After camp ended on Saturday, most of my family came back to Lima to visit some more. Jacque's family had to go home, and Josef 's family popped in and out, but everyone else landed at our house. Jillian and Caleb joined us on Monday morning and got to see the NorCal Fentons and Grandma for a couple of hours before it was time for me to drive that contingent back to Columbus. A lot of musical cars were involved in the whole experience to make sure we had enough seats for everyone.
Tuesday had kickball games in the morning. Dad took the kids while I helped Mom and Justine prep food for an engagement party (?) for Jillian and Caleb. They are engaged. There was a party with cake and singing. Anything else that typically happens did not. We went to a park with a shelter, a playground, and a shaded field. The Hodges relations joined us and everyone was able to find something age and ability appropriate to do. Wedding meetings were held, singing happened, conversations were had. The cake was delicious.
On Tuesday night a few people headed to Pittsburgh and on Wednesday midday the rest of the contingent followed. Before leaving, Mom took Matthias to kickball for the championship game (he won!) while I taught a Music Together class (with guest attendees Justine and Margaret). Jillian and Caleb remained for the rest of the week, splitting their time between us and his family.
Matthias turned 9 on Saturday. He wanted "Dad's homemade pizza" -- cardboard pizza -- for dinner. He had multiple complicated dreams for dessert, but after some negotiation we settled on a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake with mint oreo crust and whipped cream frosting.
Other items of note:
- We came home from camp to a broken sunroom window. There is no obvious point of impact, so it was probably an imperfection in the glass. We have a warranty, and they will be out to fix it in the next one to two months. No big deal, Champion, we definitely aren't worried about it shattering onto the ground in that time.
Other items of note:
- We came home from camp to a broken sunroom window. There is no obvious point of impact, so it was probably an imperfection in the glass. We have a warranty, and they will be out to fix it in the next one to two months. No big deal, Champion, we definitely aren't worried about it shattering onto the ground in that time.
- Theo had some suspicious circles on his arms. Jillian spotted one on Thursday morning and I took him to urgent care. Our Ohio doctors have improved slightly on the subject of Lyme disease since Olivia had it several years ago. They did not have to google the rash, although they did still try to tell me that seven individual bullseye rashes meant that we had somehow not noticed seven simultaneous ticks. Importantly, they are now very willing to give appropriate antibiotics just in case. Theo is medicated for the next two weeks.
-Bryan and Theo had a Christmas present trip to Great Wolf Lodge on Friday. They had a great time. Theodore did the lily pad obstacle course (floating lily pads that span a pool and float around a little while you try to get across) approximately 300 times. Or thirty. Bryan is unsure. They took zero pictures, but did enjoy swimming, splashing, fighting waves, racing in the (not so) lazy river, riding water slides, and playing basketball in the kid pool. Also, Theo wants you to know that they did the lily pads.
- I resurrected the meal calendar that we used to use in Springfield. When we moved to Lima I couldn't find a good place to hang it, so it languished in a corner of my bedroom for nearly 12 years. I found a place for it recently, updated the meal cards, and showed the kids. Gretchen loves it. The others seem not to care.
Pictures:
