Sesame Place

One of our favorite places to go in the summer with the kids is Sesame Place.  We made sure we made reservations after NBA Finals were over.  We left a little after 9am on Saturday.  I drove all way.  I like driving since I can't really do anything else in the car.  We had one stop at a rest area for a potty break.  The kids do great traveling and always let us know with plenty of time if they need to go potty.  We checked into our hotel.  We were hungry so ran over to McDonald's across the street for dinner.  Austin and Sydney ordered pancakes.  That is one of their favorite foods.  They love that they can get pancakes for dinner there.

After dinner, we went to Sesame Place.  We got there around 6pm.  We rode the rides.  We got Sydney on the roller coaster.  She really wanted a piece of candy.  We said if she tried the roller coaster she could have candy.  She was scared at first but Brian told her to scream if she was scared and then she loved it.  She loves to scream.  She is definitely loud.  She even rode it again.  This was a big step for her.  She's never was a big fan of bigger rides until now.  It turned out to be her favorite ride.  She also tried the Elmo drop and was scared at first but loved that too.  We ended the night watching the night parade with some popcorn

On Sunday, we got to the park when it opened.  We listened to the Star Spangled Banner.  Austin and Sydney know most of the words because of the Cavs games.  The first ride we went on was the roller coaster.  Again everyone loved it.  Then we went on more rides at the back of the park.  Another favorite ride is the swings.  Austin wasn't feeling well so I took him to minute clinic.  Brian stayed with Sydney and watched a show and rode some rides.  Austin and I were gone for about 2 hours.  I brought Austin and activity book at CVS for something to do while we waited.  Austin did a great job waiting.  He was placed on antibiotics.

I picked up lunch on way back, chicken nuggets and milkshake.  Kids were super happy especially about the milkshake.   Then we went to water park in Sesame place, lazy river, water slides with double tube. Sydney loved that ride.  Austin went down big water slide and liked it.  Sydney was sad she was not tall enough. Hopefully next year she will be tall enough.

That night we had dinner reservation at Elmo and Friends.  We got dinner, pictures with characters then interacting with characters.  Kids decided to honk characters noses.  They thought it was so funny! Sydney loved the dinner and danced with characters.  Austin still wasn’t feeling that well and wasn’t as interactive. We rode rides until the night parade.  We all like the night parade.  

On Monday we had breakfast at our hotel.  Once again we did the roller coaster first when we got the the park.  However we decided by 11am that we wanted to do the water park.  We changed and went to the big duck water slide first.  The kids loved it.  They wanted to do it again but the line was too long.  Then went back of park and did other water slides.  Sydney enjoyed the double inter-tube slide.  Austin had issues with life jacket needing to be off for one of the bigger water slides and he cried.  He was really tired.  We played in the big bucket area then played in the splash pad.

We were down swimming by then so we changed back into dry clothes.  The kids played in the train car area.  This was the first time the kids played there even though it was our 3-4th time to Sesame Place.  They really liked being in charge and pushing other kids.   They saw a kid doing that so Austin really took charge and played there for a long while.

We watched the Abby art show.  It was cute.  We rode more rides and ended the evening once again a the parade.  We decided to go to Friendly's for dinner.  We don't have one near us so we decided on that.  We even order ice cream for dessert.  It was a great way to end a fun trip.  

On Tuesday, we left at 730 am.  However there were traffic problems for about 30 minutes.  We got home around 3 pm.  Once we got home we had to grocery shop and Brian cut the grass.  And that evening kids had T-ball.

Cavs are Champions

On Father's Day, we went to Wildwater in the morning to wear out the kids so they would take a nap.  Brian drove around for an hour trying to get them to sleep.  Austin and Sydney have always went to sleep easier in the car.  Sydney finally feel asleep but Austin barely got any sleep.   My parents stopped by for a bit in the afternoon with Aunt Betty and Jeff.  We visited then we got ready for the important Cavs game.

We were nervous when the watch party tickets went on sale.  We really wanted to make sure we got them and we did.  We've loved the watch parties this year and this was the most important one.  We considered leaving the kids at home but knew they needed to be there.

We got there in plenty of time and stood in line for an hour to get in the door.  Brian was at the front and I went to the walkway.  I thought the walkway would be quicker.  I was wrong however Brian and Sydney had already came over.  It seemed to take forever to get in.  Finally we  got in.  We ran to our normal section and it was full.  I ran upstairs and got seats.  Not the best but seats with a front view of the screen.  Then we realized the Cavs were not giving out free food to Wine and Gold members.  This was the one game I didn't cook dinner because we have got free food for all the other ones.  Brian went to buy hot dogs.  They were sold out.

It wasn't turning out to be a good night.  The floor of the Q was all under construction for the RNC.  It looked funny.  There wasn't the normal entertainment on the floor like the past.  The game started and during a time out, I went out to find hot dogs to eat.  I finally did.

The last few minutes of the game were so intense.  The kids were getting tired.  Brian and I were so nervous.  The kids were into cheering.  Then Lebron got hurt.  Brian and I were convinced he was out and somehow we were going to loose the game.  However he was fine and the Cavs won the championship.  We were so excited.

Here is the link to our video of our reaction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fimwvoEqttU

We celebrated downtown for at least an hour with kids.  Then they fell asleep on us. Austin fell asleep on Brian's shoulders and I was carrying Sydney thoughout downtown with two hands because she got so heavy.  It was truly amazing experience.  It was awesome!

We got home around 2am.  Brian wrote himself a note by his alarm clock that it wasn't a dream the Cavs really won.  It was funny. Brian went to work that next morning.  I was lucky I was off with the kids.  Brian had the idea to meet the Cavs at the airport.

I met Brian at work  so we all could see the Cavs come in from the airport. That day it was hot and sunny.  I was not prepared for that.  I didn't bring much water or snacks.  But luckily they were handing out free water.  I did bring their Kindles so they had sometime to do while waited and they did not fight.

We were 4 rows back and it was hard for me to see.  The kids could see great on shoulders.  I had Sydney on my shoulders for a bit.  It's hard for me to do it but I for a bit.  It was really cool when the Cavs players got out of the plane.  They were in disbeilef on the number of fans there.  It was really cool.  We stayed for about 45 minutes after the players landed.  Then I took Brian back to work.

On Wednesday it was the parade.  That is what we've been waiting for.  We left house at 5:30am
I was sitting on Ontario St. at 6am with Sydney.  I brought their Kindles and lots of snacks for them.

Brian and Austin walked around to Rally area.  They came back and then Brian took Sydney for a walk.  We all waited together with my friends Dawn and Erin.  It was fun!  It didn't seem like it was hours of waiting.

The parade finally started at 11:30am.  We were front row until people kept getting closer and closer.   Kids were getting tired but enjoyed seeing the players and getting free stuff.  Austin got 2 t-shirts, bracelets, and bead necklaces.  Sydney need to be held a lot and was tired but she enjoyed some parts of it.  The parade would stop because they couldn't get though in the street because so many people were in the street.

It was after 1pm it was done by where we were.  We were at the beginning.  I can't imagine if we were at the end of it.  We walked to Rally.  The parade wasn't ended yet and still a long way to go. Brian walked around to see what was going on.  Then we decided to leave.  We were all tired.

We got home around 3pm.  The kids fell alseep in the car.  We took them to their rooms when we got home for a nap.  Brian and I watched the rally on TV while kids took a nap.

It was awesome!!!  We are so proud of the Cavs and to be from Cleveland!

Kindergarten Graduation

Austin graduated on Thursday night.  I picked the kids up by 4pm so we could get home and get dinner and ready for the big graduation ceremony.  Austin was tired and cranky.  He was pulling on Sydney dress and just being difficult.  It drives me crazy.  This was such an important day and don't understand why he makes it more difficult.  My parents came over to go to the ceremony.  They brought them balloon 3 and 5 balloons for their ages.  They were very happy.

We ate dinner and then Brian and Austin left for graduation pictures.  Brian takes great pictures and he decided to take pictures for the school.  He needed to get there early to set up.  The rest of us got there pretty early too and got front row seats.  We then walked around a bit to keep Sydney entertained.  She was complaining she was hungry because she did not each much of here dinner.  Luckily she was easily distracted.

Brian and I were more sad about this day then Austin.  He didn't understand that he will likely never see some of these kids again.  We've gotten to know a lot of families and it's sad we will now go on our separate ways.  Austin will be at school all summer so he is not really saying good bye but several kids are saying good bye.

Then the ceremony started.  It was nice because Austin was in the front row so we could see him well.  They said the Pledge of Allegiance.  They sang and performed the ABC's in sign language.  Then they did the best song which was the Dino-mite song.  He has been practicing it for months so we kind of knew about it.  Nevertheless it was awesome!  

They called the kids up for their diploma.  Each child got an award.  Austin got the Wiz Tech Award.  That suits him well.  We were so proud of him.  Austin has come such a long way.  He's started coming out of his shell.  He's not as shy.  He loves playing sports especially basketball at school.  He likes to observe first but then gladly joins in and plays with everyone.  He never had a "best" friend at school.  He had several good friends.  Everyone at school liked Austin and Austin likes everyone too.

After ceremony gather in hallway for more pictures.  We talked to some families.  We had some cake.  Then it was time to say good bye.

We came home and had cookie cake that Austin picked out yesterday at store. He wanted graduation cupcakes but we couldn't find them.  Then I also got him a stuffed animal smiley face with graduation hat saying 2016.

Austin was very happy.  We are too!  We are excited for what the next adventure brings.

Our First Camping Trip

The Cavs won the Eastern Conference finals.  We were so excited.  However the game was so late.  All of us were at the watch party.  I was tired. The kids were tired. It was a mess at the end. Brian wanted to enjoy the moment.  The rest of us wanted to go home and sleep.  We walked around downtown a lot though so Brian could take in the scene.

On Saturday was our first camping trip.  Luckily the kids slept in.  I then went grocery shopping for camping.  Brian prepared the camper.  We left our house a little after 1 pm.  When we arrived, a guy that works there helped us tell us where to park the camper. Our site was small and we had neighbors on both sides.  It was very nice of him.  We even had to use some balance ramps too. Luckily Brian was prepared.

We had lunch in our camper.  Then we decided to go to Wild Water kingdom.  It was very hot and I did not pack ear plugs for Austin for the lake.  We are used to swimming in pools.  We had a great time at the water park.  We came back for dinner and I cooked inside the camper hot dogs and macaroni and cheese.

It was time for a hayride at the campground.  We waited about an hour though to get on the hayride.  There was a playground across the way so the kids played there while one of us waited in line.  During the hayride, a lady handed out candy.  That was the kids favorite part.   After the hayride, Austin wanted to play basketball. He even made 3 shots in the tall basketball hoop.  That was impressive.  Sydney played on the playground.

We went back to our campsite and had some smores.  We got ready for bed.  Brian and I did not sleep well. Our bed was terrible!!!  The number 1 thing to buy is a new mattress before our next camping trip.

On Sunday morning, Brian and I were cranky because we got no sleep.  I made breakfast in the camper which were pancakes.  The smoke alarm went off while I was cooking.  That was a mess!  Once we aired out the camper, everything was fine.  Then we decided to go back to wildwater kingdom.  We were there for a few hours in the morning.  We stopped at the store on the way back for some ear plugs for Austin. We also got some drinks.  We had lunch in the camper again.

After lunch, we took the kids to the lake to swim. There was a slide that went into the lake.  Sydney loved it.  Austin did not care of it.    Austin loved playing in the sand!  We were there for over an hour playing.  The kids didn't go out too deep and they loved making things in the sand.

Before dinner, we all took showers at the campground showers. We decided not to use our shower yet. It was nice to be clean again.  We had dinner which was hot dogs again because I didn't want to cook hamburgers inside the camper.  And we went on the hayride again.  This time there was no candy.  Austin and Sydney were sad!

We made a campfire and we had smores.  Storms were coming but luckily they were not too severe.  We slept a little better. In the early morning, I ended up in Austin's bed (which is the bottom bunk). I slept better there than my bed.  Sydney ended up with Brian in our bed.

On Monday, I made eggs for breakfast.  We finally took the kids fishing.  Austin had been begging to do that all camping weekend.  Brian and I were not a fan but we did it for them.  They caught a lot of seed weed.  We packed up the camper and came home.  Everyone around us had already left so it was easy to leave.

Once we got home, we cleaned up the camper and put things away. It only took about an hour or so.  Then Brian cut the grass and he put up a new swing for the kids.  I went grocery shopping.  We all very tired.  We had a good first camping trip though!

On Tuesday, we had a field trip to Memphis Kiddie Park.  The weather was perfect.  Austin and Sydney had a great time.  After the kiddie park, we went to the library.  We are still working on 1000 books before Kindergarten. They also signed up for summer reading program.

On Wednesday, it was bike day at school.  I took them there for the morning only. I stayed home and cleaned the house.  The teachers were impressed how well they can ride a bike. Austin can ride bike with no training wheels and Sydney is very fast with her training wheels.  Sydney wants her training wheels off but she needs to practice a little more on the balance bike.