Mad Scientists.

I'm finally catching up on my summer blogging! This post is weeks late, but better late than never, right? 

There were a few weeks here in July where the weather was unbearably hot. Heat indexes of 110-120 degrees left us all searching for  either water or indoor activities. 

We took a trip to the Great Lake Science Center and had a fun afternoon exploring the different exhibits!

Ian, Leah, and I enjoyed the Imax movies- one called "Born to Be Wild" about orphaned elephants and monkeys, and another called "Tornado Alley" that took us into the eye of a tornado!

The Mars exhibit allowed the kids to create and test out their own rockets.

They put it into this case, applied pressure to the underneath, and watched as it took off!

Getting dizzy...

The kids had a blast playing with these water clocks!

These telescopes pointed out to Lake Erie...

A Sister's Surprise

Late last night I snuck out of the house. I drove to the Akron Canton airport and picked up my Aunt Mindy who had just flown in from South Carolina.

Mom and Aunt Mindy talk every Friday morning. So this morning when Mom called her, Aunt Mindy and I were waiting on the front walk. Their conversation went on as normal, Mom having no idea that her sister was literally a few yards away from her as they spoke. Then came a knock on the door. When Mom went to answer it she was absolutely, positively blown away. Best birthday surprise ever? I think so. 

FYI, it's rather difficult to take pictures through doors ;) Thankful this one was a glass door :D

Georgia!

2 weeks ago,  I took the longest plane trip of my life.

Well, not really ;) But it felt like it, because Josh was waiting for me on the other side! I flew into Atlanta airport where he picked me up on his way through from North Carolina and we headed to his parents house for a jammed packed, fun filled weekend! 

I surprised my family (and to be honest, myself!) by taking very few pictures. But the ones that I do have I'll post :)

Friday night was very laid back, we swam in the pool and played tennis and I took NO pictures (this might be a first for me :P)

On Saturday morning we got up and went white water rafting (we meaning Josh's parents, sister Adele, and the two of us...his oldest brother didn't want to get up that early, and little guy Jonah wasn't old enough to go)! I'm pretty sure y'all would figure this out, but I didn't take any of the following pictures :P

 On Saturday evening, Josh and I headed into Tennessee for dinner and then we sat on the front porch of his parents' house :) It was a beautiful southern summer evening, and we talked while katydids and cicadas sang, and cars passed.

Annnnnd, last but not least, I love this picture of Josh's little brother, Jonah. Apparently the movie he was watching wasn't all that interesting ;P

Water Fun!

In an attempt to beat the heat in July, the kids and I took a trip to the Spraygrounds in Middlefield. Unfortunately, everyone else had them same idea...but we had fun just the same and splashed the afternoon away!I got a few pictures with my "way-more-portable-than-that-big-clunky-SLR" point and shoot :D

A Week of Fun!!!!

I headed down to Charlotte again in July! It was such fun to be able to see Ashlee again and spend some quality time with her :) The first two days that I was with there, I went to work with her...she's a nanny for a family with 2 kiddos, Michael and Maura. Maura was at camp, so Ashlee, Michael, and I found some fun activities to keep us busy. 

We went bowling....

 Ashlee's pregnant! But the bowling ball greatly exaggerates the size of her stomach ;)

We went to TCBY for frozen yogurt. YUM!

On Thursday evening, Josh drove in after work!!!! We got to spend a little bit of time together that evening before he headed to Ashlee and Daniel's pastor's home for the night. On Friday morning he picked me up and we headed to the Whitewater Center, where we hiked, kayaked, and ziplined the day away! That evening he took me out for a date to a delicious Mexican restaurant....

 Saturday was a chill day! We hung out with Ashlee and Daniel, playing Scrabble and Cranium and swimming in the pool 

 Saturday evening was our double date at the Charlotte Knights baseball game! 

Sunday was another quiet day, church in the morning and relaxing in the afternoon before Josh left to go home...