Kings Island, part 2

My sister was passing through on her way to Georgetown University where she gets to have a pretty awesome month doing all things historical and government related while getting graduate school credit! Anyway, after a very long drive to make it to our house, the next morning Tina, Max and I got up to join Zoey and her Girl Scout Troop at Kings Island!

We had a really fun time. The lines were really short and it wasn't too hot or humid! Couldn't really ask for better on an Ohio summer day! Zoey and I get a little motion sick, so we took some dramamine and tried to keep up! Max, who is pretty tall for a new 7 year old, was able to hang with the big kids, height wise and so he could go on all the rides they wanted. He was a little daredevil and wanted to do every ride possible, but some I just couldn't handle. There was a huge drop (315 ft) ride that he wanted to go on. We were going to do it, but didn't want everyone to have to wait for us, so we saved it until the end, but our last roller coaster took Zoey and I over the edge and we just couldn't do it! He was disappointed but I was actually relieved... I used to love that kind of stuff, but I think I have become a chicken in my old age! HAHA! Both kids did do a roller coaster that was 3 minutes long, went 55mph, and had 6 upside down loops! I never thought they would want to ride it. Zoey didn't like it, Max wanted to go again! yikes... he can be daddy's partner.
coolio Max and Auntie Tina waiting for a ride!


Zoey and her BFF Codie. It was a girl scout thing, but brothers went too!


My family loves to do these cheesy smile pics!


See... here's another one!


Here is Tina being a gracious model for me...


And laughing and something hilarious I said, obviously!


Tina and the kids before a special Melting Pot dinner! Yum!


And a pretty Zoey pic!


I wanted to set up for some pictures of me and Tina, so my assistant got to work:


And then he actually took some pics of us. Here's one:

Birthday Photo Shoot

After Max's birthday dinner, we came home for a little balloon photo shoot! We love the whole birthday balloon thing and have been doing it for both of them since their first birthday! I love the balloons floating around the house. I only wish they lasted longer!

Max was way more interested in staying inside to play with his new games, and it reflected in his forced smiles, but oh well... what are you gonna do right?

I was checking the light on this one, but I kind of like the overexposed sunny-ness of the picture...


Here he is... our latest seven year old!






Something funny...








Getting annoyed...

This one makes me laugh! I figured it was his birthday so he could be done now!


But, since I had it all set up... everyone (even me!) got a turn...














Zoey action shots (her fav)




I love you, sweet family.

Max's Birthday

For Max's birthday, we decided to pick the kids up from school on the last day and surprise them with a trip to the amusement park, King's Island, near Cincinnati.

It is our most exciting thing to do in southwest Ohio (really, that is what everyone tells me), so we decided to finally check it out. Plus, Zoey's Girl Scout Troop was going later that week, so this was our test run.


The kids were excited! And the weather, well, it just wasn't going to cooperate. Lightening hung around for hours and the rides were shut down! Boo hoo...

We did a couple rides but not many! The kids still had fun though.


When I took Max to pick out his cake, he originally wanted a puppy cake of some sort! But when he saw this one in the book and that it came with toys that popped off, he was sold! And so we had a SpongeBob Theme!


the cake was actually one of the best I've seen! Airbrushed waves and water, jellyfish, and 3-d seaweed. It was very well done. Yummy too, of course!



Zoey came up with an idea earlier in the day to make a big, life size Patrick and put him on a stick. She was going to hide behind the couch and hold him and talk like Patrick for Max. It was her vision... Ross helped out a little, and it turned out great!
Up Close Working Hard






Max opening up a present:


While playing with some gifts, Patrick makes his entrance...


Recognition, mixed with shyness...




Buddies!


When I told him he could choose his dinner place, he said he didn't know. I was telling him that when it's my birthday I love to go to places like the Melting Pot, or Cheesecake Factory or something, and that he could choose anyplace too. He leaned over sweetly and said, "the Melting Pot!" He doesn't like it, he was just being sweet for me! We ended up at Texas Roadhouse!



He got to sit on the saddle while they said "Yeehaw" and happy birthday!


more to come...

Last Day of School

Just some pictures from the last day of school and the comparison of first/last days! Here we come first and fourth grade! yikes!

Rusty Gold

Our family watches American Pickers on the History Channel together. The two main guys go traveling throughout the US looking for all kinds of stuff to buy and then resell. They love old collectors items and anything weird. They call lots of treasures (old bikes, cars, signs, tin toys, etc) Rusty Gold!

Ross went for a run the other day and found an old wagon! We all went treasure hunting around it!

It was in our neighborhood, where they are building a new phase of houses, so Ross let the kids ride in the back of the truck through the dirt road!
They love that part.




Here is Zoey saying "that doesn't make any sense!" her signature phrase!





Part of the wagon wheel... we found a company marking, and looked it up on-line. This wagon is at least a hundred years old.

Another wheel, which is now decor in my living room!! (I'll have to take a picture)


Max chillin' next to some equipment












The Bolt Zoey is holding was her treasure. She was proud of it and took it home to redo it... its all painted now!