Ellie Bikes!

We took Ellie to Lehman’s parking lot months ago to practice on a bike without training wheels.  She did a great job.  She was a bit nervous about turning and still hadn’t figured out how to start by herself.  But, overall, I thought it was a success. 

BUT… every time we would suggest going out to try again.  She said, nope.  She was never interested.  It was my one goal for her this summer.  (Well, maybe learning how to swim was one too…) 

Finally, I said, “We are going to Lehman’s to practice.  You don’t have a choice because you need to learn.  Once you learn, you will like it.”  Reluctantly, she climbed in the van. 

And she picked it up – quickly.  I had to keep pushing her to try new things – turn to go back the other direction, take two laps around me, now two bigger laps, etc.  But she did it.  Grandma Yoh showed up for the lesson, too.  As Ellie grew more confident, and Madison zoomed around trying more tricks herself, the adults drug the rockers to the parking lot and watched the show.  It was great! (I know the bike is little, but it is what helps her feel confident.  She has a brand new, big bike waiting for her when she is ready!)

She asked to go show off her skills the night we invited Grandma and Grandpa Ediger over. 

Since then, we have visited the bike path a few times to practice riding in a straight line and to pass (or be passed) by people (simulating cars on the road).  She has gotten more confident each time.  While she doesn’t beg to go out biking, she does enjoy it.  We are so proud of this step in growing up.

Backyard Camping

It was a beautiful day after a string of heavy, hot, miserable days.  (Well, unless you like that kind of weather, then it wouldn’t be miserable…)  It was a Friday afternoon.  The girls had an idea: Let’s camp! 

Truth: I did not want to drag all that stuff out.

I texted Jeremy the idea.  He pretty much felt the same way. 

Reality: It may never be this nice again this summer.  Better do it while the doings good. 

So, I pulled out a package of hot dogs out of the freezer, scrounged up some mediocre buns, and cut up the watermelon.  Perfect camping picnic if you ask me!

    

Then, we started dragging out all the camping stuff.  The tent. The sleeping bags. The sleeping mats.  The air mattress (Yep. When you camp at home, there is no need to really rough it.)  The pillows.  The flashlights.  Etc  The girls ran around having fun while most of this went on. 

We took a break after Grandma Yoh arrived.  We noticed the line of semi-trucks headed south on Kidron Road.  We decided we should go check out the Parade of Lights. (A story on this year’s parade.) The line of trucks was endless.  All of them streaming out from the Kidron Auction parking lot.  It was like watching a magician pull the handkerchief out of his hat.  This went on for an hour straight; they were 320 semis/trucks this year!  (All proceeds for this event go toward Transport for Christ which is a pretty cool ministry.) 

While mesmerizing, the girls were ready to get back to the camping adventure. 

We finished up the night chasing fireflies, reading by flashlight (I LOVE that they read!), and crashing by about 10pm. 

The night was cool.  So cold for me, I came in around 3pm when I took Ellie to the bathroom and grabbed wool socks and a hooded sweatshirt.  I loved it!

The girls slept til 8 (Madison) and 8:30 (Ellie) the next morning!  I couldn’t believe it. 

All in all, it was a good time.

July 4th

We did a few things this year around this day.  It was brutally hot and humid, so none of them were as fun as they could have been, but we tried. 

On June 30, we went to the Rohr’s annual July 4th gathering.  It was a hot day as well, but they have a pool that people can enjoy.  It is always a relaxing time to be with friends and catch up.  There were also fireworks that night in Mt. Eaton.  We let the girls stay up for them and opted to watch them from our backyard.  You could definitely see them.  I would say they were bigger than I thought they would be; Jeremy said they were a bit smaller.  The girls would like to drive closer next year.  Maybe we will…

On Tuesday (3rd), we went with Grandma Yoh to listen to the Air Force Band who was playing in Wooster.  It was a good time.  The music was fun to listen to.  I texted a high school/college friend who lived in the area, and she came down and hung out with us.  It was good to catch up with her.  We also noted that the one trombone player looked like Goose from Top Gun.  I took a picture, but we are too far away to give you a clear view.

    

On Wednesday (4th), we went with Grandma Yoh to the Fredricksburg parade.  We have been going here for the since 2012.  It is a good, long parade.  The only thing missing is a band.  The girls enjoy it.  This year, we sat a little closer to the start of the parade and got a ton of candy!  I had them pick 50 pieces, and we donated the rest to the church candy dish! 

We followed that up with an evening with the Ohio Light Opera out in the square in Wooster.  (Same place we were on Tuesday.)  This was an orchestra and later, singers.  It was also good music.  I am glad my kids were able to go hear this. 

         

Camp Luz

First time experience for Madison in mid-June.  She attended Camp Luz for Mini Camp.  We took her on Sunday late afternoon and picked her up on Tuesday at 7pm.  We took her things to Poplar cabin with one of her counselors.  She picked an upper bunk, laid out her sleeping bag, and climbed up to test it out.  She came back down, gave us hugs good-bye, jumped up and down when her friend from school arrived to the cabin, and sent us on our way. 

 

She was so confident and excited to be there.  I was so proud of her; it was easy to walk away.  I am hoping she keeps this confidence to try new things, even without us being with her.  She had a great time for the days she was there.

She said her favorite thing was boating.  The girls got to go out on the canoes – by themselves! – on the lake.  They must have had a lot of fun out there!  When we picked her up, she was playing with others.  She wanted a picture with her counselors as well:

Someone asked her if she missed home.  She kinda giggled and looked shy all of a sudden.  I reassured her that she did not need to have missed home.  In fact, it was fine if she didn’t really miss home while she was away.  She said she didn’t miss home, but she was also glad to be home, but she also wanted to still be at camp!  I like that. 

While she was at camp, Ellie and I went to the Wayne County Dog Shelter and the Humane Society.  This was a BIG step for her, too, to walk through the cages of barking dogs.  She even petted one that was brought out of the cage just for her.  At the Humane Society, she played with the kittens, but didn’t really want to take them out.

June Moments

Snapshots of June that didn’t involve vacation.  We went to Ashland to sell cookies and lemonade with our friends.  We have done this the past three years.  I usually sell little else at the garage sale, but the girls enjoy baking cookies, selling them, and earning some money.  This year, my friend’s kids were earning money for a trampoline; mine were just making money to make money.  Anyway, on the first day of sales (when we weren’t there), she said a gentleman left $100 in the donations for the trampoline jar!  Can you believe it?  Needless to say, they made their goal and now have a trampoline.  My kids walked away with about $20 a piece!  Here are the sellers:

We learned the pay phone at Lehman’s actually works as a phone for a local call.  The girls were stunned they could talk to someone through this device with maybe the same awe we held when cell phones came out.

    

My niece Lilli came over for a sleepover one night.  She is so kind.  She is five years older than Madison, but she plays with them and is willing to hang out anyway.  Plus, she likes the horses in our backyard!  Ellie found an abandoned bird’s nest on the ground and showed off the eggs.  Minutes after the picture, she forgot she had them in her hand while looking at the horses, and cracked one…  How do you forget you have eggs in your hand?

    

Other fun stuff – perfectly made strawberry shortcake, mini fairy cupcakes, reading in a blanket fort, and snuggling with daddy: