First and foremost, I'd like to know how we made it in Ohio this long without ever visiting Hocking Hills.  We went camping for part of our vacation and decided to venture here on the raving recommendation of next door neighbors.  I'd heard a few things about Hocking Hills here and there- but nothing that prepared us for our trip.  This place is AMAZING.  Like- ranks right up there with lots of the sites in Utah and Yellowstone- amazing.  And we didn't even get to go on some of the bigger hikes!  The views and the hikes and the caves and everything else we saw were stunning.  It didn't hurt that it was pretty empty and transitioning into fall!  

We'd had a lot of rain the days leading up to our trip and it made the colors so vibrant.  I feel like the green was fluorescent!  Our first day was picture perfect weather (therefore I took almost 500).  Sun shining- no rain- and just a few clouds.

 Our first stop was at Ash Cave. It is labeled as the most majestic of all the sites in the park.  My pictures don't do it any justice. It was just too big to try and capture all at once.

Our little rugrats were really impressive the whole trip.  Not until the very last hike on the last day did they start complaining about their legs being tired. They did a lot of running and stair climbing!  and we were all pretty dirty when all was said and done.

I was also impressed with how brave the kiddos were.   At one point I had all three boys (kent, zeb, and Ike) trying to climb up separate cliff walls.  It got a little treacherous.

And the boys were even happy to go into caves. They asked if there were any spider webs and when we told them probably not- they were happy to explore with us!
Honestly- this place was so much fun. I still can't believe we hadn't been.  It would have been worth the drive from toledo for sure!  It's only about two hours from us here in Dayton- and would have been three from Toledo.

Ike did get pretty nervous here, though.  Kent was trying to maneuver his way back down the cliff wall and Ike just wanted him to hurry.

The Ash cave is so big it's indescribable.  Sometimes I think Ohio is trying to keep all of its greatness a secret so that more people don't come.  Nothing we do is ever crazy crowded- all of their parks (city and state) are so well taken care of- and everything is free!!  If any of you Ohioans or veterans of Ohio know of any other great places- let me know!!!

Getting these rascals to sit still for pictures is ridiculous right now.  This is the one and only shot of the day where they actually agreed to sit and smile.  Maybe it's because we had them sitting on a giant rock ledge and told them if they moved they would fall to their deaths.

There were only a handful of other people on the trail the day we hiked so we got the park almost to ourselves.  There was one couple getting married here when we first arrived, though!

We could have sat here and played in the sand forever!  Zeb kept running ahead of us trying to see what was next.  He told Kent that the place was 'kind of beautiful'.

The only way to get the boys to smile here was to tickle them like crazy.  At least they aren't fake smiles!

After the Ash Cave we decided to head to Cedar falls.  We saw a gazillion mushrroms and both Zeb and I were obsessed!  Mushrooms remind me of Russia- and Zeb of mario-kart.

Look at this one! Red with white spots!!

And the falls were pretty cool, too.  Nothing better than a big pot of muddy water to stir around.

The one thing about waterfalls here is that they are almost waterless- but pretty nonetheless.

For some reason-EVERYthing these boys do has to be a race or a contest.  It helped speed up the hikes immensely- but resulted in lots of frustration when somebody came in second.  Finally we convinced them to play as a team and hold hands for a 'two way tie'. At the last second -on this particular occasion- Ike ran ahead at the very end- touched the car and then pointed to each of us individually and said: "you lose! you lose! you lose!".  I encourage speediness and doing your best- but I've never taught them to rub losing in other people's faces!  and he's only 2!!  I honestly think that he was born competitive.

But these two really are best friends and even though having them close in age can be horrific sometimes- it sure is wonderful that they have each other.

and so begins our vacation!!

 Friday night Kent got off work and he's off for nine straight days!!  Well- besides the one night shift he's covering for another resident who had a family emergency (grr! during our vacation!!  at least he's just gone while I'm sleeping! and I'm happy he was willing to help).

Early Saturday morning I went to a giant kid consignment sale with a friend and got lots of fabulous stuff for my rugrats.  And then I came home to a completely clean house.  I always feel guilty when Kent cleans.  Probably because it happens so darn often- even after he works crazy long hours. He knows I abhor cleaning- and he's just an all around perfect husband.

After a long morning of Kent cleaning and me shopping- we took off for a little adventure. It was the most amazing fall day.  Not hot. Not cold. Just perfect.  It even just smelled 'autumny'.  we ventured out to the Little Miami river to go canoeing!!  It was so much fun.

We packed our little family into one canoe and shoved off.  The trip was just under two hours- perfect for us.  I was really impressed that the kiddos didn't even once ask to get out or go home or be done! I was a little nervous about being stuck in a canoe on the river with screaming rugrats

  I didn't take my nice camera (for obvious reasons) but did take cell pictures and some with our point and shoot.  Most of our pics turned out pretty decent considering that when we turned on our point and shoot - we found the screen shattered and nonworking.  It still takes pictures- we just can't see what they look like.  Why don't digital cameras come with view finders!?

The canoe place piled us onto a bus and dropped us off up river somewhere.  Then we got in and paddled our way back.  Our boys paddled almost the entire way!  It was pretty impressive.  They loved it.

 We got out in a few spots to throw rocks, look at turtles, and just play around in the water.

Zeb loved that he got wear river shoes just like mine! I found him a pair of kid 'keens' at a yard sale for a dollar!  I love my keens- if you don't have a pair- you should!







Just as we got out of the canoe to head home- Ike walked right up to Kent and said: "I had so much fun, Dad!"  Here's his 'thumbs up'.  The exact same way Zeb used to do it!

After our canoe trip- we got a sitter and went out to dinner with friends. I'm a pretty boring eater and really just prefer basic American food. I decided I'd be a little adventurous and agreed to go to a famous restaurant here in Dayton called Thai9.  Kent had previously been- and loved it.

Not only did I eat some crazy thai dish (delicious cashew nut chicken of some sort) I actually tasted Sashimi.  Is that what it's called?  Our friends got a plate full of raw fish.  It looked terrible.  I can't believe people pay money for raw fish!!!  more than anything I can't believe that I agreed to taste it.   I took a teeny little chunk of something reddish (tuna? salmon? not sure.) and chewed it up as fast as I good.  It wasn't nearly as bad as I'd anticipated- but I honestly didn't like it at all. I felt like I'd bitten of a piece of my cheek flesh and was chewing on it.  Maybe my tastes will mature some day and I'll appreciate 'fine foods'.   I am getting better with fish in general- but things like sushi still terrify me. Is there a good 'calm' type of sushi to start with if I'm trying to learn to like it?

We'd be happy to take any visitors to Thai9- we just won't be getting raw fish.

 Here's my turkey waiting on the real turkeys.    I asked him why he looked so glum and he replied: "this is making me sooooooooo bored."  He gets that inability to wait from his mom.





 Earlier this week we went to "turkey fun"- a program put on by the local metroparks.  It was free and included wild animals- so we couldn't resist.

Plus the kiddos got to do this turkey craft.  Let's be honest, though. Most of it was a little intense for toddlers so it was mostly a joint effort.  But Zeb is now fully versed in turkey terminology.  Just ask him about the snood, carbuncles, or wattle.

And the wild turkeys they'd advertised were caged. I guess 'wild' refers to their species and not where they live.  Plus- most of them looked an awful lot like chickens to me. Of course, none of that mattered to Zeb and Ike.  They loved petting the animals.

Zeb (and then Ike, too) kept asking the birds why they weren't talking to us.  I tried spraying them with water to make them cluck or gobble- but we didn't get even a peep.

 The pigs on the other hand were crazy. They loved Zeb and Ike!!  I love this picture because Ike is making the exact same face as the pig.

 The pigs followed the boys all around the pen- and kept snorting.

 And then we got tired and went home.  Ike was furious with me for gobbling in the car. Honestly- he is going to be so much fun to harass as a teenager.

 This weekend we ventured downtown to "Island Metropark" for our pal, Penny's, birthday party.  She's a friend that we met at the YMCA.  We see her almost every single day and the rugrats love her.  It helps that she has really cool parents as well!
It was the perfect weather for an outdoor party- and we all enjoyed ourselves.  There was lots of sidewalk chalk and dirty hands.

All of the boys thought it would be funny to rub their faces in the drawings- so we had some dirty chins as well.  I really love this picture.  This is one of those sincerely happy faces.  No cheesy grin- no fake smile- just a real happy kid.  

Penny towers over Zeb and I thought for sure this was her fifth birthday- but it turned out to be number 4.  She really is the greatest little girl.  Her family is fabulous.  I absolutely LOVE meeting new people in new places and I'm glad we've already made these great friends!

The kiddos even feasted on vegan cupcakes!  How amazing is that?!  Barrick- the kiddo in the middle- is our pal from church and he also frequents the YMCA and is friends with Penny.

For part of the party they had a little 'photo booth' set up to take pictures. There were all sorts of great props and clothes and funny stuff to wear and pose in.  The rugrats loved it.

 They used an I-Pad ap to take pictures and send us the copies!  We have totally lucked out with Kent on the weekends so far and once again he was able to party with us.
After the party we did a little park exploring and enjoyed fall.  I can't say enough good about the Ohio Parks.  Just plain amazing.

and fall, too. It's just plain amazing.  

kicked out.

  Thank heavens fall is here and bringing some of my favorite chilly gloomy weather!!  On a day like to today- I could use some happy weather! We just left the library prematurely because we were kicked out. Have you ever been asked to leave the library (as an adult anyway)!?   2.5 yr olds sure can be terribly difficult and embarrassing.  While Ike can be a trouble maker- he rarely gets us into these types of predicaments (zeb did all the time!).   In his defense- another unaccompanied toddler was majorly harassing him and so I ended up pulling Ike out of the situation because I could tell he was about to start fighting back.  When I removed him from the area- he freaked- already at his boiling point.  And then- while I was trying to calm him down and gather my things to leave anyway- a librarian approached and asked us to leave.  We were in the toddler section- you'd think they'd give you longer than two minutes before kicking you out for a crying violation.  I was not happy.  I even sent them an e-mail simply stating it would have been more effective to offer help rather than ask us to leave.  Kids are so embarrassing!!   I'm already planning ways to pay both these little rugrats back when they are teenagers.  Maybe that's why my parents reveled in embarrassing me as a teen.

Once we got outside- Zeb offered a suggestion:  "Maybe we should just ignore him, mom."   If only he could have offered that advice to the librarian.

Zeb is a such a good little kiddo.  Last week he kept begging to play on the slip'n'slide. The highs last week were 65. On one particularly rainy and gray day he was very persistent. I told him that if we set up the slide- he had to play for AT LEAST ten minutes.

He totally did it. And it was seriously freezing!!!  He's totally going to be a polar bear plunge kid.

By the end he was shivering uncontrollably :)

 Yesterday was our first day of school- and I promise that Zeb was happier about it then he lets on in these pictures.  I wanted him to stand out on the deck because the lighting was better- but apparently it was too cold. And it interrupted team umizoomi.

His backpack is HUGE. We got it for a quarter and it fits his Cars 2 folder (unlike last year's thomas backpack) so it's a hit.

Here's Zeb in his favorite 'position'.  We have pictures of him sleeping like this when he was 18 months old. He loves to cross his feet and put his hands under his head!

We got in to a little co-op preschool this year with six of Zeb's little pals from church.  I only have to teach once every seven weeks- but he gets school twice a week, every week. And it's free.  Seven kids will be a lot- but I scheduled my teaching week for Kent's vacation week so I'll have plenty of help!

Zeb keeps asking what Ellie, Matthew, and Cohen are doing for preschool this year, though. They are his preschool pals from last year and we all miss them immensely!!!

We had a little back to school party last week to introduce the kiddos to the teachers and my two rugrats loved it.

Luckily one of the kids decided not to join- so Ike got to paint his placemat and sit in his spot. That's why his placemat says Jeremiah.

Our first real day of school -yesterday- was RIDICULOUS.  Ike was beside himself in devastation when we dropped Zeb off and he didn't get to go with him. He seriously cried for twenty minutes- wailing about leaving Zeb and wanting to be with Zeb and wanting to go back to get Zeb.  Any suggestions?  Obviously this kid loves his brother more than his mother.  And I am absolutely okay with that.  He also really wants to be in school, too.

better than the botanical gardens!!

Despite the intense heat we ventured to Dayton's discovery gardens to spend part of our day.  The place is astounding- and free!  Like toledo's botanical gardens- only way better. Far more kid friendly- lots more to do- and lots more shade!!  Although we did miss all of the crazy ducks and geese.

Best part about the place was the water features.  Fun streams, waterfalls, and cool caves to play in.

It was so hot I wish I would have worn my swimming suit!  Heat index was above 100 again today- but the high for monday is supposed to be 71.  PURE HEAVEN.  I LOVE fall.  good riddance summer.
The kiddos didn't mind the heat in the slightest.

I loved the caves.  Remember our last cave encounter? with the terrified and wailing children?!  Ike remembered, too.  He was a little cautious walking in to this one.  It didn't help that I told him these were spooky, too.

 He warmed right up once he realized they opened up on the opposite end- and weren't dark at all.

We couldn't figure out how the place was so empty on a holiday weekend- but we didn't mind at all. Maybe everybody goes out of town for Labor day?  I love that we have the weekend with Kent.  I needed a good weekend!

I think this picture looks like we are up in the mountains somewhere.  Dayton is even greener than Ohio. It's absolutely beautiful.

The sand table was a hit.  Ike kept getting pummeled with sand by another little boy- but remained very calm.  It was a rewarding parenting moment. Our kids tend to be reactive sometimes (where in heaven's name do they get that!?)- and it was so nice to have an afternoon completely free of tears and drama.  Maybe this parenting thing is working out.

Did I mention it was hot?  In the three minutes I spent getting a picture of a bee- I became completely drenched in sweat.  Beads pouring down my face like they do in spin class. gross. gross. gross.

They also have this GIANT stick snake maze.  We lost the kiddos several times.

I can't believe that I even got the kiddos to stand in one place for a single picture. They exhausted us today.

Yet another reason to come and visit!  any takers?!