Lake Erie

 
This being our 3rd summer in northeastern Ohio, we were overdue for a visit to a beach on Lake Erie! 

The water was refreshing and clear and the gravelly sand beach sported the prettiest rounded granite rocks.  We have a couple fish in our family (Addy, Maclaren, Dukes, Maegli), a few sand babies (Emmy, Dabney, Alarie). . . and some teens who enjoyed reading on the shore.  

After a swim and picnic lunch, we "hiked" to the Marina, picking blackberries and enjoying the wild flowers along the way.  

GREAT day trip!  We're so fortunate to live so close to a beach - we hope to take advantage of this again soon!

*We were missing our two scouts, Davis and Kolpin, who were on their way back from a week at scout camp, and our two eldest boys: Hendrick was working, and Tesfaye was off on a run.  

Playground Play

This summer our goal has been to visit the pool at least once a week, and to visit a playground at least once a week.  It's been a lot of fun!  We have a lot of playgrounds in our area, including one literally in our own backyard (behind our house!), but the one we keep going back to is the brand new and super fabulous Dogwood Playground.  Yay for amazing playground fun!!!  

*Notice how much attention Alarie receives from her siblings on the playground?!  She loves it!  She's pretty busy so it's helpful to have so many eyes watching and hands to help her. 

Play Ball!

 

We have enjoyed being near major league baseball - Go Guardians!  All of us have been to at least one game this season, and several of our kids got to go to their very first major league game this year . . . which has made this summer season of t-ball even more exciting!

Emory and Dukes have had so much fun playing ball this summer in the 5-6-year-olds T-ball league - their first time playing.  Dukes has an incredible throwing arm and Emory has a very precise hit (and makes lovely infield sand castles).  Go Storm!

(*And of course an evening ball game is made even sweeter when followed up with a trip to the local ice cream shop where big brother Davis can serve us - yum!)