The rest of April, 2012

April was spring break, so we took advantage of the time off of school to go to Chicago and Ohio to see family we hadn't seen in over a year! We started with a trip to the American Girl Doll store (earlier post) and then spent Easter with Kevin's family in Chicago. It's always interesting to me to spend a holiday in someone else's home. There is a mix of trying to do our own traditions, but trying to not impose, and also learning about theirs. The Easter bunny found us in the room we were all staying in and left us baskets of treats. Kevin, of course had chocolate before he even got out of bed.



On of my traditions was to get an Easter dress for church, so I gave Ellie an Easter dress and we got ready to go to church.


Ellie and Ethan all ready to go in their Easter Sunday best!


It was so fun to be with Kevin's family and to enjoy their company. It was nice to be with them on Easter and at church appreciating Christ and the resurrection. Ellie was intrigued by the "rock and roll" type of music in their church. :D

After church we came home and Debbie gave the kids an Easter present. They were excited so we went outside to play with the balls and bubbles Debbie gave them and of course for an Easter egg hunt.






We spent the afternoon together at the zoo and for dinner we went totally non-traditional Easter, but traditional Chicago instead and had Chicago-style pizza. More cheese than I even knew possible.




Easter night the boys got to be boys and built this for Ellie's new toys. Ethan was in bed, so it had to stay up until morning so he too could experience the greatness!

MVI 2619 from Brooke Heath on Vimeo.

The next day (April 9) we experienced another form of greatness - the Chicago style dog. Ellie missed out by having chicken strips, big mistake Ellie, huge. I can't wait to get another one! Maybe by then she will appreciate the Chicago style dog.


The kids ran around at the park and fed the mean ducks before we packed up and headed to Ohio for the remainder of our trip.


It was so fun to be together. Jonathan and Carrie were great hosts and we loved spending time in Chicago. Over the weekend Ethan got used to having us around. Ellie got her own name, the rest of us were just "the guys" and when we left he asked him mom, "But where did 'the guys' go?" I wish Chicago and Utah weren't so far apart. The next time we see them they will be a family of four! We can't wait!!


We made it to Ohio and Debbie took us to play some more.


The next day (April 10) Ellie played the lotto.


Then we spent the day with Debbie and Kevin's grandparents, Betty and Frank. They taught us to play LCR and took us for a perch sandwich. They are sweet and have adopted Ellie as one of their own. They have her picture on the wall with their other grandchildren and are so cute to her. It had been years since we had seen them and it was wonderful spending time with them. I had moments where I missed playing cards with my grandparents and wish Kevin and Ellie could have met them. I am so thankful for Debbie, Betty and Frank and for how loving and kind they are to us. I love the feelings grandparents can give and was thankful to experience it again that day.


Ellie in her reluctance to try something new missed out on the perch sandwich. We got fun fishing stories and a driving tour of some family history spots on our way back from lunch.


That night we found our way to Mickey and Linda's and again, Ellie was greeted with gifts and love from more of Kevin's family.



The next day (April 11) we went to see The Lorax, introduced Mickey and Linda to Thai food, taught Linda how to use chopsticks and FINALLY, after almost six years of talk, Kevin FINALLY got to take us to Mr Freeze. He has been talking up this ice cream stand for years....usually when you do that, you go and it's not as great as you remember. I can admit it did not disappoint.



We will make Mr Freeze a regular on our Ohio trips! Look at that smile!


The next day was again spent with Mickey and Linda and was one of my favorites, okay, they were all my favorite, so I should say one of the more memorable. We took a mini road trip to Port Clinton to experience the drive-trough African Safari Wildlife Park. We bought cups of grain and carrots to feed the animals, then they opened the gates and we "at our own risk" fed the animals from the car. It was hilarious. Some animals much preferred the carrots to the grain and if they could see you had carrots they would push past the grain to try to get at your carrots. Ellie had to hide them. One took the cup right out of Linda's hand and she had to surrender the cup to the animal. Then, when I wasn't looking out my window a bison, yes a 2000 pound bison, stuck his head in my window, right in my face which is surprising enough, but what caught me totally off guard was his long tongue he had extended toward the food I was holding. I was completely startled, totally screamed and then we all giggled, like kids. It's not as easy to create a child-like experience as an adult, but that day, I had one.

This was the guy.


Another one near Kevin and Ellie.


The horns are so long on these guys, they can't get in your window...fully.


The carrot hogs. Oh wait, the carrot Alpaca.


Scottish Highlander


Of course Linda had to spoil Ellie in the store after offering her this and that and really anything she wanted. We love spending time with Mickey and Linda. They are so great with Ellie, treat her so kindly.

After the animal park we drove to Sandusky, Ohio to visit the Merry-Go-Round Museum. The carousel they had in the museum was surprisingly fast. We had a great little tour and enjoyed learning some of the history of an era really.



I feel in love with the quaint town of Sandusky and made Mickey drive up and down a few of the blocks. I think I get the appreciation of a small town from my dad. He used to drive us the longer scenic way home from anywhere and we always stopped at a local diner or tourist spot. This little day trip did not disappoint as we stopped at a local diner where some local just "had" to come over to Kevin to tell him he had the kindest eyes she had ever seen.


It was just an overall great trip and we hated to leave it. We have such great family, just at such great distances. It was honestly my favorite trip to Ohio yet and hopefully as great and memorable for Ellie. I hope she learns to (or does) appreciate family trips, a bit of a different era, quaint towns, and long days with grandparents.

We said goodbye to everyone including the dogs, had a final day outside playing yard games with Debbie and lunch and then we were off.


At the aiport Ellie tried her luck again at the lotto and won a dollar.



We were bummed to leave so Ellie called Mason to get a bit of cheering up and to tell her about her doll.



Away we went!


When we got home we had to prepare for the next major April event, Kevin's birthday! I had done some pre-shopping but Ellie wanted to get him something from her so we spent some secret time shopping and got everything ready. Ellie enjoys birthday surprises and likes to be in on the secret of what the presents are. She is good at keeping the secrets!


We basically got Kevin a bunch of toys, because even though he is a year older, he is still a kid at heart.


We went with my mom and Jed to dinner and then home for cake.




After dinner and cake we all played a game of croquet and Kevin and Ellie flew and then rescued the plane.

MVI 2726 from Brooke Heath on Vimeo.

The rest of the month was pretty relaxed, we did get a two day visit from Uncle Levi and Ellie was happy to join him at one of her favorite restaurants (Noodles) for dinner. But she was concerned he did not have Mason, and we called her from dinner.

We caught the end of the tulip festival with my mom the last Friday in April.




And pretty much went on with life as usual. Of course, you need to throw in a random science experiment here and there, right?