Dino, USA and Gymnastics Camp

As I mentioned in earlier posts, we took full advantage of camps offered at the YMCA. The facility was just blocks away from home so we were able to ride our backs there and home every day. The kids learned lots about bike safety and riding on roads (most of our bike riding in SF is in parks), so it was a great educational opportunity.

Dino Camp!  I originally just had Cameron signed up and Timo asked to go last minute and they made a spot for him (I love the employees).  Most of the week was just dino related activities, not really teaching about specific dinos, but the kids have fun anyway.  Cameron was super excited the first day to wear her dino shirt and take her T-Rex friend.  There were lots of crafts!  My favs were the dino eggs and I love this pasta skeleton pics.

The next week was Party in the USA camp.  They learned a different city in the USA each day...New Orleans (the mask), Hershey, PA, NYC, Hawaii and Texas.  They had chocolate fondue on the Hershey day, chili on Texas day, pineapple while in Hawaii and of course, made pizza for NYC.

Our final week Cameron had gymnastics camp which she LOVED!  I don't have many pics because it was a drop off, 3hr camp and the parent section was at the front while the kids were mostly in the back.  And while we missed Cameron, it was a great time for just Mommy and Timo to have some time together.

So needless to say, we loved our time at the YMCA.  Each day, after camp, we had stay a bit and watch the Zumba class going on.  Cameron loved watching them "dancing" to the really loud music.  She kept asking when we could take that class.  It did look like fun...but not enough to motivate me to join...too much sweating...maybe next year...

Put-In-Bay, Ohio

We took one of our days in Ohio to have a family outing to Put-In-Bay, a tiny island in Lake Erie. The weather had been so beautiful and warm in the day leading up to our trip...but the day we woke up to go to PIB it was rainy, overcast and chilly. But we had faith that the clouds would break and we would have a beautiful day..which is exactly what happened as pulled up on the ferry.

Our adventure stated out riding the ferry over to the island and it was raining.  We had to sit inside, missing some of the sights because of the rain.  It was a huge ferry, the kind you can drive your car on, but we opted to ride and rent a golf cart once on the island.  There is so much in/out, it was way easier to tour around in the golf cart than the mini van we had.  Not to mention the kids had more fun in the cart!

And it was just our luck, it happen to be Pirate Weekend on the island.  Lots of festivities in the main square with pirates everywhere.  But along with pirates came the firing of canons...something that Timo loved but Cameron couldn't handle.  So we only stayed a little while in the park and then headed off, out of ear shot, to explore the rest of the island.

Next up was the Crystal Cave with the world's largest Geode.  It was 47 steps down, very steep into a tiny little cave to see a bunch of crystals...wasn't as exciting as I thought...

The cave was also a winery and a glass of wine came with the tour.  I thought it was great that they gave kids grape juice too.

Then we headed over to the Butterfly house.  Cameron was very excited about this place and it did not disappoint!  There were butterflies everywhere!

Our tour guide told us to be still and butterfly might land on us...we were up for the challenge.  Cameron was so patient, waiting and waiting, trying to coax the butterflies until finally one landed on her finger.  Daddy had several butterflies on him, a few on me but unfortunately Timo didn't have any luck.  We waited and waited, all sweating buckets from the humidity and just couldn't hold out any longer waiting.  So the Butterfly House is first on our list to come back next year for him to try again.

We loved the golf cart!  Daddy even took us on some "off road" joy riding and Harmony thought it was comfy enough for a nap.  (She took a little break while we watched gem mining and rock climbing.)

A few other island activities...the fish hatchery/aquatic center and antique car museum.

Our last stop of the day was the Commodore Perry's Memorial.  Young and the kids rode the elevator to the top to see the view...Canada is just over the water!

It was great to have all day family time.  We all enjoyed the island and spending time together.  Young's parents have lived there over 30 years and never been, so it was fun seeing them enjoy the beauty of the island.

Our big seafood dinner before we left the island.  We were having so much fun we lost track of time and almost missed the last ferry!  We laterally had to race to return the golf card and get to the dock. 

And almost on que, the rain started again as the ferry was pulling away.  It was off and on for the ride and walk back to the car...the kiddos were so tired, but hanging in there!  Now that we know the lay of the land, I can't wait to head back next year.

July 4th

We had a really great 4th of July this year with family.  I love July 4th in suburbia...all the homes have flags out, there seems to be a parade or some celebration in every small town and you can smell the backyard grills fired up in every backyard!  We were no different!  We started our day at Ft. Meigs for the military festivities.  They were having a canon ceremony as well as other historic military activities.  I stayed inside with Cameron, she can't really handle the sound of the canons, while everyone else went out for the ceremony.  Timo was so excited to hold a musket!

 We met up with them a little later and toured the museum inside, recreating the War of 1812.

We came home and fired up the grill and I cooked an all American meal for my Korean family, complete with baked beans, ribs and fresh grilled corn.

Uncle Joe brought  over his corn hole boards and got into a heated game with Timo while we warmed up the grill for smores! 

 

Then came the fireworks.  I tried to plan ahead and got Cameron some earplugs, the soft ones that you stick in your ears and are supposed to stay.  I guess her ears are so tiny, the plugs wouldn't stay in.  No matter how hard we tried and cut them down, they kept popping out.  So we decided I would stay home with her while everyone else walked over to the firework celebration.  Unfortunately some of our surrounding neighbors started setting off their own fireworks cause much distress to my little girl.  We tried everything to protect her, even turned up the TV to cut down on the noise but there was really nothing else to do but just hold her and help her get through it. 

You could see the fireworks from our house so I stepped while Mom took over as comforter for a while.  I came back in and found her asleep while Harmony sang to her.  Poor little girl.  I don't know why she can't handle loud noises (canons, fireworks, balloons popping, flying jets) but I hope she grows out of it soon.

The rest of the family came home and Timo was so proud of himself for walking the whole way there and back, a little over a mile, all by himself.  Because it doesn't get dark there until 10pm, the fireworks did start till 10:15, meaning they didn't get back home till almost 11:30.  Timo didn't get to bed till midnight...what a great 4th he had!