Smelling Some Roses: The Last Hurrah!

Friday was our last "official" day of summer vacation as a family! Tomorrow is really the last summer vacation day for my Norah, but Daddy has to work. Therefore, I'm counting Friday as our last summer hurrah!

Jon was away for two days in NYC to speak at a conference. He decided to take a 1/2 day on Friday so we can spent one more day doing family stuff together. By the time he came home, we still hadn't come up with a "great plan" for our 1/2 day. The kids were being ornery and nothing seemed to suit their fancy.

I like my adventures, so I said to Jon and the kids - lets try and find the enchanted forest. So we set out and drove our car down the street to our Metroparks. Jon and I stumbled upon this "cool" overlook area about 6 or so years ago, and I found out recently that it so happens to be the same area that my sister calls the enchanted forest or magical forest, and the place my niece got engaged a little less then a year ago. We parked the car and started walking through a field on a path used for horseback riding.

As we were walking on the trail we saw to people on horseback. My Norah thought that was the coolest thing ever. She so wants to learn how to ride on a horse. I'm hoping that I'll be able to afford her this one simple pleasure in life in the not too distant future.

We walked down this horseback trail and we thought we had stumbled upon a real forest. It looked really cool and could work as a good "Haunted Trail" during Halloween.

I knew Jon was taking some pictures of us so I told the kids at the count of three that we would stop and turn around and look at Daddy.

1-2-3...

We surprised Daddy! Then the kids thought it would be funny to attack me with hugs! And then settled on with this cute little picture of the three of us.

We went just a little bit further down the path only to come across a huge muddy section that was way too big to jump over and no other way to navigate through without walking around into the foliage that was pretty much laced with poison ivy. So we erred on the side of caution and decided to cut our adventure to the enchanted forest short. Plus the kids were complaining that it was too hot outside and their legs were tired. To which I reply "WHATEVER".

Jon and I decided that we couldn't give up and go home so we decided to visit the park that I take my kids after pre-school periodically.

View of the park from the giant sledding hill.

Show a child a park (no matter the age) and the fun begins.

My big monkey of a husband!

Total determination!

Jon realized that swinging made him sick! Sucks to get old doesn't it Jon?

Norah showed great strength and determination in climbing this "rock" wall. She almost got to the top, however, she didn't know what to do when she ran out of the "rocks" to hold onto. I eventually had to help her down. Of course, she had to wait patiently until I could take her picture.

I too had to try the "rock wall". I did make it to the top! Check out those serious calf muscles! I inherited them from my Dad!

I love slides. Always did as a child, teenager, twenty-something and now! When given the chance I will go down the slide. I've been known to be the person to go down a "wet" slide first just to dry it off for my friends behind me! Such a good friend that I am!

This particular slide looked really cool until I went down it. Scared the "crap" out of me once I got half way through it. Scared me enough to know not to send Donovan down it.

Jon was actually the first person to try out the slide.

Then Norah gave it a try several times over!

Donovan enjoyed his adventures on a slide better suited to his adventurous side! And to Mommy's comfort level!

Jon and I will be "zip-lining" in early September. So Jon decided to practice on this wonderful zipping contraption. I had to follow suit, but only realized that I have no upper body strength. The kids are actually stronger than I am. So sad for me!

Then after all this fun on the play ground we decided to climb up the big "sledding" hill.

That's Norah heading her way up the top of the hill.

And of course, Donovan decided he wanted me to carry him on piggy-back all the way up the hill. Great exercise for Mommy. Fortunately he's just a 1/2 pint in weight so it wasn't too bad. But still, it was like carrying an extra 25 lbs around!

Once we got up to the top we took pictures and then called it a day at the park.

We went and got ourselves some "smoothies" at McDonalds and headed off to Norah's school. We were hoping to pick up our ID badges. Unfortunately not available.

We then decided to go to Quaker Steak & Lube for Dinner in Vermilion. They have a nice water front view we were told. Turns out the restaurant use to be a former restaurant that I went to when I was a child with my parents and siblings. We were able to get outside seating and enjoyed the perfect weather and good chicken wings! The bonus is that the wings and fries are "gluten free" so Donovan can eat them!

Leaving you with our wonderful evening pictures from the deck (our table) at Quaker Steak & Lube!