Dayton - Arrival and Swimming pool

We spent a few days in Dayton before the end of my mom's (Gammy) summer break. The babies couldn't ask for anything better than to spend time with their Grandparents. Watching them interact, seeing the smiles on everyone's faces when we're together and, okay, I'll admit it, having an extra set or two of hands to help me are all great!

Addison got right to work reading to her animals and babies that live at Gammy's house. All except the pink one were mine. The blue baby is named Justin after my boyfriend in 4th grade!

We spent the afternoon at the Kettering pool. So much fun. They have a huuuuuuuuge aquatic complex, with a miiiiiiillion different pools. Addison especially enjoyed this particular slide.

See my hand in the picture above? Yeah, you won't be seeing that anymore. I was instructed by the little girl herself to "Stand back, Mommy. Stand waaaaaay far back." She wanted me far away while she performed her tricks.

Going down backwards was definitely her favorite!

Don't worry, she's not drowning. She'd go under and come right back up with a huge smile on her face.

Well, at first her face looked like this. But once she wiped the water from it and caught her breath, she was smiling!

Gammy and Chase watching Addison be a daredevil. From waaaaaaaaaaaaaay far back. :)

Gammy and the babies.

Addison was showing her how she goes under

and comes back up for air.

Chase loved the spraying whale.

Dayton - Wegerzyn Gardens

Sunday Morning, Addison and I met up with one of my best friends from the middle school/high school era, Holly, and her daughter Mia. Mia is just over 2 months younger than Addison (their due dates were a couple of weeks apart) and Holly and I have talked about getting them together for a play date for forever! I was so, so, so happy to finally have the chance to do so. We went to a great metropark in Dayton (actually the one where my Mom and Phil were married) called Wegerzyn Gardens. This park is really close to where Holly and I grew up, just a few houses apart. Both of our families have since moved so I hadn't been to that area of town in years.

I really wanted to check out Wegerzyn because I had read about a (relatively) new kids area that they'd built, where the kids could play in water, sand, a schoolhouse and even their very own garden. I did not leave disappointed. Not only did the park meet or exceed all my expectations, but we were in great company. Mia is just too beautiful for words and the girls became friends as soon as we stepped out of the car! Not to mention the wonderful conversations between Holly and I. We had A LOT to catch up on so our mouths were moving a mile a minute. It had been quite some time but we picked up right where we left off. Love friends I can do that with!

The girls meet and immediately hold hands. Mia was a little shy, but Addison took care of that!

And off they go!

Running out of the "caves"

Taking a refreshing break in the stream

Waterfall

Love how Addison has her arm around Mia!

A very large musical instrument

Sand table. There was a sand pit, too. We distracted them as we walked past it in hopes that they wouldn't want to go in. It worked!

Holly and I with our little sweethearts.

Dayton - Dragon's Game

Dayton has a single A baseball team called the Dragons. The games are always fun, family oriented and entertaining for people of all ages. My parents share season tickets (there's a wait list for those suckers, believe it or not!) and couldn't wait to take Addison to her first baseball game this summer. Lucky for Chase, we couldn't find anyone to babysit him so he came along (a few minutes behind us with Dustin), too! It ended up working great with his sleep schedule and though he won't remember his first baseball game, I was glad he came.

Addison with Gammy and Poppy in front of the stadium.

Someone's gotta get the boy an occassion-appropriate hat. We're at a baseball game, not on a fishing boat!

What, what's that you say? Gammy and Poppy want to treat the kids to something from the gift shop? PERFECT!

Oh wait, can we make a quick stop at the bounce house for the little princess? Awwww, thanks!

Now, about that hat....

Looks like a fit. And boy is he the cutest guy I've ever seen. I'm talking about the one in the back!

Okay, this one, too!

Don't let him fool you. It might look like he was watching the game, but chances are he was eyeing something he wanted to put in his mouth.

He almost always has to be eating/sucking/chewing/gumming something! He won't take a pacifier but he looooooooves his Sophie!

He also looooooves other people's hands.

AND his own hands. :)

And I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE those cheeks!

The princess angel got a hat, too. She's a cutie, isn't she? She is a perfect hybrid of girly girl and tomboy. She's pretty versatile!

This was her first time eating Dippin' Dots. She was in heaven!

Loving on Poppy. So sweet!

Addison asked to meet Heater, the mascot, the entire game. We finally tracked him down at the 7th inning stretch. Addison was a little hesitant to get too close at first.

But a few seconds later, she warmed up.

Enough to separate from Poppy and hold Heater's hand. Maybe our fear of large, furry, fictional characters is over!?!?!

I almost forgot....Addison made it onto the Jumbotron! I got it on video using my phone. Don't blink, you might miss it!

Addison had her first encounter with corn on the cob for dinner that night. Yes, we live in the Midwest and my child has never had corn on the cob! We aren't big corn eaters and I don't really like it on the cob because it gets stuck in my teeth so I never make it. She loved it...and has had it 3 times since! She does the grocery shopping with me and it's on display as we walk in the store. She spots it right away and asks for it, so now I make it for her and Dustin. :)