It had been forever since we had a whole weekend to just relax and spend time with my sister and her family. I really don't remember the last time we got together just to get together - not for a birthday party, Relay fundraiser, or other reason. Labor Day weekend was LONG overdue!
RJ, Lyn and their 3 kids arrived Friday night around 6:00. We all enjoyed a great dinner (if I do say so myself), crazy kid time, and lots of beers. Those are the 3 things that are always constant when we get together - food, drinks, and noise - what else would you expect with 5 kids ages 4 and under?
Saturday morning, Lyn, Aaron and I took the 4 older kids to the pool. It was a bit chilly when you first got in, but warmed up very quickly. The kids loved it! Definitely more pool time together next summer!
After a late breakfast, we put the kids down for naps, and it was football time. We watched football all afternoon, snacked, and enjoyed some more adult beverages. I made Peach Sangria - DELISH! Can't wait to share it with Mom and Lyn at Hocking Hills in a few weeks!
Sunday morning I made breakfast burritos, then we walked over to Aaron's house (ALL of us - 5 kids included). Lyn and RJ hadn't seen Aaron's landscaping that he worked so hard on this summer, or his bathroom renovation.
It's probably about a mile walk, so Nash and Knox were in the stroller, Lylah walked, and we took our wagon. Lincoln was fine with riding in the wagon, but Jackson wanted to walk. I have to say, he was a trouper cause I made him keep up with everyone. He walked almost the whole way to Aarons - I carried him the last little bit as he was getting distracted by the rocks.
We checked out the landscaping and the bathroom, then we just hung out for a little bit. The kids ate Oreos and drank water, and the adults just chilled. After an hour or so, we decided we needed to head back before the rains came. We convinced Aaron to walk with us! Somehow, my kids ended up in RJ's stroller, and Nash and Knox were in our wagon! However, halfway back to our house, Nash was falling asleep, so we switched him and Lincoln out!
Back at the house, we put the kids down for their naps again, and the rest of us hit the showers. Then we packed coolers and prepared to head downtown for Riverfest.
Riverfest is Cincinnati's big Labor Day fireworks celebration. We have great seats in the parking lot of my work. We came downtown around 5:00, and hung out in the parking lot all evening. We enjoyed lunchmeat sandwiches, chips, fruit, drinks, and Oreo cheesecakes! All was good until the rains came shortly before 8. The kids huddled in the back of our van watching to stay dry and watch a movie.
The fireworks still went off, despite the downpour. We were all huddled under the overpass, thankfully staying pretty dry. The noise from the fireworks scared the boys (and I think it hurt Jackson's ears too), so they sat in the van with the windows closed and watched the fireworks. They loved all the bright lights - just didn't like the noise. I'm still hearing how the fireworks are scary, and that the boys don't want to go see fireworks again! It was a late night getting home, and everyone headed off to bed.
Monday morning was a lazy day. I don't think Lyn was too excited about heading home. We were all in our jammies until 11 - we even watched a movie! We eventually headed to Deweys for lunch. The kids loved watching the cooks make the pizzas, and laughed when the cooks would throw the flour at them! After a fabulous lunch, we were off to Graeters for dessert - RJ made it very clear that he was not leaving Cincinnati without some Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip ice cream in his belly!
The packed up and headed home mid-afternoon. The silence replaced all the noise and chaos from the weekend, and the 200 miles that separate our homes suddenly felt like 2000 miles. I'm so very lucky to have my sister and her family in our lives, and only wish that we could have weekends like that every weekend.
No comments:
Post a Comment