Koby and Cheeser

(June 26, 2010)

While visiting Jill and Braden, I had the opportunity to introduce Braden (by computer) to Koby and Chester (Cheeser). We did also talk about Rugby, but just not in these videos. Jill must've been napping, and I fed Braden leftover pizza for lunch, and did so simultaneous teaching. Braden is very good at knowing animals, and I wanted to teach him about my boys. I think he got it just right!

Jungle Jim's Storm

Any time I visit Jill, I head 40 minutes south to one of my favorite stores, Jungle Jim's. It is the hugest grocery store ever. They carry food from all different countries around the world. When I visited for Braden's birthday, on the way home I made the stop. I got to Jungle Jim's, the sky was turning crazy colors. Loving the weather, I bravely got out of my car, and walked around, trying to capture some of the amazing lighting outside of the store... Here's the transition of this storm!
What first caught my eye as the storm rolled in, was the clear division between good and nasty weather! It was like a clear line was drawn across the sky.

Next, the bad weather went to terrible weather, and drew an even darker line across the sky.

I waited and waited to try to capture the gigantic lightning bolts, but the wind got extremely strong and it started to pour.

Plus, I thought about it, and didn't think it was a good idea to be beneath so many metal objects sticking out just asking for lightning to strike them.

Isn't that incredible? I wasn't able to capture the rain on my camera, it was coming down in sheets! But as this video shows, you can see the people running into the store as fast as they could!

Melt with BriAnne

In August one of my good friends, BriAnne came to visit Cleveland. She was here with her husband to go to a concert, and take some New York friends they brought with them around the city. I got to meet up with her one afternoon, to have lunch at Melt! It was her first time eating there, and my first time at their new Cleveland Heights location. I always love to go to Melt, but it's extra special to take one of my friends for the first time! Since I always talk about it as my favorite restaurant, my friends for out of town have been dying to go! Although we had a short but melty lunch visit, it was fabulous none the less! Can't wait to go back with you again Bri! I didn't have my camera, but here's a quick snap shot she took while we were there.

Fourth of July Fireworks!

This fourth of July, just like in years past, we've gone out to Robb's mom's boyfriend Harry's farm to shoot off the fireworks we bought! I LOVE fireworks. Maybe since I was completely firework banned growing up, they are especially awesome to me. This year, Stacy came out to spend the night with us, and enjoy the show! She also was firework banned growing up, so this year, at 28 years old, she held her first sparkler! She even was brave enough to shoot off roman candles! We had a great time at the fireworks, and camping that night! Also, it's extra special cause it was Robb's 32nd birthday! (Happy Birthday Honey) As always, it was tons of fun! Here's our stash! We go to Wholesale Fireworks, where we get buy one, get 2 free! It's the best deal for the most fireworks!We get all kinds! Little ones to do at home, smoke bombs, spinners, sparklers, fountains...Roman candles, ground blooms, jumping jacks, strobe lights...We get snaps, helicopters, parachuters...And LOTS of big mortars (these are the fireworks that go up in the air and blow up)Here's Stacy's sparkler...She got a long one!Also, I taught her how to spin it around to make a sparkler circle!Here's our little fire that we made. It was like 90*, so we didn't need much, but what camping trip would be complete without a fire!

We think to take pictures of any other fireworks, cause we were so busy shooting them off and enjoying the show!

Water Park!

The next day of my visit on Braden's birthday weekend, we took him to the water park near Jill's house. This was one of the best city water parks I've ever been to. There was a huge pool with waterfalls, mushrooms, slides, and dumping water frogs. Also, there was a kiddie pool with a rubber bottom. (Although they didn't put much thought into putting cement water shooting whales and seals. Hello, trip and hit your head!) And last but not least they had a kiddie slide.


At first Braden was shy about the water park thing. He wasn't going in deep, and didn't want water to dump on him. Well, that didn't last long at all! Before we knew it, he wanted to go down the slide, get the frogs to dump on him, and amazingly, we went under the waterfall mushroom- a lot! He can even go underwater and not freak out! Once he got this comfortable, it was hard to keep up with him! No wonder Jill wanted to come with me. At almost 9 months pregnant, it wasn't easy to keep up with a 2 year old. So, I chased him around! We had a great time at the water park. It was perfect, because it was sweltering hot out! Afterwards, we went to Graeters for some blue ice cream. What a perfect day! I even go a little tan! :o)
How adorable is he in his shades, ready to play!
This is the soft kiddie pool area with cement whales! Genius.

This is the big pool, and if you look under the guard's chair, you can see the mushroom that we went under, again, and again, and again... It was fun to play peek-a-boo around the pole in the middle!

These are the dumping water frogs that we'd sit under.

Here's Braden, running away to get back in the water!

Empty water slide during break, but not for long!

Going down with mom!

Presents!!

After our fish dinner, and unlimited candle blowing out, it was time for presents!!

What was in the big box??

Braden had no problems opening it right up! I gave him his first tee ball set! I've played softball since I was very little, and thought that he was ready for a new sport! His new big boy room was decorated in sports, but I knew he needed to learn baseball. Brad, Jill's husband is big into soccer, and their family is big into football, so it only seemed fitting that someone needed to introduce baseball!

Here is Braden inspecting his new toy! So, here we are, learning how to swing. Braden is definitely right handed. I showed him how to hold the bat, swing sideways, and run to a base!
He is brilliant, and picked it up quickly! Soon, he was hitting them "outta the park!"

He loved it!

In this video, Braden really got the hang of swinging, and getting the ball on his tee.

This video Braden was smashing the ball "outta the park!"

Cake Time Videos

Sorry about the sideways video, I don't know how to change it. This is the beginning of the Happy Birthday Marathon!

Braden was having a good old time, blowing out his candle again and again, until Mommy blew out the candle for him! You can see by his face (hilarious) that he wasn't happy with this, and quickly said, "Braden's turn!" So cute!