Mini Vacations

We decided, since our boys are little, traditional vacations are too much work and not relaxing for anyone. The kids miss their naps, don't sleep in their own beds, and Mommy & Daddy don't get the relaxation that a vacation implies. So we do mini vacations, at least until the boys are older. Sometimes this means a night or two of camping (which is a lot of fun, but also lots of work!) and sometimes it means just a family day. 

Since Carson was born so close to Christmas, and Ryan already had time off for the holidays, he had extra vacation time to use up this year. He took off days here and there for long weekends and family days. Here are some of the fun times we have had, but there were many more!

Hiking in Cuyahoga National Park

Andrew decided he needed to sit on this really big rock for a picture!

Hiking to the falls.

Luckily the hike to the falls was a boardwalk,
so it was more kid friendly!

Carson got to ride in the backpack!

Only tricky part was there were a LOT of steps!
No big deal for Harrison,
but Andrew's little legs got tired!

(Andrew hauled his cup of juice with him the entire way!)

This kid cracks me up! Where did he learn about meditation?!
He jumped up on the big rock on the hike back to the car
and started meditating. Then he said, "Take a picture of me!"

The boys enjoyed walking through the bike tunnel
under the road and shouting "ECHO!"

Our boys sure love to pose!

Taking a rest and posing on the covered bridge.

Harrison insisted on having a map!

Smucker's Day at Cedar Point

Ryan gets free tickets from work each year to Cedar Point amusement park. The company also caters dinner at the pavilion with prize drawings for the employees and the kids. We thought that we would take the boys this year (usually we go by ourselves). It was a hot day that ended with a downpour that flooded the park and parking lot and drenched us! I was glad that I wore my swimsuit under my clothes and could take them off for the ride home. The boys wore their underwear/diapers and the t-shirts we bought them. Ryan rode home soaked. Ah, memories!

The boys' first day at Cedar Point!

First stop: the Carousel!

Andrew was a bit unsure of the rides,
but rode a few with Harrison.

Harrison wanted to ride everything!

It was hot! And Andrew got tired!

Poor Carson with his red cheeks and sweaty head.
We brought the big stroller to keep the sun off of him,
but it was still super hot!

We went into the arcade to get in the shade and cool off. We let the boys play a few games and then Harrison started playing with a "claw machine". I noticed that it was moving when he used the joystick, so someone stopped playing before their time ran out. I gave it a try and won a Pokemon! I had a little change left, so I tried again so both Harrison and Andrew would have one. Won again! One dollar left, so I tried once more, figuring if I didn't win Carson wouldn't know the difference, and won again! Talk about beginner's luck! 3 Pokemon stuffed animals for $2.00.

Harrison was so excited for his Pokemon.

Andrew was tired and just a little overwhelmed
by all the people. He looked like this most of the day!

 Camping with Friends

Playing on the playground

Sandbox! Harrison is so funny about how things feel.
He got sand in his pants so he stripped naked.
It took some convincing to get him to put his clothes back on!

The ultimate fort! Swing, monkey bars, climbing nets,
climbing wall, tire swing, rings, slide, steering wheel & periscope!

The friends we were camping with brought the s'more makings!
There were marshmallows and all kinds of candy bars and
cookies to make them with! The boys don't really care for s'mores,
just cold marshmallows, but I was in heaven!

Swimming in the really nice swimming pool!

The pool was quite a hike from our camping spot!
We had a caravan of all 6 kids.
Oh, did I mention that it was me, the 3 boys, a friend & her 3 kids.
(All 6 kids under 5) No husbands. Yeah, we are nuts, but we had fun!

Tuscora Park with Nana, Boppa, Ronda & GG

We didn't make it to Tuscora Park at all last summer, but we made up for it this summer with 3 trips! The first one was with Nana, Boppa, Ronda, and GG. All the rides at the park are 75 cents a ride or 10 ride tickets for $7.00. Most of them are kiddie rides, but the train, carousel, and Ferris wheel adults can ride too. There are also 4 different playgrounds, batting cages, a large swimming pool, and concession stand.

Did I mention this is not an amusement park?!
Nope, it is the cleanest, cutest city park ever!

Ready for a ride!

Riding the train with GG, Nana & Ronda.

Waiting to ride the carousel.

Carson's first ride on the carousel. It's a tradition!

Andrew's favorite ride!

He was a bit unsure of this ride.
It went around in a circle but also went up and down.

Camping with Grandma & Grandpa

Carson chillin' in his lawn chair
watching us roast hotdogs over the fire.

Andrew sitting in his new camp chair.

Roasting his first hotdog.

This was the first time I ever got Andrew to eat a hotdog!

There were riding stables at the campground
 and Harrison was dying to go horseback riding.
We bought him a pony ride assuming he would be walked around a pasture.
Instead he got a 30 minute ride on the trails.
He chatted it up with his guide the whole time and loved every minute of it!

Grandpa came and got Harrison after his ride,
so Ryan and I could go on a ride together.
Ryan always manages to take picture of me when I don't expect it
and they are always so unflattering! But I decided to post them anyway!

Our first horseback ride since our honeymoon.
This one was much better!
Smaller group of people (just the guide, her grandma, and us)
and we were back woods, in mud & trees, and up and down hills.

Italian American Festival

Another little gem like Tuscora Park. When the Italian American Festival comes to the fairgrounds, it is $5.00 per person, 3 and under are free, and admission includes all the rides! We let the boys ride for a few hours and hit Wendy's for dinner (a little cheaper than fair food).

Andrew was much more excited about the rides this time,
as long as Harrison was riding with him!

 A Trip to the Zoo with Grandma

 School was back in session so I thought we would head to the zoo. Apparently other families had the same idea, because it was quite crowded for school beginning.

There is a new exhibit at the Akron Zoo - Grizzly Bear Ridge
It had grizzly bears, wolves, and otters.
This grizzly bear kept swimming right up to Harrison.

Andrew got tired of walking and joined Carson in the stroller.

Awesome clear slide thru the otter habitat!

The otter saying hello to Harrison as he slid down.

Albino rat snake! Yuck!

Andrew made friends with the sun bear!

Riding the carousel!

The entire time we were at the zoo Harrison was asking to see the bats.
We missed the door to the exhibit on the way in,
so we had to catch it on the way out.
He was in love with them!
There was one hanging low, so he could get a good look at it!