The City Bus

Eva has been fascinated with buses for a while now. I think the "Wheels on the Bus" song was a major catalyst. Especially when we learned the verse about the money going "clink, clink, clink" from Christin back in the summer of 2014. 

So we took a ride.

We boarded the #82 COTA bus at the nearest stop to our house. Just 0.2 miles from our house for an approximate 3 minute walk. I paid my $2 adult fare - clink, clink, clink - while children under 48 inches are free.  The #82 took us on a 45 minute loop through Grandview,  Lennox Town Center, the OSU medical center and campus. 

We enjoyed the sites. We sang the "Wheels on the Bus" song. We greeted new passengers. Then we got back off right where we started... which is by our favorite Grandview park. 

Play Time!!!

Other low cost fun that we have enjoyed...

Wyman Woods Park - FREE

Library Stories on the Lawn - FREE

Tuesdays at Little Green House play cafe - $3

Krema Nut Company Milkshake - $3.50

Grandview Pool- $3 (after 6pm)

Apples and Cookies at Giant Eagle - FREE with $1 Treat Card

Drive-Thru Car Wash - $5

Picture Wall: Contact Paper, Painters tape, and foam pieces (all items were things we had)

2015 In Review

I have been trying to get in one more post before the end of the month. Since my last post, we had a baby and ... celebrated the birth of Jesus. Busy times.  I thought a review of the year would be a good way to close out the year. We've had a full year of joy with Eva. We also have enjoyed preparing and welcoming Audrey into our family. Get ready for an overload of photos.

Always cheering on the Buckeyes.
National Championship, Baby! 

Snow day stroll to Marshall's for breakfast. 

Hanging out with Commodore Perry
at the Cleveland boat show.

Valentine's Day date at the Fish Market. 

Winter reprieve at Franklin Park Conservatory.

Opening Day at Progressive Field.
A fun tradition.

Easter Day. He is Risen!

Happy Birthday, Eva! Lots of love and celebration. 

COSI trip with Larkyn and Rhys. 

Opening Day fun at Progressive!

Mother's Day at the Clippers baseball game. 

Our washed away beach.

Carrie, Julie, and all the kiddos. 

Date night at BNL concert. 

Aftermath of our basement flooding due to heavy June rain.

Playing Fascination with the Christensens at the Lake. 

Yay! Keith finishes 50 miles at the Velosano.

Our growing family standing in the same spot
where we were engaged seven years ago.

Labor Day in tie-dye. 

Marching band selfie. Go CCHSMB!

Columbus Oktoberfest is a great tradition.

Pumpkin picking at Pigeon Roost.

A baby is born! Welcome Audrey!

Decorating for Christmas.

Unseasonably warm December weather gives us
a chance to walk the Scioto mile. 

Quiet time with Mom.

Getting ready for family photos. Our first time as a family of four. 

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. 

Apple Hill + Pigeon Roost

The fall fun continues. We are so thankful that the weather held out for a rare weekend off for Keith. We had some family fun planned and were able to enjoy it thoroughly.

But first, Eva and I took a few side trips. One to head up north to spend time with Charlie and James. And another to spend time with Kara, Leah, and Bethany at their hotel pool.

In our northern journey, we got lost a little. This is mostly due to the fact that I don't use GPS (yup, Annie Atlas at your service) and there were some road closures I didn't expect, but the drive was pretty.

We had a great time with James and Charlie at the Safety Town park. Then continued the fun at Miller's Apple Hill. This fun apple-picking orchard seemed to be located in the mecca of apple orchards. We could have visited any one of the three orchards nearby. Carrie and I were a little apprehensive about how the kids (read: toddlers) would handle being out in the orchard but once each of them found their own apple, which was within the first 90 seconds of being dropped off by the tractor-pulled hayride, they were just fine. An apple in hand was clutch (pun intended). 

Once back in Columbus, Eva and I were happy to join up with Kara, Leah, and Bethany for some hotel swim fun. Eva liked the pool almost as much as the big girls did but she really liked that they all wore "gagoos" (googles). We had a nice dinner afterward as well. 

Our family fall fun at Pigeon Roost Farm was great. It does seem like a drive to get out to Kirkersville but I think it took fewer than 35 minutes. And Pigeon Roost is totally worth it. We had heard good things about this farm and all seemed to live up. Big pumpkins. Even humongous pumpkins. Straw. Farm animals. Games. Swings. Slides. A sand pit. Toddler Town. Giant gerbil wheels. Corn maze. Enchanted Forest with chickens wandering about. It was all there. 

See you next fall, Pigeon Roost!