Miller Family Ohio Vacation

All our bags are packed, we're ready to go...Ohio here we come!!

 All snuggled up and sleeping (finally!) after a looooooooooong day of traveling.

 The first day of our vacation was a travel day and the second day we spent getting caught up with Robbie's grandparents who we haven't seen since the kids were about 8 months old.  On the third day, we packed up our SUV and headed for the Toledo Zoo with Robbie's Aunt Sharon and her grandson Justin (who was a lifesaver on this trip!) along with Robbie's parents. 

 We saw lots of animals that we don't see at home like giraffes....

 Rhinos (no idea why this guys horns are backward)...

 and the cutest little 3 week old elephant you have ever seen!!

 It was a little warmer than we are used to.  Abby even told me that she likes the weather in Washington better...pretty sure she is NOT my kid!

 Ben fell in love with a meerkat which was apparently "the cutest thing that I ever even saw" and had a hard time coming to grips with the fact that he couldn't live with him and be his daddy.  He walked around the zoo like this for close to 40 minutes.

 We had a great family day...

 even if it did leave us a little tuckered out!

 The next day was sunny again and we headed over to the city pool where we all had fun playing in the water.

 Ben really wanted to jump off the diving board and was disappointed when he didn't quite make it across the pool to pass the swim test.

 The following day was our big family outing to Cedar Point, a HUGE amusement park known for all of it's roller coasters.  While Robbie spent time riding the 3rd tallest roller coaster in the world, among others, the kids and I spent a lot of time on some tamer rides...

 They couldn't have been happier when we finally found Snoopy

 and we even had front row seats to his ice skating show!!

 Afterward we enjoyed some Icees

 and won some prizes (thanks Aunt Sharon!!)

 And we all got a little wet on the water rides!

 After our long day at Cedar Point we just kind of laid low the next day, visiting with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa and resting up for our busy evening.  Once again, we headed into Toledo and started out with dinner at the famous (or so we were told) Tony Packos where they serve gigantic hot dogs (and yes, he did eat all of it!)...

 and chili sundaes.

 Then we headed across the street to watch the Toledo Mud Hens, the AAA affiliate for the Tigers.  We represented the Mariners...

 hung out with a few of our favorite guys...

 bought new hats...

 and had our picture taken with a variety of Toledo mascots...

 (These are the Mud Hens mascots, Muddy and Muddonna!)

 The evening ended with a fireworks show (which Ben obviously loved...)

 The next day we were up bright and early to drive to another zoo in Cleveland to meet up with family on the Miller side from New York.  We had so much fun meeting cousin Abby!!

 We also spent the day with her parents Sherman (Robbie's cousin, can you tell?!?) and Melissa and Robbie's Aunt Peggy.

 We saw even more new animals...

 and the Abbys became fast friends!

 It was a great day!

 But it sure wore us out!!

 On our last full day in Ohio we had the Saul family reunion.  We met lots of new family and spent the day catching up with everyone.  Here are Ben and Abby with Great Grandpa.

 Here we all are, Robbie's grandparents and all of their kids and most of their grandkids!

 Abby and Ben loved Justin!!

 At some point Abby grabbed the camera to take some self portraits...

 I grabbed the camera back to snag some pictures of everyone with Great Grandma...

 Cousins, Ben & Ben...

 and Abby and Ben with Ben and Gage...

That evening we all played Duck Duck Goose in Great Grandma's backyard! 

 We had an amazing trip filled with lots of family and lots of fun.  While we were there, Ben perfected his cannon ball...

 and Abby perfected her belly flop!!

 Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for a wonderful trip!  We love you!!



An Open Letter to La Nina

Dear La Nina

I'm sorry if this hurts, but someone's got to give it to you straight. You have worn out your welcome. It is time for you to leave. And never come back. Seriously. The rain and cold and doom and gloom is too much for me. I can handle that in November, but June? Come on! And now the wind? Enough is enough. I have been very patient, but here's the deal. School ends in two days and if you keep this up, it will throw a wrench in my plan of sitting in my back yard and doing nothing for the next 75 days. So pack it up sister and get a move on. Adios! If I never hear your name again it will be too soon. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors...as long as your future endeavors are nowhere near me. Thanks for stopping by and don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Sincerely,
Becca

Last Day, Hooray!!

Remember this?

 My sweet littles on their first day of preschool.  It seems like just last week, but at the same time, so much has happened.  They turned four, they made friends (thank goodness!!), and they have learned so much. 

Today was the last day of their first year of preschool.  Can you believe how much older they look?!?  (And yes, Ben does have a mohawk.  That obviously happened while I was at work...)

I got a little teary (BIG surprise, I know) this morning as I said goodbye.  Just one more thing I'll never get back.  I have no idea how it all happens so fast.

Finally!

 SUN! Can you believe it? We have been waiting a very long time (270 days, to be exact) for a day like to day. Seriously. Can you believe that it has been that long? No wonder I have been such a grump! Well not yesterday!  Yesterday was GREAT! 

The day started with a parade and ended with friends we don't see often enough.  From start to finish, it was everything I love about summer.  We began our day by walking (yes, walking) down to the parade.  Last year, the traffic was so horrific that it took me 45 minutes to drive the 2 miles back to my house when the parade was over.  This year, I decided to walk.  It was easy.  On the way TO the parade.  You see, the thing is that even though it was only 2 miles away, a mile and a half of it is straight downhill.  Which means on the way home, it was a mile and a half straight uphill.  Pushing two kids and all of the junk that they accumulated at the parade.  Oh well, it didn't take 45 minutes!!

Once we got down to the parade, we got all settled in and comfortable...

REALLY comfortable...

 On Friday night, Abby said to me, "Don't you think that we should invite Grandpa to the parade so that he can buy us some ice cream?"  I gave her the phone to call him and the next thing I heard was "Hi Grandpa.  Did you know that there is a parade tomorrow?  Would you like to come and buy us some ice cream?"  So of course, Grandpa was there bright and early to fulfill his grandfatherly duties.  Who doesn't need ice cream at 9:15?

 Someone also gave them whistles.  Which they blew the entire parade.  Thanks for that.

 And my mom brought flags for them to wave.  Very sweet.

 What a great day for a parade!!

 After we trekked back up the hill it was nap time (for all 3 of us!) but after nap, we busted out and dusted off the sprinkler.

 Most of the time, they fill the cups with water and dump them on Daddy.  ("Hey Mom.  Remember last year when I pretended I was going to give Daddy a drink of water and then I dumped it on him?  He was so surprised!  I'm going to do that again.  Don't tell him.")  She doesn't whisper very quietly, so it might not have been a surprise but it was still funny!! 

Eventually they finally got in the water.  Then they sat in the sun to dry off. 

Squirting each other is hilarious to one and traumatic to the other and they both are pros at playing both roles.

 Before we headed out to see our friends, we had a BBQ and dinner outside.  It doesn't get much better!!