures from the zoo! I hope things start to settle down for you guys!

[mfirst]

This is a quick "life" update. I was called to interview for a Title I Reading position with a neighboring district on Friday, interviewed Friday morning, and called back in to meet with an interview team Friday afternoon (the Assistant Superintendent whom I had interviewed with earlier that morning, the intermediate school principal and the Title I K-1 teacher and the Title 1 2-3 teacher). Friday afternoon, about an hour after the group interview, the Assistant Superintendent called me to verify the emails for my references because she couldn't contact one because of the firewalls on the school's internet....and today I was offered the job Beginning Monday, I will be adding "Title I Reading teacher" to my job list. I've suddenly gone from no job to two jobs. Thankfully, Coach is on board because this is a great opportunity with a great district!

I'm still working on arranging daycare for Cullen, so please send good thoughts that I find something that's compatible with his preschool schedule and the district is willing to work with me to transport him to and from the daycare/babysitter.

[mfirst]

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Great pictures from the zoo! I hope things start to settle down for you guys!

Thanks! I'm trying to get the rest of the zoo pictures together for another update hopefully tomorrow

[chezp]

What great news - congrats!

[Colexis Mom]

Congrats on the new job!

[Cam22]

Congrats! Sending for getting everything arranged for Cullen.

[dutchdisneyfamily]

I love the zoo pics! The heat is just awful! It's either cold or hot this summer, not much in between. I already told you congrats on the new job, but I'll say it again! Congrats and I'm excited for you!

[mfirst]

Originally Posted by chezp

What great news - congrats!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Congrats on the new job!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Cam22

Congrats! Sending for getting everything arranged for Cullen.

Thank you

Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily

I love the zoo pics! The heat is just awful! It's either cold or hot this summer, not much in between. I already told you congrats on the new job, but I'll say it again! Congrats and I'm excited for you!

Thanks again! I tried to send a message back to you, but the messenger and my phone aren't cooperating with me Every time I log onto to FB and try, it keeps telling me "oops, something went wrong, try again later". This heat is just insane

[mfirst]

What a crazy, whirlwind week it's been. I should be used to weeks like this by now, right? Patrick and Nolan's school emergency released early today because of the intense heat. We had heat indexes over 100 yesterday and close to 100 again today. The elementary school is not airconditioned - in fact, Nolan's room is at the top of the school (4th floor) in the "crow's nest" as it's been dubbed. He said his room was so hot by mid-morning, that they moved class to the 3rd floor hallway until specials. After lunch, they were sent to "D" hall which houses the newly refurbished classrooms. 2 are elementary, and 2 are JH so his class rotated between the 2 jh rooms, and the hallway. Patrick got out of school at 10:30, and Nolan will get out at 1:15. Cullen's school? It's not airconditioned either, but no early release for them. His teacher taught class out on the playground because it was cooler than her third floor room. This weather is so crazy - today's high is 95 again, but Friday's high is 63

One of the preschool mom's is going to be babysitting Cullen for me after school on School day's and on Friday's, he'll be attending the same daycare Patrick goes too. That won't start until October. By then, we should have the IEP worked out and hopefully gotten him switched to the district I will be working in. With the daycare worked out, I can finally get really excited about being blessed with this job!

Back to the zoo
We finished the dinosaur exhibit and Coach had to pause and state, "I feel like I'm back in Disney because...it ends in a gift shop" We'd already warned the boys that they weren't going to purchase a souvenir this trip because we'd be back at the zoo several more times this year. After checking things out (the younger two became obsessed with a stuffed dinosaur and I had to remind them that they had that exact dino at home), we moved on to the Bald Eagle sanctuary.


From there, we made a short jog to the right to visit one of my favorites, the Koala bear


After visiting the Koala, we got in line to feed the Lorikeets








After a brief discussion revolving around Nolan's request to "see Big Ape", we decided to circle back to the front and hop the tram up to the primate area rather than take the long, windy, and very hot hike up the side of the hill.

First, a couple of elephant poses:




I'd thought this was the baby elephant, but I learned on a later trip over Labor Day Weekend that the Cleveland Zoo doesn't have any baby elephants, it had been sent to the Cincinnati Zoo

We enjoyed a brief sprinkle while on the tram, and exited and made our way into the Primate building. First, we toured the aquarium section. Cullen was fascinated by the jellyfish. Patrick wanted to know where peanut butter was


Nolan's really into sharks right now, so I tried very hard to get a good shot of the sharks, unfortunately, the sharks were pretty active in their tank at that time.



No aquarium viewing is complete until we've "found" Nemo



We finished viewing the building, and the animals were pretty much all curled up asleep. It was getting close to 11:30 now, and the boys were just about done in. Cullen tried to go to sleep on the tram back down to the front entrance. As we exited the tram, we heard a loud ROAR and had to pause to inspect the noisemaker


Nolan declared that he was really, really glad that a thick wall of class separated him from the lion

We grabbed a bottle of water ($3.50) and a small bag of cotton candy ($3.00) for the boys to share, though I was the "mean mom" and wouldn't let them eat the cotton candy in the van. We headed back to my mom's and arrived at her house at 12:30. Coach carried Patrick and I carried Cullen in because they'd fallen asleep in the car. Nolan was really excited to fill my mom in on all the zoo fun

It was still pretty hot around 5:30 when we headed over to my Uncle's for an impromptu picnic and swim party with our "cousin friend Ian" from California.

Coach won the award that night for "best sport" after getting into the pool with the four boys on his own.






He claims he had "no clue" that he had a toy on his head

After a fun swim, a ton of picnic food and an early evening spent catching fireflies, we headed back to my mom's. After we got the boys into bed, we quietly packed up the van for the next portion of our trip.

Recap of the day: High temperature of 88 but with a head index of 98, very humid but fun-filled day

Coming up: What will the heat do for our plans?

[chezp]

Oh my goodness - I can't believe the heat you've had over there. That's insane!