Last day of gymnastics

Terefech has decided to move on from gymnastics to another sport (most likely soccer).  She likes doing it but we can only handle so many activities at once.  We have loved this coach.  Works them hard but is kind and instructs really well.  We might be back someday...

Bryson City, Nc

My friend Dani and I went for a low key weekend to Bryson City NC.  We stayed in a nice bed and breakfast over looking the city.

 We had yummy gluten free cuisine.  My favorite was blue cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon.  So delicious!

 It is still the south.

 We spent a fun afternoon tubing Deep Creek.  Now that isn't to say we don't have cuts, bruises and a really nice welt on one of our butts but it was a lot of fun!

Our summer so far

Kids enjoying the pool

Losing yet another tooth

 Father's day...we got him tent sweeping tools.  Help him keep all the dirt out of the tent.  Cause that is going to happen.

 Friends over and playing chess

 More pool fun

 And these gorgeous flowers we don't even really remember planting!

The ride home

After a great visit, a long drive down 77 home.  Always boring and long.  The trip was made yummier by my parents' Greek neighbors giving us some delicious treats. 

 We like to stop at Tamarack to stretch the legs.  And the kids get to play a little on the sculpture playground.

 Another stop at the Cracker Barrel, a game of checkers and we are almost home!

Lake Erie Crushers

We always try to go to a Cleveland Indians game while in town but since they were traveling we headed out to see some minor league ball.  The Lake Erie Crushers are an independent minor league team about 15 minutes from my parents house.  The kids had a great time since you get to sit so close.

 Declan so badly wanted to catch a foul and plenty came our way.  But no such luck this night.  Only makes him want to attend more games in the future.  He has become a lover of baseball.

As if one day of bowling wasn't enough

Declan has been reading a series of books by Dan Gutman about a boy who can travel back in time via baseball cards.  He travels back to see Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Roberto Clemente, etc.  So he has developed an interest in baseball cards.  We made a trip to the Cleveland Indians team shop to get some cards.  This picture is special because of the Boston reference.  We have cousins in Boston so Declan was thrilled to send this shot!

 And the kids wanted to bowl some more.  This time we took Grandpa and Connor with us and the adults bowled.

 Just had to demonstrate her fashion sense!

After bowling we headed to the park across the street.  New parks always hold such a fascination.  My kids were nice enough to dry off the slides for other kids since it had been raining.  Not sure the other parents appreciated my, "Sure, you can go down it even though there is a puddle at the bottom.  Way more fun!"

A trip to my parents' home always results in look through photo albums.  My dad lived in Heidelberg post WWII so it was cool to find these pictures.  The Heidelberg military post has closed so I am a bit sentimental about my high school no longer being there.

And no visit to Lakewood is complete without a visit to Malley's, our favorite ice cream and chocolate place.