And the winner is?

I've been with DFAS a little over 2 years now.  I had heard about this big Multi-Cultural day picnic/ festival they have in late June--but the first year, I was home on maternity leave, and last year--we didn't think Amara would have much fun, being just a year old.

This year, mom brought her over and Eric met us there, and we all participated!  First thing, she visited the kiddie area (ages 2-7) and had fun in the bounce area/ obstacle course.  On the way out, she got a freeze pop and coloring pages--but we were quickly distracted by the games.

 **There are a LOT of things to do--face painting, crafts, more games, other things for bigger kids too--but we focussed on what she was drawn to, which, ironically enough--included about 15 minutes at the belly-dancing tent, which, (at Eric's request) I did NOT photograph--ask him if you need an explanation :)  Amara seemed to really enjoy that and the Hawaiian dancer who followed, when ironically enough, we ran into our good friend Roz, who Eric and Amara finally got to meet!

Dad offered to toss a football and quickly won her choice--a small green, VERY green teddy bear.  The lady running the show told us there were other games with larger prizes (oh goodie) and we headed to check those out.  The first one was the toss a softball into a milk jug--she tried her best, but no luck.  2nd game was a tiny "PLINKO" board with washers.  That one she could do herself...wouldn't you know it, she WON!

Choices, choices...the giant momma bear with attached baby bear, please :)

We all could NOT believe it.  She won herself!  She was SO very proud, it was adorable.

Parched, we headed for a quick lemonade stand (surprise) and found a sort of a smoothie/slushie stand instead, and figured we'd give it a try--it was quite sour, but as it melted--we enjoyed it, and the little bit of time we got to spend.

Thanks Grandma Jackie for bringing Amara and daddy for coming over too, what a fun day--we look forward to next year!

Sleeping beauty

One of the great things about mom watching Amara is that Amara gets to wake up, on her own--every day.  Mom patiently waits here at the house for her to wake up, then they begin their day together.

From time to time, they will have an early appointment, or need to get on the road, and mom will crack the door open to encourage Amara to wake up--still on her own, but maybe earlier than she would have.

Recently, (and I love this) she snuck in and snapped a photo of our little sleeping beauty.  She is all snuggled up in the corner with her animals and blanket--where she is every night of our very lucky lives.

I am usually so excited to get in and see her, but at the same time to let her get her rest, that I could never pull this off--but she has Grandma finesse apparently.

Thanks for these moments, mom.

Another birthday

I normally don't prefer to capture things 'about me,' but because we had SO much fun, I wanted to capture it/ the day(s) regardless.

Because my birthday fell on a Tuesday this year, we decided to take Monday off and have a long weekend of it, celebrating on Monday.  We decided to celebrate at....Zoombezi bay!  I know, not where you'd imagine I'd want to go--but we'd heard great things, and the weekends are always SO busy up there, we figured we'd try a Monday and see how we liked it. 

It was amazing!  We all loved it so much--none of us had been since it was the old remodeled Wyandotte lake, and this is SO different.  We went on the lazy river, but the BIG fun was in the kids area.  It's a HUGE graded, beach like area, that doesn't get more than 3 ft. deep anywhere--so she can walk almost the whole area.  There are slides all 3 of us can go down at once--slides we took her down on our laps, fountains, and ropes, and climbing things, and a pirate ship (more slides) just anything you could want.  We all had so much fun, there was no time for video or picture taking--but never worry, we enjoyed it so much, we got a season pass, so we'll be back!  I figure I'm going to try and get one of those disposable water cameras and see if that works...stay tuned.

On Tuesday, Eric made me WONDERFUL red velvet cupcakes, which we and mom and dad enjoyed with excellent grilled burgers, and a great simple dinner.  It was great having a helper for all my candles and for her to get some practice too :)

The flowers Eric and Amara got me are beautiful and their gifts were so thoughtful and special.  I had a wonderful birthday and enjoyed it more than I think I have any in a long time--thanks guys.  I really love you!

Father's Day part 3: Easton

As the crowning finish to our Father's Day weekend bonanza, we had planned to head to Easton for a carriage ride.  They don't do carriage rides all time, but they have them for things like Valentines Day, Father's Day, Sweetest Day, etc.--and I figured what better Daddy/ Daughter moment than this, right?  WRONG.

We had started the afternoon by driving down to the Lower Cauldwell farm, to visit Grandpa Jahn (he really is driving the combine, but he's tucked between Eric and Amara in the shadows).  We'd heard earlier that he was combining wheat and wouldn't be able to break to see us (we had planned dinner and the traditional cheesecake w/ him) so we took him a chocolate milkshake for now... :)  Eric and Amara did a pass or two and got to sit while dad unloaded, so it was fun.  We also hit Lombardi's (a Jahn family, and now Young family favorite) for a quick snack, then headed for our horsey ride.

Arriving, I headed to where the pick up location was supposed to be--and saw barriers, but no horses.  I made a lap around Easton and parked--but still no horses.  We finally asked a police officer who said 'they just cancelled on us TODAY.'  Are you kidding?  So, after the drive over, all the hype and planning, no carriage ride.

We had, however, passed the big fountains by Smith and Wollinsky, which caught Amara's eye--so we headed there.  Not there 5 minutes, the bicycle cop came by and told us that the fountain is untreated and advised everyone there not to get in it.  This is getting better...

LUCKILY, (genius) Eric remembered the fountains near Brio--which was ALSO on my agenda, but with all the disarray, I forgot--I could have kissed him.  We quickly rushed through Easton, bustling past build-a-bear, random other shops, on a quest to save the trip and visit the fountains.  One funny moment (amidst my frustration) was that upon walking through Easton, Amara was in awe of all the chandeliers and people and lights, and yelled "I 'member this place!"--Eric and I both looked at each other and said "you do?" (cause I'm pretty sure we've not been there in the last year, if EVER with her :))  cute.

We got to Brio and JACKPOT!  Kids, water, fountains, perfect!  She loved it!  She wanted her clothes off--which, being a newbie at this, didn't realize people actually WEAR BATHING SUITS there :)  She settled for having her shoes off, and being allowed to get wet head to toe.  She ran, and splashed and let it hit her in the face, and splashed--occasionally running back to us and saying "have great fun" ...which just melts my heart xoxo.

She played for quite a while--and around 6, we headed off to grab a snack and head home.  Again, because we're not Easton regulars, we didn't' realize the place shuts down like a ghost town at 6!  Everything was closed--but luckily as we passed Aunt Annie's, we were able to grab a pretzel and a Lemonade--perfect.  We snacked and enjoyed all the way home, and even though we had a few bumps, the visit and the day were a great ending to Father's Day weekend.

Happy Father's day to Eric, a wonderful father and amazing dad--from a very lucky wife and little girl.   We love you so much.

Father's Day: Part 2

As our Father's day bonanza weekend continued, we decided to head up to the zoo.  We had considered a half dozen options for a Sunday morning, but landed on the zoo, largely because SO MANY things didn't open until 11 or later!

Since we'd never been to that area of the zoo, we decided to hit Jungle Jack's landing.  We really didn't know what to expect, but when we got there, it was COMPLETELY empty!  We made our way over past the owls, to an area where kids could get up close and personal with some smaller animals.  Not afraid of much, Amara pet an iguana, a black rat snake, Myrtle the turtle, and a polecat (a tiny rodent like member of the weasel family, who was SO cute).

After our animal encounters, we went to check out the rides.  Surprisingly, she was tall enough (a benefit of her height) for several rides--though, she was the only one on them :(  She rode the elephants--akin to the Dumbo ride at Disney, a small train ride, and the tea cups too.  After the riding, she was still insisting on seeing the Polar Bears, so we headed off.  I have to say--we've seen them twice now, and we love them, so I'm sure we'll continue, but it is a HIKE to get to the Polar Bears--ESPECIALLY when that's all "someone" is interested in seeing...:)

We made it over there just in time for feeding, where we get to seem them really show off and play, belly-flopping and jumping around in the water for their lunch.  What an amazing animal and treat to get to watch them.

Hot and sweaty (though, partially quenched by lemonade) we headed back to the gate--JUST as I thought we'd made it out, Eric says "you want to see if they have a polecat?"

We walked in the kids' marketplace store and I asked the cashier and she literally said "A what?"  Perfect.  After hunting around, Eric found a smallish red panda, that at the very least, was close in size to the polecat, and had similar markings.  We decided we'd found the polecat and went off to pay.

Eric and Amara and polecat watched Mickey Mouse in the backseat all the way home.  I think that was a pretty fun "official" Father's Day morning for all of us.

Sophie and Emma's bday: Galaxy

Our friends and neighbors, Sophie and Emma are turning 3 and 4.  They are the cutest little girls ever, and always come over with their pup (that Eric and Amara BOTH want to puppy-nap) Odie.  They ride the coaster, ride bicycles, they even took the pink Mustang around the block for a loop :)

They both have June birthdays, so we knew the party was coming up, but didn't know where.  Finally, we found out it was going to be at Galaxy. 

Now, Galaxy has been around for years.  We used to go there in high school, it's changed hands, grown, been expanded, remodeled, and now it's this giant combination birthday place, putt-putt, indoor climbing/ obstacle course, games/ tokes/ prizes place.  We went there about a year and a half ago for our friend Hayliee's first birthday party, but Amara was only about 6 months old--and didn't really get it.

Like Chuck E. Cheese, this isn't really the kind of place you just "go to" every week for no reason, but I was SO excited to see what Amara would think of all of this.  We headed over after her nap (she was zonked after our big morning out!) and got there just in time for cake and gift bags.  The (Sam's Club) cake was AMAZING--and we all had our fill and headed out to the play area. 

Amara was interested in some of the games, like the driving games she played with Eric, and the one particular space coaster ride she rode over and over :)  All the while, Eric was winning tickets at a feverish pace, because Amara had already spotted the prize counter and a mountain of stuffed animals --all calling her name.

We headed back to the obstacle course, there was this one with a tiny strip of nylon and ropes you had to navigate across.  The 2nd time, she mastered it--all the way up and back down.  She also went up the cargo net, LOVED the ball pit, went down a probably 2-3 story slide by herself, and just had a ball. 

By that time, it was thinning out a bit, so she actually got to run around with Sophie and watch her do a few things--you know, parents can try to talk toddlers through something, but having a pal show you is so much easier!

We were there in all a few hours.  In the end, she was insisting we let her jump in the awkwardly turquoise blue water at the putt-putt mountain, so we took that as our sign to go. 

At the prize counter, Eric's over 500 tickets paid off, and Amara happily took home her new green and yellow teddy bear and a sucker.  We really didn't need to pay for anything, other than a few tokens, so it was a great afternoon, and I'm hoping Grandma Jackie can take her back--or we can do it from time to time also.  It's close, and great for a hot or rainy day!

What an amazing party and fun time.  Happy birthday Sophie and Emma, have fun in Mexico!  We'll all go play when you get back!

Lemonade

I think maybe 2 weeks ago, Grandma Jackie was having some boys from church help with landscaping at her house.  She was making snacks for the boys (including Lemonade) which Amara had to sample.  Mom 'mentioned' that she liked it, so I filed that in the back of my mind, but didn't think much of it...

Fast forward to our zoo tip from that weekend, it was SO sweltering hot, we all needed a drink.  I got a bottle of water, but I thought I'd see how this lemonade thing went too.  I bought one of those gallon drink cups for $6, with $.94 refills all summer long...and I bet she and daddy had half of it polished off before we left the Polar Bear area--go figure ;)

Our next lemonade encounter was the next day at the splash fountains at Easton--we were SO hot from splashing and playing, that we grabbed a pretzel to share as we passed Annie's pretzels and got (you guessed it) Lemonade AGAIN!  I think that time made 3 in just a few days!

Eric decided to make fresh squeezed lemonade with local honey for Father's day weekend too, she loved that--it was very different, so I wasn't sure--but drank it down.

One day this week, she had asked for Lemonade, and I was lucky to find some Pink Lemonade Crystal light in the pantry--and she and daddy shared that over dinner too :)  At least she doesn't discriminate--and THAT made me feel better because I know it's sugar free.

Last weekend, we made it to the Clintonville Farmer's market (where Eric hit JACKPOT on a few things...) and as we got to our car, passed a girl with a lemonade stand--can't pass THAT up, can you?

OH, and Thursday was a Multi-cultural festival day at work--we got a lemon slush, which was VERY sour (see photo above), and she took it, but she enjoyed it much more as the ice continued to dilute it and it got a little less sour for her.

Because this just happened again TODAY--I had to finally take note of it.  We went to Easton again, to play in the fountains, and as they were having an art festival of sorts, had food carts set up.  Lemonade.  I think this has to make close to 10 different Lemonade's she's tried in the last 2 weeks.  She likes them all, sour, sweet, pink, yellow, large or small.  If it's lemonade, she wants it :)

Father's Day weekend: Part 1

As with Mother's Day weekend, we have a lot of juggling going on.  3 very special dads in our lives--wanting to do something with all of them, but having to pick and choose what we could do when.  We decided to kick the weekend off Friday night with Papaw Young.  Eric and he golfed Player's club, while I came home to get dinner and the lemonades started--Eric had already made Grandma Young's Key Lime pie earlier in the day, so my load was light! 

We had a great dinner, and wonderful dessert, and opened presents and celebrated, it was a nice evening!

We got up Saturday morning, ready for the weekend and to explore.  We kicked it off with our first ever visit to the Clintonville Farmer's Market, bright and early.  We wanted to get some (local) honey, and just see what they had...we ended up with 3 kinds of cheeses, 3 jars of honey/ jams, a ladybug windmill, some blueberry cookies, p.b. cookies--still not sure how E got some of these things into the bag I WAS CARRYING :).  ...but it was really nice, and we can't wait to go back. We also ended up with a basket of the most tart, sour apples I think I've ever tasted--but in true form, she loves them.  They are VERY similar to the tiny green apples she eats and Grandma Jahn's all week, so I'm sure that is why...

We love the G.C. farmer's mkt too, but this one had a nicer selection of cheeses, beef (Eric found a local Chirizo sausage guy--though he was out by the time we found him too!  We're trying to make a conscious effort to buy locally when/ where we can.  Growing up on a farm, I know I'm sensitive to helping local agriculture, but as an adult I can see the societal, cultural and health benefits of it all too, so I'm glad to be taking on this tradition for our family and our future :)

Straws

I think I may have mentioned Amara's first encounter with straws and the orange drink at Bella's party last month...well, we continued on, giving her lots of opportunities to try them, and it's official, she is OBSESSED with straws now.

She still has/ uses her other cups, but she always asks for straws.  In the car?  Straw.  Can?  Straw (see photo of V8 can, which--contrary to what most people tell me when I say she LOVES V8, is PROOF! ;))

The straw has become most useful on the go--parks, zoo, etc. so she has control and we have a tad less spillage, as opposed to a wide open cup/ glass.

I think it's one of the most special things about being a parent, to watch your little one struggle with something, and then "get it." You could see the light in her eyes and the faintest of smiles when she repeatedly could get that juice up in the straw on her own.  There are SO many things we all take for granted, certainly using straws--but to watch her try and learn and really get it, was such a neat moment, one I'll never forget.

Home Depot, mini soccer table

After a week of Amara being cooped up with Pneumonia, we decided to head out (the first day she was 'allowed') and try the Home Depot craft day.  Her being sick was REALLY tough on her, not being able to be outside, get 'worked up' etc. and she really didn't have a lot of energy.

She wasn't still entirely 100%, but she and dad had fun making her mini soccer table anyway.  She likes being able to pound and pick out tools, get stickers, and use glue--all in the presence of other kids and families, and take her completed project home with her.

We didn't dilly-dally long, just got our certificate and pin and headed home.  Hopefully next month is a little better for her, and all of us :)

Litte Gym Graduation

First week of June was Amara's Little Gym Graduation/ show week.  I can't believe she's already been through 2 sessions!  It seems like we just started those sessions not to long ago, but I guess it's coming up on a year!  I'm so very lucky and happy that Grandma Jackie takes her there every week--she has such great coordination, turns almost any "plank" into a balance beam, and climbs over almost anything in the blink of an eye--oh, and don't get me started on hanging on bars and rings!

Class began with playing on the air-trac, something Amara really enjoys now, but was timid about at first.  The kids all ran down and bounced all the way, chasing after Miss Amber.  The rest of the day was a usual class, so playing with bars, doing wheelbarrows, climbing obstacles, walking the beam, etc.  

At last, it was time for the medals.  Miss Amber makes a platform and stairs for the kids, and they walk up, get a medal and then they do a class picture.  Probably the funniest thing ever, Amara did this 2-hand wave thing as she was getting her medal, it was the only time we've ever seen her do it, and hilarious.  Fall session doesn't start up again I think till August, so I'm sure after the break, she will be happy to see all her old pals again.  She and Grandma have enough going on over the summer to take a short break, but I can't wait to see what she'll get into!  I am amazed at what she learns each week and then comes home and is somersaulting and wanting to wheelbarrow around the living room, it's great!The class ended with songs and stamps, which I believe were stars--mom told me a funny story...I guess one week, Amara decided to ask for stamps on her feet, which led to the other kids asking for the same, so instead of each kid getting a stamp on one hand, or maybe 2, now they all line up and get stamps on each hand and each foot too!  (I'm sure Miss Amber could do without that :))  Congratulations Beanie, the "Big Beast--which, I'm not sure if she'll still be a Beastie in the fall or not..."!...but, great job and we are all so proud of you!