We've had an exciting week. After staing at Hueston Woods on Sunday & Monday and going to the zoo on Tuesday, our new swingset arrived Wednesday! Installation was finished Thursday morning and the kids have spent a couple of hours playing on it each day since. We haven't even filled the sand box and or attached the glider yet, but I'm sure that will only add to the fun!
On Tuesday Edward and the kids went to the Cincinnati Zoo with Aunt Bobbie. In addition to seeing all the animals, they rode the train twice and saw Curious George, who was there for a story time. The kids were absolutely worn out by the time they left--Em fell asleep before they left the parking lot and Kenton was out by the time they got to the interstate! They both slept great that night, too.
I had Monday off, so we decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Hueston Woods, a state park about 60 miles away. It was a great getaway! We hiked, swam in the lake, had a picnic, played on the playground, swam in the indoor pool, went to the nature center, explored the lodge, and swam in the outdoor pool. Did you notice lots of swimming? That was definitely the kiddos favorite thing to do. All that swimming meant they were actually tired enough to fall asleep last night, and it isn't usually easy to get them to sleep when we stay in a hotel.
We had a "Draw on the Walls" program at the library this morning, and my kids (along with about 65 others) were enthusiastic participants. We covered the walls with white paper, handed the kids markers and crayons, and let them create. It was a lot of fun! Kenton did a great job of helping and encouraging his sister. He's usually a very good big brother. 
Granny, Aunt Betty, and Aunt Brenda came to visit for a few days last week. The kids had a great time and loved all the extra attention! On Friday they had a really big day, going to both the Boonshoft Museum and Young's Dairy. (The camera accidentally got put on some weird night setting at the museum, so those pics aren't very good.) Everyone was worn out by the end of the day!
Granny came to visit last week and got the kids a sprinkler to play with in the back yard. They tried it out for the first time this afternoon. I was at work, but heard they had a great time and played for over an hour. When we went out for a walk this evening, one of our neighbors a few houses down told us he and his wife were out working in their yard while the kids played and got a real kick out of watching them. Sounds like I really missed a good time! :-)
Kenton and I made sour cream bread and triple-berry freezer jam today, and they both turned out quite well. Kenton definitely approved. :-) I think we're going to have to buy some more freezer pectin and try another variety or two. Eventually I want to trying making cooked jam and other preserves, but the freezer jam was so easy--just smash the fruit, then stir in the sugar and pectin. It was even easy with a 3 yr old helping!
Edward, Kenton and Emery did a little hiking on Friday. Since Em was in the backpack carrier most of the time Edward didn't get any pictures of her. I love these of Kenton, though. He loves being outdoors so much. And I just can't get over how tall and thin he's gotten this summer. There's no more baby fat on my baby boy!
