July 4th Weekend Getaway!!!

Over the 4th of July weekend I headed up to Ohio to meet up with my In-Loves. My Father in Law has family there and apparently they do a annual 4th of July shindig and go all out. Not having any plans of my own I was excited about the opportunity when my MIL mentioned it to me a few months back. I was a bit nervous though as I'd never met any of this side of the family and neither had the hubbs. Talk about a funny story, me meeting some of his family before he ever had. So Thursday morning I dropped the pups off at the Kennel facility, first time for them. I was a bit of an emotional wreck but we all survived. lol. Headed to work for a few short hours before they let me go early knowing I had a drive ahead of me. I had my lunch and snacks packed for my road trip so I wouldn't have to stop other than to use the restroom, thankfully my car get awesome gas mileage and I knew I'd make it with out having to stop and fill up. I arrived in Delaware, OH right after 9pm and was warmly greeted by my sweet In-Loves. Aunt Janet who will be 80 years young soon, (who we where staying with) had already gone to bed. We chatted up the evening a bit before calling it a night, knowing the next few days where going to be busy busy.

Up bright and early Friday to get my work out in followed my a trip down to Columbus, OH to check out the North Market. A local indoor market with tons of vendors offering any where from yummy eats, desserts, breakfast, full meals for lunch or dinner and an assortment of household goods and trinkets. It was such a neat little place, not to big not to small. I really wish we had some thing like this in Clarksville. We have a outdoor market but its only open on Saturday early Spring - late Fall, where as The North Market is open year around. There was a Bakery / Pastry shop that sold Macaroon's. I'd never tried one but I've always wanted to so  picked up to. A Lemon flavored and then Strawberry. I ate them and gave it a fair shot but lets just say I wasn't a fan. Not something I'll be jumping up and down again to get or go out of my way for. A little way's down however was the neatest Donut shop / booth called Delicious Donuts. Let me tell you they did not disappoint at all, they where marvelous and HUGE. I decided on a plain glazed, I mean you can't go wrong with simple and sweet right?!?!? That was until they brought out a tray of Cinnamon rolls that where literally bigger then my face. Ok so I caved and bought both. Let me tell you it was totally with it to!!! After walking around once more making sure we'd seen everything, the large display of Fiestaware as well, (to bad I had all the piece there already, I was really hoping to add to my collection.) we called it a trip and headed back to Delaware. Some of us girls where meeting up for Pedi's (Thursday night when I got in-town my MIL asked if I'd want to go, UMMMM YES PLEASE). It was so nice to have a little girls time out while the guys where prepping for Saturday's big festivities. I was able to have the chance to get to know my FIL cousin and her daughter while being pampered a little, something I never do for myself. I had planned on paying for mine but before I had the chance Lori was kind enough to pick up the bill for all of us. Yall everyone was so incredibly nice and caring the entire time we where there. This was just one of the many things they did for us. We went back to Lori's house for a glass of wine and did a little getting to know each other / catching up on the patio with some yummy snacks.

 A few hours went by and we headed home to get freshened up for dinner. In Delaware they have a thing called First Friday, they shut down the street that runs through downtown (Delaware, OH is really small) and local businesses come out, set up tables to promote their business and bring the community together. We had dinner at a new little Pub / Bar and then walked the street a bit seeing what all was there. I really didn't take to many pictures at all and sadly none this evening. After seeing everything there was we headed back to Pam's house for yet another round of drinks (who am I to complain, keep the wine coming) by the fire. Not realizing what time it was when we decided to go because it was still so day light out but it was already well past 9pm. That was the thing that baffled me the most, it didn't get dark till close to 10pm each evening and both morning and night it was quite chilly. Not something we have right now in TN.

Saturday morning the FIL headed back to Rick and Lori's house to help set up for the BBQ while my MIL and I stayed back finished up some dishes we where taking and helping Aunt Janet with some last minute things she had been working on as well. Shortly after arriving back to where the BBQ was at every one else started slowly coming in. That's when it hit me that I was there with out the hubbs and with so much of his family. Even through he'd never met a soul of them it was still a bit sad and overwhelming not having him there. I did have a great time though and everyone again was so sweet and caring. Asking a million questions, simply trying to get to know Me, Us and Our Story. I didn't mind at all though I love love sharing our story, talking about our life together. Plus it totally gives me a reason / the chance to brag on my amazing husband :). Several hours went bye and many plates of yummy food later and we finally found ourselves cleaning up and preparing for a evening of Fireworks later. When Cathy (my MIL) first told me how the families 4th of July Holiday tradition went I couldn't help but chuckle. All of the left over food is packaged up and put in coolers. Everyone heads home for a nap meets back up at a local field at 7pm. I figured a few people would show back up, after all it had already been a really long day. Nope just about everyone came. We gather around in our chairs and socialize for the next several hours waiting until the firework show started. That umm didn't start till it got dark at 10pm "TEN-pm" people. Crazy. The left over food is brought to munch on through the evening and works out really well because no one has to worry about going hungry or bringing food with them. This people are pro's at it to. They foil wrap the burgers and dogs in the buns ahead of time so they are easily dispersed. You can tell they've done this a time of two.
The fire work show was simply amazing. One of the best Ive been to for sure and it lasted for a good 45 minutes, it might have even been longer. The fun part came when it was time to leave. Walking to our car was no problem but getting out of the parking lot was another story. YIKES.

 Sunday morning the In-Loves and I got up bright and early and had breakfast on the Patio at a local Diner called Hamburger Inn, in downtown Delaware. It was most definitely a bittersweet breakfast, I love any and every minute I get to spend with them but this breakfast was followed with a tearful "Goodbye" as they headed on the road to make their 30 hour drive back to AZ, while I stayed back in OH for another day and a half visiting and catching up with a few friends.
I headed back to Aunt Janet's house and decided to clear my head by going on a run. What was suppose to only have been a 3-5 mile run turned into a 10 mile run with a "Oh Crap" moment in the middle because I had to go to the bathroom somethings fierce (because of the huge breakfast I'd just eaten) and there was no bathrooms around to be found. I was turned around in the middle of a residential area and only knew how to get back which was back tracking my route. I paused my run, taking a moment to gather myself on the side of the road. I was determined to make it back and finish out my at that point planned 10 miles. I did it, it might not have been pretty but I finished and had a pretty stellar time and pace. I spent the rest of the afternoon at the house just relaxing and hanging out. That evening I headed back out to Columbus, OH for dinner with one of our sweet friends from Hawaii. Tara and I met through a mutual friend shortly after I started working at the CDC on post and clicked right away. We've stayed in touch over the years as she moved back from HI to TX and now recently back home to OH. We where able to pick right up, it was so great catching up with her in person and just to hear how great she has been doing.

I ended my evening with a little Custard in downtown Delaware. It was pretty tasty!!! 

Monday morning was another early morning for me, up to get my workout it and pack up the car. I had plans to meet up with some of our best friends from our Hawaii days back in Columbus. Jamie and Anthony where the first people I met when I went to Hawaii. I stayed with them when I went out before the hubbs and I where even married. He was in a sense their (at the time) 2nd child. The 3 of them, including their daughter Jessica did everything together. After the guys first deployment Anthony made the decision to get out of the Army and move home. It was heart breaking because I we did everything together. We where always at their house and they where always at ours. Beach and dinner trips, random shopping adventures and outings. We've kept in good touch through FB, phone and texting over the past 6 years but haven't had the chance to meet up and get together. So when I found out I was going to be in OH and so close to them I just knew we had to meet up. We met for breakfast at Bob Evan's. It was my first time there and let me tell you it didn't disappoint, it was pretty fabulous. A little back story, Jamie and Anthony left Hawaii with two girls. Jamie had their 2nd daughter right before the guys deployed. Now fast forward 6 years and they've added TWO more kids to the mix making it a grand total of 4 kiddos. CRAZY!!!!! 3 girls and the youngest a boy. They are all so cute and Jessica the oldest is almost 16 which is crazy for me to even think she can be that old. After breakfast we went down to the Ohio State Campus and walked around a bit checking it out, taking a few pictures. We ventured over to a local park and hung out there for a while. The weather was perfect and Jessica had brought her Violin and serenaded us while we continued to visit and catch up. Before to long our parking meters where up and I needed to get on the road to head back to TN. Another heart breaking "Goodbye" not knowing when we'd see each other again. Soon I hope, the plan is to, plan a trip once the hubbs gets home from deployment for us all to meet up for a weekend of camping.

A quick stop back at North Market for a treat and lunch before getting on the road to head home. A 6 and a half hour drive ahead of me I needed something to get me through. I had the best time, it was a nice relaxing weekend filled with family, friends and delicious foods. I can't wait to do it again next year for the 4th.

Adventures on the Gorge

Our adventure that we were suppose to endure on Thursday was moved to today. Thankfully we were able to reschedule with out any issues. 

We were going Zip lining yall, I've never been. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous at first. We were doing two different tours Gravity first then Tree Tops. Going EXTREME then MELLOWING out a bit. 
Here's a brief bit of info on Gravity that I got on line to help better explain what we did. 


~~~~On Gravity, you're zipping from mountain ridge to mountain ridge. The views are stunning and so is the height and speed. Gravity climaxes with the 3100-foot long Adrena-Line, the longest and fasts single zip line in the eastern U.S. Adrena-Line zippers routinely hit speeds of over 55 mph! And the best part? There are two of them side by side, so you can race your friends!
This open-air zipline soars a jaw-dropping 200 feet above the ground at its highest point taking riders on over a 1.5 mile long tour that zigzags across the ridgeline of a mountain bowl and offers amazing birds-eye views of the legendary gorge and the changing fall foliage in the valley below.
You'll start from a platform on one of the highest points above the valley launching into two consecutive warm-up zips, each about 500 feet long. Then, the real action kicks-in with the third zip crossing a distance of 1800 feet over the bowl of the mountain. The fourth and fifth heart-stopping zips stretch 1,600 and 1,300 feet, respectively, reaching heights of about 200 feet above the ground and speeds up to 50 miles per hour.  Next is the LONGEST zip line on the East Coast - AdrenaLine.  AdrenaLine is 3150 feet long and will get you moving 50-60 miles per hour!~~~~

Here we are getting "schooled" at ground school on the do's & don't of zip lining and how it all works. This one was only 3 feet of the ground from here we went to the next one which was 500 feet off the ground, still in "ground school". After completing and passing through the first zip I was set. I wasn't nervous any more, just ready to get going.

Waiting our turn on the first zip. Don't we just look so cute with our hats on :). I had a blast, the views were beautifully breath taking. So glad I was able to experience this with the Spouse her mom and B, we had loads of fun.

This gives you a idea of how long the zips really are, you can get going really fast if you tuck your knees and lean back. If you look closely at the picture below to the left you can see the deck in the background were I came from. The picture below on the right is the double zip, the spouse and I raced but some how she got a freaking awesome start and beat me out of the water.

All four of us!!!! The last & longest zip AdrenaLine still to come.

S & I coming in on the double zip below to the left. She's on the left & I'm to the right.
After Gravity was over we had a few hours to wait till our TreeTop tour. Lunch was included in our package which we chowed down on while we waited, it was so yummy. Buffet style all you can eat, pulled pork sandwiches, corn on the cob, mash potato's & salad. We all manage to take a little cat nap in the car after lunch, we were so tired from getting up early and making the two hour drive out to Adventures on the Gorge. Our TreeTop tour got going just before 2pm and before the rain started coming in. They told us that they still go through with the tours until it starts to thunder storm and lightening is spotted. All strapped up, we went through "ground school again" (since it was completely different than Gravity we had to go through it again.)
Here's a brief bit of info on what TreeTops is.
~~~~You will complete 10 zip lines. Zip lines vary in length from just over 100 feet to as long as 730 feet, with zip speeds of up to  30 miles an hour! You will walk on 5 sky bridges, take 3 short hikes to gain elevation and end your adventure with a rappel down from the final platform!~~~~

We were about 2 1/2 -3 zip's into our afternoon when the sky let loose, crazy buckets of rain pouring on us. No big deal we kept going on, some of us had jackets on but it was still pretty cold. Sadly the weather got CRAZY!!!!! The wind picked up and literally pushed the trees in over the zip lines causing them to disappear for a moment. We still had a few people on the farther platform that we had to get over to were the rest of the group was. As we heard them communicating over their walkie talkie about what needed to be done, we hugged the tree as tight as we could. You could see the platform swaying back and forth as the wind picked up. Finally we were all on one platform crouched down together as our tour guides fixed up the rappel ropes. It was unsafe to keep going on, with the tree branches closing in on the lines we had no choice but to rappel down a 30ft something high tree. To say I was freaked would be a complete understatement, I was terrified to no end. One by one we rappelled down the tree, my thing all day was I couldn't go first and I couldn't go last, just something about it made me uneasy. Finally it was my turn, leaving S & B behind me, the instructor hooked me up and I lost it. Yup, I cried like a baby I was terrified, I just knew I was going to go crashing to the bottom. After about 3 attempts I finally somehow made my way to solid ground, tears running down my face and all. I think if the whole situation was different and we weren't having to "emergency" evacuate I wouldn't have been as freaked. Sadly this was the end of our tour :(, we were given two options. We could either sit it out and wait for the rain to pass and start over or we could get a rain check. We went with the rain check, I was heading back to DC for the night and S & B were heading to Ohio for the weekend, we both needed to get on the road. Thankfully the rain check is good for TWO YEARS so we will be able to come back next summer and make a weekend out of it. There is so much to do there at the facility Whitewater Rafting, Walking the Cat walk of the New River Gorge Bridge and more. I couldn't help but think that none of this would have happened if I wouldn't have hit that tire the day before. I know it wasn't my fault and I didn't seek it out to hit but still it through a wrench in our plans.
(the picture below to the right is one of the very few I got from TreeTops)















We were soaked from the rain but that didn't keep me from snapping one last picture of the spouse & I before we headed out. I HATE hate HATE goodbyes, even if its just a see you soon it still SUCKS major!!!! We'll be back together in October for our week long trip with the Mistress aka Nancy but that seems like forever away. I had a fabulous trip so many new experiences and memories made that I will never forget. I can't wait to come back for our weekend here at the park, and since we will have plenty of time to plan the hubbs will get to come as well.

Back on the road for me to the DC / VA area, it was a LONG AWFUL 5 hour drive, more on that one to come along with my day back in the city tomorrow!!!! 

~DAY 232~

Children's Museum & A Mini Egg Hunt

We had another fun filled adventurous day ahead of us, the best part being the girls had no clue what was coming. We loaded up the car after a bit of breakfast and headed out to Bloomington, IL for some fun at the Children's Museum. We stopped off for some lunch at Mickey D's first to draw out the anticipation for the older two. See we were right in the area were their mom lived and they though they were going home & we were going to Bloomington without them. (they knew they were going back to their moms house today but just not sure when.) They were quite surprised when we got to the museum because neither of them had been there before. 

Right across the street was a local art shop, the inside was a bit different but I loved the paintings on the outside of the building. There was characters, animals, a sky line, faces, landscape and much more. It was a very colorful and bright wall.

My favorite one was this beautiful flower which just so happen to be next to a giant green dinosaur. The Spouse loves loves dinosaurs so when ever I see them it always makes me think of her.

Crystal and I even partook in some of the crazy kid fun in the museum. Hey after all whats the point in going if your not going to have a little fun with it. The best part was that ALL 5 of us (3 kids & 2 adults) got in FREE!!! Thank you Military!!! The last time I went to a children's museum was when I went to PHX during the hubbs first deployment with the nephews & mil, so I was super excited. This one here in IL was 3 floors filled with anything a kid could imagine. Each floor kind of had a theme which was neat, it aloud the kiddos to learn more and understand the different stations better. We got there just after noon and didn't end up leaving till right before they closed at about 4:45 it was a long fun filled day at the museum. But the fun didn't end there...........

The girls loved loved the pizza truck. Chy though it was all hers & every time someone else would get in it she just didn't understand. 

I think we have a few doctors on our hands, these girls sure have a bright future ahead of them.

or maybe a couple of farmers lol. 

There was a theater area were all three girls were playing with a few other kids. They shut the curtain, got all dressed up and when the curtain opened this is what we saw. It was seriously to funny Crystal and I just busted out laughing. Chy had this crazy scared almost lost look on her face while she just sat there. It was cute in its own little way, hey as long as they are having fun right. 

The art room was my favorite if you can't tell, we had fun writing little messages on the windows. 

It was my turn in the doctors chair, I had my heart checked & teeth cleaned. Alisha sent me on my way with a clean bill of health, she was so cute even checked my knees. 

                      

    

She's only 3 years old and already knows how to drive, watch out people she's behind the wheel of a tractor. This was another one that she really liked. Maybe she has a thing for vehicles because it took us forever to get her out of here. 

Love Love this girl, we are having the best time together, I don't want it to end. Thankfully we still have so much ahead of us :) 

On to some more fun, before we took the girls home we stopped at a park to have a mini egg hunt. They are going be with us on Easter but not till the afternoon so they would miss the egg hunt at home. We started a tradition in Hawaii that involved confetti eggs and we've carried it out since then. They are super messy but LOADS of fun and always makes for a good laugh. The girls had so much fun smashing them over each others. C & I got suckered in and a few cracked on us as well. It was all in good fun though so I didn't mind at all.   

I've had a blast getting to know the older two (I've known Chy since she was 5 months old.) they are such sweet and adorable little girls. As peaceful as I knew the house would be this evening I was really sad to say goodbye when we dropped them off. I think though a lot of it has to do with the living arrangements they have to be in.

Good news is we get to pick them up on Sunday on our way to Grannies house. 

~DAY 174~