Fourth of July Cookout In Photos

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a good Fourth of July weekend! Here it was HOT--- highs in the low 90s with real-feel being close to or just over 100 degrees! Super hot! We had a fun time on Saturday at my parents' house with a cookout and some family fun. We got to meet my brother's and his girlfriend's new puppy "Indy". She is super adorable. The kids were enthralled with her. Good food, good conversations, lots of games were played. The kids even got to catch lightening bugs. It was a fun day. 

Today it is going to be HOT again. Not sure what we will get into. I might take the kids on a walk this morning on the bike path to get some exercise in. I only lost 0.4 pounds last week, so I need to get back on the wagon with better eating and more moving. 

Did you have a good Fourth of July? Any plans for today? 

Butterflies, Flowers, Trails and More...

Happy Sunday! Sunday is meant to be a day of rest and relaxation and one of the ways that I rest is to spend time in nature. I try to spend a least a little bit of time in nature each week. I have decided that I will use Sundays to share the photos of my nature adventures each week just as a way to relax and share the beauty that is God's creation with all. I hope you enjoy!

June 29, 2020 Kokosing Gap Trail, Howard

June 30, 2020 Ariel-Foundation Park

July 2, 2020 Kokosing Gap Trail, Mount Vernon

July 3, 2020 Brown Family Environmental Center

I hope you have been able to spend some time outside in nature this week. Here's to another week reveling in nature's beauty! 

It's Saturday!

Happy Saturday and Happy 4th of July! This is definitely different kind of year to celebrate the 4th. 

However before that I wanted to talk about what's been going on. Thursday was not a good day.  The night before Bill and I got into it with each and there was arguing and yelling. I didn't sleep well that night and woke up with a headache. The kids were whiny and fighting in the morning. I had had enough. So I declared it movie day or rather I put the TV on so they could be quiet and watch tv and not bother me. I felt guilty about it, but ALL the kids were in moods and driving me insane. I couldn't take it anymore. I also sent Jacob to his room for the day as he was being mean to his brother and after multiple warnings I was done. It was not my finest moment as a mom. Just keeping it real.

That evening, I decided that I needed to get out and walk. They re-opened the bike trail head in our town (it had been closed due to road work near it) and so we headed out there to walk. Everything was so green. We saw 2 deer on the path and heard multiple birds (more than we typically do).

Yesterday, I made plans to meet up with a friend and her kids at the Brown Family Environmental Center. The kids could run and hike and we moms could chat and catch up. The kids enjoyed playing around in the pine forest, throwing rocks in the river and spending time in a little creek. We spend about 2 hours there. It was a much needed time of catching up, hiking and just being with others in a responsible way. 

Last night Bill and I decided to do date night since we were going to a cookout tonight. We ordered food from the same Greek and Indian place that we ordered from last Friday. I ordered the chicken Tikka Masala and was disappointed in it. The sauce was like a tomato soup and it was just there. I much prefer my own tikka masala that I make with chicken and veggies. Live and learn.

Today, I need to make a pasta salad and a fruit salad to take to my parents' house for a cookout later. I am currently not doing much of anything, except watching Spongebob with the boys and typing this up. I guess I need to get moving and get things done. 

Hope everyone has a safe Fourth of July! Anyone have any plans today? 

Walking, Tower Climbing and COVID-19 numbers

Happy Wednesday! Is it just me or is this week going by at a snail's pace? Seriously I thought yesterday was Wednesday all day long. Oh well, I will blame it on the heat! LOL  It has been HOT here the last couple of days... we've had highs in the high 80s/low 90s and it is just HOT! There is actually heat warnings for later in the week. 

I have been getting the kids out of the house anyways; we try to get out in the morning when it is somewhat cooler (if you call real feel of 90 degrees cooler! LOL). Monday we went to the bike path in Howard to walk. The kids had fun, as we explored the little nature path that runs along the river as well. They also got to play on the playground when we were done. We did have a little bit of drama when we left the walk and Ethan thought he had left his dexcom (his diabetes sensor reader) at the playground (as he didn't have pockets). I did a big u-turn on the highway and we booked it back to the path. He and Rebecca went back to the playground to look for it only to figure out it was in his waistband of his shorts. He had it all along! 

Monday afternoon, Bill and I spent about an hour cleaning the dryer. I had smelled a burning smell earlier that day, so we took off the back and there was lint stuck on the electrical parts. Not good! We cleaned it completely out and I need to get a new hose for the outside connection as it is caked with lint that we can't get out. But good news is that there is no longer a burning smell! 

Yesterday morning, I woke up to seeing Ethan reading to Gronk. This is great as he is behind on his reading skills and he took the initiative to read. 

Later in the morning we went to Ariel-Foundation Park and conquered the tower! Rastin Tower is a steel, spiral staircase that coils around the PPG industrial smoke stack built in 1951 and overs a beautiful view of Mount Vernon 140 feet above the ground. You have to climb over 220 steps to the top. Lacie and Jacob are terrified of heights but I knew they could get to the top. I kept telling them that they could do hard things and to keep going and they did it! They both made it to the very top! Lacie even thanked me for pushing her and getting her to do it! 

After we came down, we walked around other parts of the park before heading to get lunch. It was super hot! 

Last night, Rebecca and I headed to Walmart to return two bathing suits that she had bought that didn't fit. I also wanted to get some ice cream treats for the kids and some things that are cheapest at Walmart. Tonight, I need to make an Aldi's run for produce and other things needed for dinners next week. I am trying to get my shopping done before the craziness of people shopping for the 4th of July. 

In other news, apparently there is someone at Bill's work who is in isolation after being exposed to someone with the virus. He said that his work is being real hush-hush about it and are trying not to let anyone know. Speaking of the virus, I haven't done an update in a while so why not do one now? The last time I did one, May 30, Ohio was at 32,637 cases, 1,938 deaths and 25 cases in my county. Today we are at 48,222 cases, 2,615 deaths and 39 cases in my county. The numbers are just depressing to look at. The last 6 cases in our county have been attributed to community spread which is somewhat depressing. Well, the kids are clamoring for a promised water day. I have promised them a day of running through the sprinkler, getting sprayed with the water hose and possibly water guns! LOL 

What are you up to today? Is it hot where you are? What are the COVID numbers like where you are?