A Safari in Ohio?

Despite the threat of possible rain (or even snow) we took a long drive today to an Ohioan safari, where we saw all sorts of different animals. From the simple chicks and baby goats at the beginning, to Llamas, water buffalo, zebras, oryx, zonkey - zebra donkey mix - camels, ostriches, yaks and others. Jack liked the Macaw at the end...it made his laugh, listen carefully to the video to see what it said.

Trains, knives, buttons and arrowheads

Trains, knives,buttons and arrowheads? Not things you think of finding all at one attraction, but we did! We went to the Warther Carving museum last week, and though all of us enjoyed it, Mak was enthralled!



It is a museum of all the carvings one man did...and they are amazing. A Swiss couple settled down in central Ohio, she was a collector of buttons (73,000 in all), and

he a carver and explorer. He found over 5,000 arrowheads

within 5 miles of their home. He discovered whittling at a young age and slowly became a carver...check out the trains he carved.

As a result of all the carving he did he designed his own knives...then thought his wife might appreciate some for the kitchen. Today it's a family run business, they display the buttons, arrowheads and carvings, and sell hand made knives. My Mom bought me one, and it's great! (thanks Mom).

Bubba and Nana visit

My parents came in (brining Mak back home after he spent a week with them). The first thing that happened was Bubba brought out gifts for the kids from their trip to China. These paper hats were a huge hit! They start out looking like a vase, but can be flipped inside out and upside down and be worn several ways.

We've had quite a few laughs. Though we haven't done as much as we like, because Nana is still on crutches from ankle surgery in Janurary, and because David got sick, we've had fun playing games and hanging out.

Check out Jack's poochy lip! We managed to get the tears to go away, but he was still upset that Bubba didn't win at Monopoly.

I don't know if you can see the tears on TJ (they dried up fast once the camer came out). He just lost a game of Apples to Apples "by more than double". We couldn't stop laughing! It had gotten down to the last two players and Bubba, being the kind grandpa that he is tried to lose...and it didn't work. You may think it's cruel, but our way of playing games is to play until there is an "Ultimate Loser" so we play until all but one person is eliminated in games like Uno and Apples to Apples (which, by the way, we have been enjoying and I would recommend to families who have kids that read). T.J. doesn't receive the title "Ultimate Loser" well, but we're trying to teach him to have the right perspective in life, this is just a game!!!!

Now that my parents are here and have confirmed it, I will make my announcement: I have a child that looks like me! From looking at old pictures I had wondered, but they say it's like going back 33 years. But I think she has my personality too, so I have to be on my toes!

How you know you live in the mid-west

When we finally got rid of the snow, and the temperature hit 45 degrees we went to the park and celebrated! Yes it was a little cold, but not enough to keep us inside for one more day after that long winter. My favorite part of the day? When Jack called the play thing that Chatham is standing in a "monkey jar", don't think I'll ever have a better name for it!

Kayte just loved the swing!

Baseball season

We have a few days of sunshine, and since T.J. has been dying to get outside he convinced Chatham to go outside and play some baseball. Apparently Chatham is a good pitcher, because T.J. hit a line drive to Chatham's head. He has the indents on his forehead from the stitching on the ball.

The rougher side of Kayte

This is the less dainty side of Kayte, a natural result of having four older brothers. Jack is dressed up for the occasion in his Superman shirt and NFL undies!