Ohio - Part 1

It's been almost a month since we returned from Ohio, but when I think back on our trip, I remember the wonderful time we had with our family.  In the 2 1/2 weeks we were there, we did so much and made the most of our time there.

We arrived in the late afternoon on Thursday, 12th September.  The next day we spent relaxing and swinging!

 Grandpa Norm and Grandma pushing Ellen in the front yard.

 

On Saturday, Jason and Angela joined us for a picnic at Highbanks Park for a picnic. The weather was perfect... sunny and just warm enough.  We ate yummy picnic food, played on the play ground, kicked a ball, blew bubbles and went for a walk in the woods.

On Sunday, we spent a few hours at the Sabos' - my friend Pam from freshman year in university, her husband Aaron, and boys Dominic and Ethan.

 Ellen explored the giant pirate ship in the back yard that Aaron and the boys built.

 Ellen played golf in the front yard.

The Sabos

On Monday, we went to the Columbus Zoo!  Ellen loved seeing all of the animals in her books in real life. 

 An elephant!

 Ellen found a tiger (just a wooden one, though)

 Driving a safari Jeep

 We rode on a choo-choo train!

After the zoo, we ate at Der Dutchman in Plain City, an Amish-style restaurant we went to many times as kids, plus they have a fabulous bakery and gift shop. 

The next three days we spent at my grandma and her husband Bob's house.  The time Ellen spends with her great grandma is so precious, as she is Ellen's only great grandparent.

A cuddle with Great Grandma

Having a snack on the porch with Daddy after a nap.  By the way, the couch they're sitting on is probably my favorite place to take a nap... in the world.  It takes me back to the time we spent at my grandma and grandpa's growing up (not in this house) and the naps I'd take while visiting my grandma after exams.

 We blew bubbles with two toy pipes that were my dad's when he was a kid.

 Going in for a kissy

My grandma loves flowers, gardens and arrangements. It was only natural for her to want to pick flowers with Ellen then create an arrangement.

 Ellen's job was to place the cut flowers in the bucket of water.

They then arranged the flowers in the porch.

 

 The finished product!

Playing in the sand at Jackson Park.

 Ellen enjoyed rocking back and forth on a rocking chair from my grandpa's childhood.

 On Thursday, we said goodbye to my Grandma and Bob and drove an hour to Jason and Angela's south of Cleveland.  We were very excited to not only see them, but also see their lovely new house.  After a supper of Jason's special spaghetti and meatballs, we bathed Ellen and drove 2 1/2 hours back to Mom and Norm's.

Stay tuned for Part 2...