The "NorthCoast" Ohio adventure - PTR July 10-22 About This Page:

[mfirst]

Originally Posted by chezp

Looks like you've been having a blast! Great plans!

Thanks! We are

Originally Posted by Cam22

Summer seems to be agreeing with you all! Good change in plans, too!

Thank you! I just love summer because we get to slow down and relax a bit.

Originally Posted by lauriep

Looks like everyones really in summer mode at your house!

Originally Posted by shazza

Great Family Pics - the boys are just too cute (I'm sure they wouldn't want to hear that )

Looking forward to reading more about your trip. I've heard a lot about Cedar Point, so it will be interesting to see some pics.

Thanks! We think they're pretty cute too!

This will be a very different Cedar Point trip - I haven't been there in about fifteen years, and it's been probably 25 or more since I've had "little ones" along.

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Great plans! Glad you've been enjoying the summer!

Originally Posted by bsblady01

sounds like you have a great trip planned

Thank you!

Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily

Loving your plans! That is great that Cedar Point is so accommodating! I've heard great things about The Breakers.

We really liked the Breakers - discount tickets and the ability to walk to the park, but we ended up getting an even better deal through Kalihari Indoor Water Park (two nights for the price of one and it cost the same amount as one night at The Breakers) so we switched to that hotel...though my parents are going to keep their reservation at The Breakers.

Originally Posted by clio

Great plans. We used to go to Cedar Point every year when my daughter was younger. You're so right about the hills at the Cleveland Zoo. We always took a wagon there and I remember pulling it up that big hill to the primate building. We live with easy driving distance to other zoos, Erie and Pittsburg. I live on the Eastside, in Mentor.
Liz

Funniest story - the first time we went to the Cleveland Zoo with Nolan (he was a little over a year), my parents and Grandmother came along and my Dad talked us into skipping the tram up to the primates because he didn't want to fight with folding the stroller so we walked About halfway up, we stopped to let my Grandma rest and a tram was approaching up the hill. The driver stopped so my Grandma could get on. My dad and I finished the walk with the stroller. He hasn't wanted to visit the primate area again since then!

Last time we were there, a portion of the zoo was closed off because of bridge construction, so I'm looking forward to exploring that area now that it's been reopened.

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

Patrick sounds like Dylan with the rules. He very much likes to tell people what to do. And way to go Cullen on riding the trike! I need to see if Lukas can do that. Our Parents as Teachers teacher told us that's a sign they're ready for potty training because apparently it uses the same muscles. idk, but maybe.

Plans look great for the vacation!

I didn't know that about the peddling! Thanks We've worked really hard to get him close to age with his muscle control. I can remember the other two peddling trikes as young as 18 months, but Cullen just couldn't get it figured out. He goes so slowly that his brothers can race up and down the street four times in the time it gets him to just go the four houses to the stop sign, but he keeps with it.

Dylan and Patrick would make great buddies I think

Thanks! I'm starting to get really excited for our vacation (and to meet the "little" nugget of a nephew

[mfirst]

Not too much to report about the trip planning, though my calendar does state 3 days...3 days until my interview and then that evening, I will be leaving for Brooklyn NY to go meet my nugget of a nephew in person. Of course, with the countdown being "3", I also realize I have a lot to accomplish!

"The List"
1) finish editing my thesis (due the 15th) and tweaking the portfolio after a.l.o.t. of drama involving a power surge caused by lightening, a dead flash drive and a petition to the university to review the "pilot" submission (the program all grad students need to use to submit electronic copies of their papers. I was able to FINALLY have my missing projects retrieved so that I can upload them properly. I've also ordered an external hard drive to prevent future flash drive failures.

2. I need to get prepared for my interview on the 10th (at 10 in the morning). I have to get a copy of my graduate transcripts and an official letter stating I will be graduating July 25th as well as make sure I have the necessary documents and do a bit more research on the school. Oh, I also need to press my interview suit (well, Coach will actually do that since I don't iron at all)

3. Get packed for BROOKLYN It's supposed to be in the 90's the entire time we're there which will be a big change from the humid (Florida humid) 80's we've been having here.

4. Make up a list of things for Coach to pack for the kids when he brings them up north to meet up after I return from NYC. We'll see how he does. He's going to have all three for five nights - which might not be a big deal, except he's never had to handle even one night (I've really spoiled the man). My mom confided to me that she has this fear that he'll show up with three dirty, over-sugar kids dressed in mis matched clothes. I predict he'll show up, ready to drop the crew off. He is going to be "rewarded" with a guys weekend in Michigan from the 26-28th of July

5. I've also added found a cat/pool/house checker for the week we'll be gone to the list after talking with Coach and realizing neither of us had thought about that yet.

Tired yet? Patrick went to be last night at 7:30 and is STILL sleeping at five after eight this morning Guess we went a bit bonkers with our schedule over this past weekend!

For a taste:
We headed up north for an impromptu visit after getting invited to attend the Indian's game Friday night with a group of 25 of my favorite relatives

On the 4th, we went to a family picnic and the boys were excited to see their "cousin friend" from California. They only see him twice a year. He's six months younger than Patrick and will be starting Kindergarten in the fall so he and Patrick had a lot to talk about!


Later that afternoon, after a lot of swimming and feasting, we returned to my mom's to just play.


Patrick thought he looked like a "country worker" because he had a "piece of hay" (really a long piece of ornamental grass) hanging from his mouth.

Nolan doing his best Mr. Liberty impression (because boy's can't be "lady" liberty


Patrick's Statue of Liberty Impression


Their poses led to an intense discussion - which hand does Lady Liberty hold the torch in?

Cullen had fun joining in with the sparklers too!


We decided to simply view fireworks from my parents' yard, knowing we'd be able to see the high ones from the nearby cities display. I just didn't feel like fighting the crowds to walk the mile down to the park, then back in the crowds - especially since I knew we'd see a great display after the baseball game the next night. Cullen gave in and went to bed at 9 that night stating "legs broked" I think the little guy was just done in from a busy day of running, playing, and swimming. Patrick made it through the fireworks, but started crying that he was really tired about halfway through. Nolan was a trooper and wanted to know why the 25 minute show finished so soon Unfortunately, the humidity made the air really heavy so it was hard to get a good picture of the fireworks because the smoke they created just hung in the air so the few pictures I took looked like small fire flies in a foggy darkness.

I vowed as I put the boys to bed that night that Friday we would have a mandatory family nap.

Friday morning we woke to rain, and lots of it Dad and Nolan were really worried about the game and Coach sent off on a two hour quest to find a Dollar store to pick up ponchos (note - I have 12 at home, but they were doing we no good because we weren't at home and I didn't think to bring them). When the weather cleared up, we took the boys outside to run around a bit. They decided to bug my Dad about his work attire and we have some future First Energy employees
Patrick (wearing the steel toed boots)


Nolan wearing the rubber shoe overlays:


Up next: A visit to The Jake (also known as Progressive Field )

[chezp]

with the interview and for getting everything done before you head out.

[Jakesmom1118]

Sounds like a busy weekend! We were at Fridays game too!! Such a small world anymore. I hope the boys managed to sleep Friday before the game and I hope they enjoyed the fireworks after that very long game.

Good luck with your interview!!!

[lauriep]

I think I need a nap just from reading it all! Good luck with finishing up this mammoth list, and with the interview.

[Colexis Mom]

Good luck with the interview and the list! Great pictures!

[Cam22]

with interview! More and for all your travel preps! Great 4th weekend!

[mfirst]

Originally Posted by Jakesmom1118

Sounds like a busy weekend! We were at Fridays game too!! Such a small world anymore. I hope the boys managed to sleep Friday before the game and I hope they enjoyed the fireworks after that very long game.

Good luck with your interview!!!

Thank you!

It is a small world We were in section 511 and had a great view of the game (though I wish the game had been a bit better if you know what I mean) and the fireworks afterwards. I did get the younger two to sleep for a bit, and the oldest agreed to lay and watch a movie

[mfirst]

Originally Posted by lauriep

I think I need a nap just from reading it all! Good luck with finishing up this mammoth list, and with the interview.

Thanks! When we decide to do things, we kind of pack lots of activities in We are all very, very tired today.

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Good luck with the interview and the list! Great pictures!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Cam22

with interview! More and for all your travel preps! Great 4th weekend!

Thank you!

[clio]

Good luck with your interview. I'm glad that all your hard work was not lost. You really had a busy few days.
Liz

[OhToodles!]

Good Luck with your list and the interview!!

[mfirst]

Originally Posted by clio

Good luck with your interview. I'm glad that all your hard work was not lost. You really had a busy few days.
Liz

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

Good Luck with your list and the interview!!

Thank you! I'm taking a bit of a break on the list (almost done with the graduate work) to just relax for a few minutes

[mfirst]

To start off - my countdown on my phone now reads, "24 hours until you leave"

I have finished four of my five writing assignments (and posted the four) and will get the last finished before I turn in for the night

In looking over a list, I had a dear friend look at me in horror and ask, "You didn't make up meals for Coach to reheat for the kids?" I didn't even consider it His cooking skills? Grilled meat, pizza, reheated pizza and hamburger helper. Not that there's anything necessarily wrong other than a lack of vegetables, two of the three kids' can't eat dairy (no pizza, no hamburger helper) and the other won't eat meat this week...I'm trying to take a deep breath and convince myself that they'll survive without me - even if it's not how I would do things, it'll be okay. I'm sure the kids will have LOTS of stories to tell about what Daddy let them eat. Thankfully, they're creatures of habit when it comes to breakfast and lunch so I know they'll eat at least two good meals.

Photobucket seems to be working better so I'll try to finish the pictures from the 4th of July weekend.

I had Patrick and Cullen take a late nap, hoping that they'd be able to make it all through the game that night. Cullen slept for about an hour, but I had to wake Patrick up after 2 1/2 hours which is crazy because he stopped napping when he was three! The forecast was calling for a 60% chance of pop up showers/thunderstorms, so Coach and I went on a hunt to find rain ponchos. I finally found them at the third store, and they only had three left so I grabbed them. Coach headed to an Indian's Team store to pick up shirts for Patrick and Cullen (Nolan was given one with his name on it a few years ago from my brother-in-law and it still fits).

Dad decided we should leave for the game by 5:45 because he was worried about parking and the game was almost sold out. We decided to pile into our van, with Dad behind the wheel, and Coach navigating the way. I climbed into the third row with Nolan and Patrick. It was a good thing we'd left early! There was a HUGE traffic back up from the Innerbelt all the way back to the W. 25th street exit. After consulting my phone, we quickly hopped off I-90 and got onto W.25th to take an alternate way in. My aunts got caught up in that traffic and didn't get to the stadium until the beginning of the 2nd inning.

Dad dropped us off near the Drop-off area and took the car over to the Casino parking lot where he could use his valet pass. After he pulled in, the lot posted a "Closed, Full" sign. It was 6:30, and the game start was still 35 minutes away. We walked to Gate A (I may have noted that wrong - it's the gate that is near the Gund Arena, and to the right of the bleachers). As we neared the gate, workers were posting signs noting that the game was sold out! The boys were given "first visit" certificates and each rec'd a dog tag with a C on it. My backpack was given a check then we walked behind the bleachers because our seats were along the third base line. I got the boys to pause for a quick picture by Jim Thome's tribute:


We then began the hike to our seats. I was a bit "miffed" because I'd called the stadium to ask about the stroller policy (Cincinnati allows you to bring strollers and has "stroller checks" on each level of the concourse where you can have it stored during the game). I was told no strollers allowed, yet there were quite a few people with strollers. Just as we got to the escalators, Cullen sat down and refused to walk, so Coach and I had to take turns carrying him to our seats.

Friday night was also dollar dog night and after I settled Mom, the boys and Coach in their seats, I went back to the nearest food stand to get Patrick a special treat. I did learn that the buns weren't dairy free, so they weren't safe for him, but the hot dogs were okay. However, the $1 dogs were cooked and packaged earlier in the day so they weren't safe so I had to order a bunless Kosher dog for Patrick...for $8.75 The gentleman waiting on me confirmed that the bun wasn't safe for Patrick then decided to charge me $5 instead of the $8.75 - A HUGE thank you! Patrick was really excited to get to eat a hot dog like everyone else because my mom had thought ahead and had me back a couple of plain buns so I could put the hot dog I purchased for him in a safe bun for him to eat.

Mom and Dad, enjoying the sun at our seats


Nolan with Coach fiddeling with a drink box next to him


Cullen's self portrait


The view of the field - it was a great evening for a game, even though the Tribe lost to Detroit.


The pretty sunset.

Cullen lasted until 10:00 that night, when at the top of the 8th inning, he curled up on my lap and fell asleep. I couldn't get any pictures of fireworks because he was sleeping (and slept right through the entire show) but I did get to relax and enjoy the show. There's just something about patriotic music and fireworks that makes me tear up! Dad of course thought the fireworks company must have studied at Disney because "they were almost as good as Wishes"

With a sold out stadium, and LOTS of traffic, it was midnight before we got back to my parent's house but all in all in had been a great, memorable weekend

I hope you enjoyed this update! I can't wait for the adventures to begin tomorrow. I'll try to post a post-interview update either before we leave for Columbus to meet up with my Dad, or later in the evening after I am at their house. We're planning on leaving for NYC at 5:00 am Thursday morning and I'll be driving so I need to get plenty of rest tomorrow!

[chezp]

What a great time - I love the sunset photos!

with the final assignment and have a great time!

[Colexis Mom]

Great pics! Have a great time!