He's a Kindergartner!!!

Today was Jayden's first day of Kindergarten! I can't believe this day has come. He on the other hand, had a great time. I can't believe I put as a special note on his enrollment forms that he is very shy and probably wouldn't talk much in the first few weeks...he talked to everyone and just jumped into playing with the other children. He makes me very proud.

Last night he helped pack his backpack with his school supplies.

And then today, he was off for his first day...

Tomorrow, his first full day!

Vacation...Part 2...Coles Family Farm

Every summer we usually make the journey to the Coles Family Farm. This tradition has only been interupted twice...the summers that Jayden and Landon were born. So for Jayden, this is something he looks to and for Landon, it was a whole new adventure.

Unlike past summers, we made this trip by car...8 hours of car, each way. I was given a shortcut cheat sheet by a friend so we made much better time on the way in, I can't say as much for the return trip. However, our little travels weathered very well in both directions with Landon needing the most entertaining but that was to be expected. And, we only had two...ummm, I need to go potty...moments in a total of 18.5 hours of travel time!

It was the usual yearly family visit. We caught up on the family happenings. Saw people we hadn't seen in the last two years (remember we didn't visit last year because of Landon's birth). Melted in the intense humidity. And all in all, had a great visit. Tony and I even got a few minutes of kid free time, one on one time with Jayden and one on one time with Landon. Like I said, a great visit.

Jayden spent most of his time with his cousins Olivia and Cheyenne. Olivia and Jay rode bikes (Olivia rode her bike and Jay played on a "big wheels", however, it wasn't so big) in the front yard of the house. They even went up visit cousin Camelyn and her dozen of chickens, miniature goat, gaggle of cats and kittens, and throw in a few dogs for good measure...they may cover all the animals...I'm not entirely sure though.

Landon spent his entire trip avoiding people. All Grandma Coles wanted to do was hold that boy...but boy he did not want to be held. We thought he would surely come around by Saturday...we were leaving on Sunday...but low and behold, not a chance. He would come to people if they had food of course but he would only grab and run. I think Cheyenne and maybe Olivia were able to get close enough to hold him.

As Tony and I think back to this past week we have some great memories from this summer trip. Tony pulled Jayden and Landon around the front yard in HIS Radio Flyer Wagon...for the last time...Mama and Papa Coles sent the wagon home with us this year. Tony and I trying to check email on our iphones at the "communication tower" (standing IN the garden at the top of little hill in the yard next to house) every morning, and we each had to face different directions in order to get the best signal for each of our phones. Tony and I sitting in lawn chairs under the shade tree in the front yard trying to cool off...we were Mama and Papa Coles...the younger years. Aunt Mary arranged a private tour of the Zanesville Model Train Club Headquarters where they have over 1/4 mile model train layout, and seeing the excitement in Jayden's eyes. And, our final stop on the way home was the Hesston Steam Museum in Hesston, IN where Jayden got to see and ride some of his favorite steam locomotives from the video All About Trains for Kids.

We can't wait to do it again...

Vacation..Part 1...Great Wolf

This year we decided to break our vacation up into little stays through out the month. After talking with one of our friends about their recent stay at a Great Wolf Lodge in Washington, we decided to book ourselves a little stay in a lodge near us. So stop number one, Great Wolf Lodge in the Wisconsin Dells.

The Great Wolf Lodge is a hotel really designed for total family enjoyment. Our room had a Wolf Den in it, a cave built into the room with bunk beds and a tv for the kiddos (Jayden loved it, Landon was stuck in the pack n' play). The hotel also has three indoor waterparks and one outdoor park as well. They have a breakfast buffet, grille and bar, starbucks, spa and childs spa to keep everyone happy and relaxed.

Day one; we rode a 15 gauge steam train. Of course we are always looking for train experiences for our little engineer Jayden. He loved this one. Not only do you ride the little train but at the end of the track while they are turning the engine around on the turntable, they tell you the history of the train you are riding. Couldn't have found a better way to start the vacation. Downside, the soot from the steam engine go all over our clothes.

Day two; rain, rain and more rain. Thank goodness we were staying somewhere that could entertain you all day. We started the morning with some breakfast at the Camp Critters Buffet and then it was off to the waterpark. Jayden was a little tenative, he hadn't been on waterslides before and had only just completed his first go round of swimming lessons. We stuck to the little kiddie slides for Jayden and Landon had fun "swimming" in the landing pool as we waited for Jayden to come out. After an hour and half of water fun it was time for a nap for Landon and Arcade time for Jay. After naps and playing in the room for a while we had dinner and then Tony and Jayden headed back down for round two in the waterpark. This time, Jayden was ready for one of the big slides...and he was loving it. This time Tony and Jay discovered the wave pool in another of the waterparks and spent quite some time there. Jayden took a little water to face once but didn't seem phased a bit.

Day three; more waterslides please. Just like the previous day, we had breakfast followed by waterslides. However, this trip was a little more eventful. Apparently, life vests only keep the child's head above water if the child doesn't come shooting down a waterslide or just fall over backwards...I missed Jayden as he came off a midsized slide and and then completely missed the grab on Landon as he decided to fall over backwards in the little kiddie pool with a depth of 1 foot, but enough to dunk the baby. Neither was phased as Landon came up signing for more and after Jayden was done coughing, he jumped up and down saying "I'm doing that one again". So after naps and arcades, we went out to ride the Wisconsin Ducks. Landon and I were just sweating through the one hour tour and Jayden and Tony were listening and taking in the sights. Jayden, Tony and I loved it...Landon enjoyed his Cheerios. Then it was back to lodge, and out of the humidity, for dinner and more waterslides. This time, my turn with Jayden in the evening. I only nearly drown him twice this time...missed the catch as he came shooting down a waterslide (in my defense, I didn't think he was going to get up and down as fast as he did and I didn't have enough time to get into the landing pool and into place...from that point on we said I would count to 40 and then he would start to go down the slide), and then in the wave pool he told me to let go of the innertube so he could really ride the waves...one wave just grabbed him and just out of my reach he flipped! After a little coughing, more please. I was very impressed by his courage.

Day four; heading home. We were sad to see it come to an end. We were up early for some breakfast and then on the road for the 3 and half hour drive home. As we were leaving Jayden yelled, "Bye Great Wolf Lodge, see you next summer". I guess we have next summer's vacation plans established.

Now we are home, for 48 hours. Time to unpack, wash clothes and then repack for Part 2...Coles Family Farm, Blue Rock, Ohio.