Many thanks to Jonah for loaning me his room and bed!
Saturday we watched Jonah play in his last soccer game of the season and then enjoyed the BBQ/potluck party with all the other soccer families. Afterwards we went for a drive around the area so I could see a home they hope to buy, downtown Olmsted Falls (a few blocks long), and an amazing 130 mile long park. We drove through part of it and went to the nature center. They have lots of information about not only the nature, animals and plants in the area but also about the pioneers who first settled in the area. The girls loved dressing up in the pioneer clothes, and they all loved climbing on/in the turtle and big tree.
Saturday night I went to see Jasmyn perform in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She was in the children's chorus and Mark played trumpet in the pit. I totally enjoyed the show and even got a few ideas for staging things the next time we do the short version in church!
Sunday of course began with church. Their church service included a mini musical done by the children (including Jasmyn and Jonah of course). The kids had studied the story of the Prodigal Son and they rewrote it. Barbara added a few songs and it was great! Jasmyn was one of the "Bad kids" who took her allowance for the year and wasted it at Target and other stores with her "bad" brother. Jonah was the Police officer who eventually took the kids home.
While Jasmyn and Mark went back to do another show, Barbara, Jonah, Aislynn and I went to the Cleveland Zoo. It's really big! We went to two exhibits: the rainforest and the dinosaurs. Yes, I said, dinosaurs! I loved the rainforest exhibit, but the dinosaurs were amazing. It's a temporary exhibit where they've set up life size, mechanical dinosaurs in the trees and bushes so it looks like they're in a habitat. They growl, roar, and move so it's all very convincing. Lot's of fun!
Sunday night we went to Max and Erma's for dinner. There is a "Balloon Man" who does a bit of slight of hand and balloon creations on Sundays. After we ate he had us laughing for about a half an hour. Great fun.
Monday morning I took Jasmyn out for our annual birthday tradition of lunch and shopping for clothes. We found a cute capri and top outfit and a darling dress for church. Her choice for lunch was Friendly's (so we could have sundaes for dessert). Jasmyn loves shopping, unlike her parents so we tried on LOTS of clothes and had to narrow it down to which outfit/dress to get. Since everything was on sale she was able to get two outfits.
Monday afternoon Mark and the kids and I went to the science museum in Cleveland. It's by Lake Erie so I sort of saw the lake as well. The museum is VERY hands on and was a blast to experience with the kids. We saw a movie about Mummies and explored until closing time.
Mark had a meeting and Barbara had to take Jasmyn to another rehearsal (for Snoopy Jr.) so I read LOTS of stories and put Jonah and Aislynn to bed.
And thus it was over! I spent Tuesday traveling home. The unplanned joy was finding my folks in the SFO airport having lunch before their flight to Ohio. We caught up a bit and I had a chance to share some about my trip before catching BART to come home.
