Thursday, November 29, 2012

Segways

In the last post I mentioned that we got to do "some" fun grown-up activities a few weeks back. The other fun activity was a Segway tour of downtown Columbus. Mom & Dad (Barb & Steve) joined us on the tour and we all had a great time learning to ride the Segways and seeing points of interest in Columbus. We were part of a group of 8 people. Our Segway tour guide taught us how to balance, stop, go and turn on the Segways for about 10 minutes before we embarked on our tour. While it wasn't exactly a piece of cake to learn how to manuever the machine, after a few minutes it felt pretty natural.

Mom & Dad - Segway Warriors

Shane enjoying the sights




The fountain at Gooddale Park
View of "The Cap", which is a strip of shops & restaurants that is actually over the highway.
Our gang, with downtown buildings in the background.
It was so much fun riding the Segways and so neat to hear about different landmarks in our city. If you have the chance to go on a Segway tour, we highly recommend it!



Monday, November 26, 2012

Zipping Fun for the Grown-Ups!

A few weeks back, Shane and I got to enjoy some "grown-up" activities! For Shane's birthday, I gave him a certificate to go ziplining at Valley Zipline Tours in Lancaster. The kids got to spend the day with Grandma Diane while we went on this adventure. This was Shane's first time zipping, and my second (at a different location). The ziplines started out slower and lower to the ground, but definitely got faster and higher as we went. There were platforms built around the trees or freestanding that we took off from each time. There were 6 of us in our group, and once we were all suited up and trained, we were off. The weather was perfect and it was a great day!

No fear

Shane on one of the "starter" ziplines. This was probably the lowest one.


This one was very high! Right over the pond and the parking lot - a bit intimidating! Can you see the landing platform WAY out there in the trees?

Carrie in action

Yes, we had to climb up several tall ladders to get onto the platforms before zipping (one of our two tour guides on the right).

This was the last platform, and we had to repel down it.


The optional "Big Swing" at the end. They pull you up very high then you drop and swing. Shane braved it!

On the big swing - whee!

This photo shows how high the ziplines are. I took this from the ground as someone zipped by.

Fun times!


Sunday, November 18, 2012

Parker Turns 2!

Our Parker Pie is 2!! He's such a great little boy with his own fun personality. He loves to play with Seth and copy things he does. It's really fun to watch those two play together. One of Parker's favorite activities with Isabelle is dancing - quite the sight!


On his birthday, we took him to Chuck E. Cheese's. He loves this place! The lights, the sounds, the people... what's not to like for a 2 year old? And this was the first time Parker actually ate their pizza.



We stayed for quite a while and played games. Isabelle and Seth always love it there too. Parker played my favorite, Skeeball, a few times. He threw the ball overhand and I had to retrieve it for him each time!


It was a great day to celebrate our Parker!!


We also had a birthday party for him at home, with family. Since Parker likes to play with cars, trains and planes, his birthday cake and decorations were Thomas the Train. We were thankful for those who were able to come celebrate with us: Grandpa Steve & Grandma Barb, Grandpa Clyde & Grandma Diane, Aunt Cathy, Uncle Steve, Jennifer, Jacob, Aunt Lori, Sarah, Connor & Katie.


(Thank you for the cake, Grandma Barb!)



Enjoying lunch
Time with Granda Steve
 
Help opening presents, with Jacob (puzzle book from Katie)

 
Parker really enjoyed the party and all the nice gifts - thank you everyone, and Happy Birthday, Parker!!




Thursday, November 1, 2012

Halloween

Halloween this year was mighty frightening! That's because of the weather! With Hurricane Sandy bringing us cold, wet and even snowy conditions, it was a very cold trick-or-treat night. The kids were still excited, though. Isabelle dressed as a criminal, Seth as a wereworf, and Parker as a train conductor. Parker's costume actually has a matching hat and a red bandana, which he would not wear. So basically he just looked like a bundled up boy in a wagon! He spent the entire walk in the wagon, enjoying some dum-dums. Our friend Emma also joined us. She was dressed as an Olympic gold medalist.

The beginning of the night
The Trio


Trick-or-Treat in progress

Happy with his sucker
This is a photo of Parker from last weekend where you can see his costume (we went to a going-away party / costume party for Katie and Travis).



We saw a really cute idea and thought we should have done something like that with Parker's wagon. It was a little girl who is in a wheelchair dressed as a firefighter, and her wheelchair was outfitted as a fire engine. So cool!

While getting ready for the night, Seth wanted some photos with the fake moustaches. He wanted to look serious in the photos.

Then I got him to smile...


Seth, Parker and I made it around the neighborhood in about 45 minutes, skipping houses on the way home just so we could get inside and warm. Isabelle, Emma and Shane powered through and made it to every house.

Happy Halloween!!