Our Trio

Give me an H! Give me an E! Give me an L-L-O! What does it spell? HELLO!!

COSI

Parker and I visited COSI last week. We picked a great day - school started back for all the districts so there was no crowd and COSI and we were able to take a good look at all the things we wanted to see!

The "food truck" was a favorite of Parker's

Trying out a climbing wall

The water play area in KidSpace

Making a rocket

We ate a packed lunch outside - and showing Parker's finished rocket

Parker spent a lot of time in the play house and kitchen

Here Parker tried to raise his seat by using the rope with pulleys

A floating ball!

A Panda picture made from jelly beans

A penguin also made from jelly beans

Here Parker moved the robot using a joystick

Parker had so much fun visiting COSI. Although we had been there when he was younger, he didn't remember any of it, so everything was new and exciting to him. What a great day!!

Open Barn Day at the Animal Sanctuary

The animal sanctuary in Marysville hosts open barn days. These are afternoons when the public can go and visit the farm and meet all the animals they take care of. Isabelle and I went there a few months ago and she loved it. This time, the whole family went to visit. The animals are free to roam around the farm as they wish and visitors are free to explore the farm as well. There were volunteers on hand to tell us about the animals. It was really neat to see all the animals up close and to be able to pet them as much as we wanted.

They even take in cats

This cow, Wesley, is taller than Shane!

Overview of the farm

Petting a miniature horse

Petting a miniature horse

Daniel the horse, and a pig sleeping in the background

Found a donkey

And another donkey

Parker's First Day of Preschool

Parker started preschool today! This year we are taking a different approach. After enrolling Parker in two different preschools, researching a third preschool/daycare and weighing the pros and cons of each one, we found a fourth option. We found Miss Carissa! She is a former preschool teacher and assistant director who lives in our neighborhood and runs a preschool out of her home. It's a full-day program, which means that we no longer need our sitter, Anna. Parker went to this preschool (C.I.R.C.L.E. Time is the official name) for a couple of half days in the last 3 weeks to make the transition. Today was his first full day. He was excited to go there this morning and he had a great day there! He already has "homework", which is filling an "About Me" bag with some of his favorite things. We worked on this tonight and he can't wait to show it to Miss Carissa. Parker will go to her house on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays each week.

Here's hoping for a great year of preschool!

Meeting Myla

This weekend, the rest of our family got to meet our newest member, Myla. Myla is our niece Mia's, little girl. She is 3 weeks old and absolutely adorable! She loves to be held and has big, curious eyes.

 

Mia and Myla

Seth and Myla

Isabelle and sleeping Myla

Parker holding Myla

Myla with her Grandpa Anthony

Welcome, Baby  Myla!

Back to School 2015

Isabelle and Seth started school this year on August 31. It seemed to be a late start due to the construction of the district's elementary schools. Seth's school, JC Sommer, was built over the last year and he gets to be in the new building this year. He said it's awesome and he had a great first day! His teacher is Mrs. Ayala and he will also have Ms. Holdren.

Isabelle changed school buildings and is now at Jackson Middle School, which houses 7th and 8th grade. For the first time, she has her own locker and changes classrooms and teachers for each subjuct during the day. She said her first day was, "Eh", but she talked a lot about how nice and relaxed the teachers are, how her locker wouldn't cooperate a couple of times, and friends she got to see again. She's excited that they are allowed to use their phones during lunch.

A week before school, we picked up her schedule and she decorated her locker. She is happy she got a "top" locker.

Parker will start pre-school next week!

Summer Summary, Part 3

 August was busy! August 1st we went to the Smith Family Reunion. This was the second year for this, and we had more people this year! We gathered at the Elliott Farm which belongs to Chuck.

The Chapman family going green

Katie and Isabelle - planning something?

Seth, Connor and a Wubble

Isabelle drove the golf cart!

We went to The Ohio State Planetarium to watch a show about the planets. On the campus, we stopped and took some pictures with these giant numbers.

Seth - Age 9

Parker - age 4

We picked the perfect day to go to The Ohio State Fair! It was a Wednesday, great weather and not crowded!

The famous Butter Cows

Seth with Butter Urban Meyer (OSU's football coach)

Shane and Seth in the middle seat

Isabelle went to a 3-day cheer camp and had cheer practice 3 days per week. She also cheered for a scrimmage game.

Grove City held its first EcoFest and Henceroth Park (behind Isabelle's middle school). We learned about several eco-friendly local companies and had lunch with local vendors. Seth tried out a climbing wall, an obstacle course and a football toss. Isabelle and Seth played a basketball game.

Making a bird feeder from a recycled water bottle

Our great niece, Myla, was born on August 17th. Later in the month, Isabelle and I went to Mia's to see her. She's so adorable!

Myla, 6 days old

Isabelle decorated her locker on schedule pick-up night. She has moved to Jackson Middle School and this is the first year she's had a locker.

Next up - school starts next week!