Facing Deer Park's problems | Community Press

Facing Deer Park's problems | Community Press & Recorder | CommunityPress.com

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Nathan is 8!

Yesterday we celebrated Nathan's birthday, at Sharon woods, in the Sharon Center. They got to make frog masks, and see some animals. They saw some tadpoles, a frog, turtle, snake, and an owl. They had a great time. We stuffed ourselves with some Dairy Queen cake (the best), and then ran it off in the playroom. Nathan make me take him straight to Target afterwards so he could spend his giftcard. He wound up buying a Simpsons movie.

Gatlinburg, spring break 2009

We just got back from Gatlinburg, TN.  We stayed 3 nights.  We had some beautiful weather the first day (hot, sunny at 88degrees).   Days 2 and 3 it was in the 30's, windy, and at times snowing.  Crazy!  Anyways, we had some fun, some great food.  Went back to see our favorite comedy dinner show at Hoot/Holler.  I surprised the boys the next day with a pretty cool Hummer ride through the Smokies.  You get in this big open hummer, and they take you on some really rough back country.  It was really muddy, and I didn't think there was any way we were going to make it through some of that terrain, but we did.  We only got stuck a few times.  They were really narrow trails, with the side of the mountain literally just outside your door (I say door, but there weren't any doors on the vehicle).  The boys liked it a lot.  I strongly suggest it for anyone who goes to the Smokies.

We stayed a few nights at the Wildnerness at the Smokies, a place similar to the Great Wolf Lodge here in Cincinnati.  It was a lot of fun.  I was impressed that both the boys got on the "waverider".  It is where you do that bodysurfing thing.  Nathan got on it twice!  For those of you who know Nathan and how "cautious" he is, I couldn't be more proud.

Take care, and more to come,

Christine

Goodbye, Herbie!

Well, I did it-I got rid of my beloved convertible!  We bought a new car.   The convertible was a lot of fun, but the compact size of it was starting to wear on us, and we were wanting to go on some road trips this year.  I was going to try to hold off for another few years, but was tempted by the 0% financing.  We bought a beautiful Saturn Vue, black with tan leather interior.  We love it, and haven't regretted getting rid of the bug once (yet!).  It drives very smooth, and is very quiet.  I have a year of OnStar free, with navigation.  I cannot possibly get lost!  You can check out our new car on Saturn.com

Sharon Center

One of our local parks here has a really nice indoor playcenter.  They have created it to look like a big outdoor park, complete with a huge birdsnest that the kids can run around in.  The boys and I went there a few weekends ago.  I got to sit back and read the paper while the boys ran amuck!  Nathan is going back there for his birthday party next month.  They get to have one of the employees come in with a live animal (what, I don't know), eat some cake, and then run around in the playroom.  He's pretty excited!

Sharon Woods, Valentines Day 2009

Today was a beautiful day, so the boys and I headed up to Sharon Woods.  They have all sorts of nature trails, streams, bridges, and some lakes to see up there.  It is (I think) one of the prettiest places in Cincinnati.  All the leaves were of course gone off the trees, but I promised the boys we would come back again when they are back, there is so much more to see.  They had a great time looking for sticks, interesting rocks, fossils, and yes, deer poop.  (I don't know what the fascination is between boys and feces-Kathleen, you will soon figure it out).  

Anywho, we got a bunch of cute pictures.  They have a neat indoor place there now where you can go in and see some turtles, fish, and snakes.  They also have a pretty cool indoor playroom where it only costs $2.50 per child.  I saw a bunch of parents there reading the paper while their kids ran wild.  I may take the kids back tomorrow.  

bowling

I decided to take the boys bowling last Sunday.  We headed down to the Loveland Lanes in Loveland.  (Yes, surprisingly enough, it is still open for business).  We were the only ones there, until a small birthday party came in.  I haven't bowled in awhile, but it cost $20.00 for the three of us to bowl one set with shoe rentals.  That seems a bit steep to me.  

Anyways, we wound up having a great time, and I actually bowled one of my better games.  Two strikes and a spare!  I took a picture of the score board to prove it!

Bowling

snow 2009

Again!  More snow!  We got 8inches here  in approx 3-4 hours.  It was pretty light/powdery snow, but wow, did I feel it after all that shoveling!  The boys were off from school, again.  I think they have missed 5 days so far.  Michael complains the whole time.  I make him go outside with me, and after 5 minutes he's ready for heat.  "When is summer coming?  When is spring going to be here?"  He's not built for cold weather.  I have a feeling he'll grow up and move south.  

Our first big snow of the year!  The boys (by tomorrow) will have had 4 (yes, I said 4) days off for snow this week.  I personally think today and tomorrow is pretty silly, but I don't make the decisions.  We got about a total of 10 inches here at our house over Tuesday and Wednesday.  On Wednesday we got about an inch of ice.  There are a lot of people without power, apparently.  We are not one of them-thank goodness.   I'm beginning to think my boys are really old men in disguise.  It took us about 20 minutes to get the gear on, and after about 10, they complained they were too cold.  They were ready to go inside for hot chocolate.  Our neighbors little guy came over for a little bit, and while his Mother and myself shoveled our driveways, the boys played.  It is so beautiful here, with all the branches covered in snowy ice!  

Nathan's concert at school

Tonight Nathan had his first concert of the school year.  He got a new shirt, and his Mom made him part his hair on the side, as well as tuck in his shirt.  The tucked in shirt lasted all the way up til he got on stage!  They sang several nursery rhymes (most of which I have never heard, I'm told I"m out of the loop), and did a great job.  Afterwards, we got to go to his classroom, to see his latest artwork and desk. 

My little one, Michael loves babies!  He spent the entire time playing with a little baby girl in front of us, snapping pictures of her on our camera.  I almost got a little concerned that her parents might get a little freaked out of us having all sorts of pics of their little one on our camera.  (You never know these days!)  Anyways, I'm convinced that he is going to grow up to be a great baby sitter, as he loves to entertain them!