Hitting the trail

2020 means no traditional High Adventure.  So Greg thought maybe he'd just take Parker, and maybe Mimi on a backpacking trip.  I suggested he take Yoda too and I could get some odd chores done around the house.  We figured out the best few days and they did it!

About 16 miles of hiking, 2 nights of sleeping and just about a 1.5 hour drive away.  They prepped a little, by now they know what works and what doesn't, and went on a Monday morning, just after Parker had his senior photos taken.  And they got home on Wednesday night ready for pizza!

The first photo is before they hit the trail, the last photos are just before driving home.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My other sister's visit

My sister Sonya also came for a visit this summer.  Because she can work remotely, we were able to have her around for over a week! 

While she was here we did a bunch of walks and hikes at State, National, Town and Metro Parks...

On the 4th of July we BBQ'd and she made a patriotic dessert. 

 

Parker had to work that night, but made it home for some sparklers and some of the neighbors shooting off fireworks (he's pretty tired here!)  

Since all the movie theaters can't open, they are having drive-in movies! We went to see E.T.

Rocket Videos

All the videos I took of the rocket launch day were duds!  So here's a fun one...

And here's a couple of the failed rocket launches...

Parker took the lead to help with the launch. 

Yoda was perched from a play structure.  Greg and Mimi were using trigonometry to calculate how high the rockets went. 

my sister and nephew

My sister and nephew came for a visit last month and it was so fun see them! 

 He found a fun little creek that the town turned into a wadding spot under a bridge and had a blast. 

 Snack time!

 Play dough

 We made a train cake

 This kid climbs all over his mom!

 My sister taught Yoda to knit!

I asked my sister what food she didn't want to miss while she was here.  Besides candy Buckeyes, there really isn't much that's totally local to Ohio, but she remembered that Cincinnati Chili is pretty unique so we got some of that.

 And they dressed up like robots :)

 Duck Doughnuts

 He ran some errands with me.

 And we checked out some outdoor art

 I couldn't believe the fine-motor skills on this kid! 

Painting nails and carefully breaking eggs, so talented!  

We also launched some rockets, I'll post those soon.

One weird quote per kiddo

All quotes are said in a super, dry-humor voice...

Mimi, after I asked her if she wanted to do something, "Can the answer be 'shrug'?"


Yoda, "A shadow is a mirror without color"

Parker, "Oh No!"
Me, "Is it really that big a deal?" (it wasn't)
Parker, "I react the same no matter the size of the deal"

All the Ttrivial Pursuit

 Dragonball (Parker = Winner)

 Star Wars (Greg & Yoda = Winners)

 1990's (Valerie = Winner)

Harry Potter (Yoda & Mimi = Winners).  Later Greg texted me, "Parker and I got skunked!" 

Birthday inside

Last month I celebrated my birthday, and we made the most of what we could do...

 a brand new puzzle,

  hike on a beautiful day,

 yummy cake,

 more goodies, and another puzzle,

 diner food!