ohio summer #1

We made it!  We had something of a rough time getting here, in a lot of ways, but we did make it!  We got all of the boxes put away, and we even got the pee soaked carpet (that was a fun surprise) replaced and the floor sealed.  We are settled, and we love it here!  With that said we have moved on to finding the fun summer life the area has to offer. 

We celebrated Porters third birthday for third time when we made it to our new home.  Since we didn't have our own yard back in Omaha, we used the occation as a great chance to get a little stocked with some small back yard furniture.

Pratt got his first shiner after a good fall.  I was impressed it took him 17 months get get it!  He is my busiest kid so far, but luckily, not the clutziest!

 Our back yard is about half grass, half cement.  It has a small basketball court, and decorative cement pad where the former owners hot tub was situated.  Initially I was kind of bummed about this.  It has turned out to be a really fun yard.  The landscaping gives us lots of options.  This is great because the backyard is fenced and I can turn the kiddos loose.  It also means I can do everything in the back, including all of our sidewalk chalk. 

 This is Porter, not a Romulon (yes, I was a treckie with my dad as a kid).  We thought that this forehead swelling was a result of an exciting day in nursery.  Not so.  The bugs here can be fierce.  It doesn't help that the kiddos are sometimes out the door to play as early as 6:30 a.m. and until tubby time.  They get plenty of opportunity to attack. I think it is worth it, although, I doubt my neighbors enjoy our vigor in the early hours of the weekend.

 We have officially traded rolly pollies for frogs and ants.  The kids will imprison and play with anything that moves, but these things just happen to be the most available creatures.  Luckily I have saved enough plastic food containers to keep up with the demand. 

 We have also become regulars at this spray ground.  Our new ward holds a playgroup once a week, and for the last two months it has been here.  We have also found opportunities to visit as a family, and to another spray ground a little closer to home.

Chad has been one busy boy lately!  He recently had to talk to his attendings about problems going over 80 hours a week.  Luckily for us, when he is home he gives us his best!  The kids run to the door the second they hear the garage door move, and don't stop talking to him and crawling on him until the door closes when we put them to bed.  Aimee capitalizes on her time.  She loves that daddy makes a great and willing prince.

I wish I had more photos, I have been slacking.  We have found all kinds of fun new adventures here.  We have been to the metro park Children's Gardens, we have been stream fishing for minnows, we have been for "hikes" (there are no mountains here either), and have played more tag in the back yard than I thought possible.  We have amazing neighbors, a fantastic new ward, and lots and lots to be thankful for!