Nashville/Ohio Trip-Part 1

Last week of July and first week of August Aaron was out of town for work/training so Porter and I (with the help of family) took a trip out to visit my family in the East. The majority of the first week was spent in Ohio with my Sanford's (Michelle and her family) which is the subject of this post. The next post, "Nashville Trip-Part 2" will highlight the week spent in Nashville. These will be long ones. Our trip started out with a 2 hours drive down to Vegas, an almost 4 hour flight, and then once in Nashville a 45 minute drive to Murfreesboro where my Gilday's live.
We arrived in Portsmouth, Ohio (a 6 hour drive but took us almost 8 with complications) around midnight the day after I flew into Nashville and the very next morning we were off to Kings Island! It's in Cincinnati about 2 hours away so it was more traveling time but all went well. My sisters and I just belong together. Like how we dressed alike?! So much fun. One thing we all have in common is we all LOVE roller coasters, so this was such a fun treat to go. Michelle got discount tickets at work for Stacey and I and we had a blast!
We started our day at the park with baby rides and they were so cute!
Porter LOVES trains but he held back his excitement from this train ride and saved it for the next ride (see picture below). This ladybug looking car went around in an oval shape and when it went around the corner it whipped the kids. Porter LOOOOOVED it!!! Right then and there I said, "Now THAT is MY son!" I was so proud and happy he loved the roller coaster thrill!

Boomerang Bay is the water park in Kings Island. It is awesome and Porter loved being in the water. Chris was so wonderful to watch all 6 kids (Michelle's 3 + Stacey's baby + Porter + an extra friend) while the girls and I went to ride a couple "big" coasters. We had such a wonderfully, fabulous, thrilling time!



After a long day of play in the sun we made it back home where Porter "got a shot" from Aunt Michelle, then he gave her one. So cute!!! Baby Simon fell asleep on me and I did NOT want to move that night. What a snuggler.
We took the following day off to rest and had a lazy day. The next day after that we were piled in the van and back on the road for another 2 hour drive but this time the opposite direction to Columbus to go to COSI (Center of Science & Industry) Museum. That place was amazing! So much to do and see with hands on experiments, play, exhibits, shows, information, models, interactive learning centers, etc. Michelle of course had coupons for everything so it was practically all free! She is the coupon queen and a deal-master. She is my guru.


Such a strong Porter to lift a car!!!
One show we watched was truly awesome: Rat basketball! They had two trained rats that played basketball (look really close and you can see the hoop on the right side and the rat on the left making a basket). They would grab the ball with their teeth and get on the hind legs to reach up and put it in the basket. The purpose of it was to teach kids about conditioning and positive reinforcement. They said the rats practiced everyday for 30 minutes a day for 6 months and were rewarded with Cheerios.

Kid Space was a huge place where only little kids (like 5 and under) are allowed to play. I should have just stayed there the whole day with Porter. He did not have enough time to play with everything! They had everything for a little person to play with and it was baby-heaven.




Stacey and I...or is it me and Stacey??? Hee hee.
Had a free 3D movie that day about whales in the ocean with free popcorn. Porter was so cute at the start but ended up frustrating me so much because he would not stay still so we left early to go play in the Kid Zone.

My beautiful Michelle with cute Renae.


Little dude was pooped after a long day...days...of travel. He did wonderfully. Could not ask for a better traveling toddler.
One milestone that happened while in Ohio was Porter learned to climb out of the pack n' play! (No not the one in the picture; that was just funny.) He's never tried or attempted to climb out of his bed/crib before. Well one night I put Porter to bed in the basement where we stayed and walked upstairs to join Michelle and Stacey. Michelle asked where Porter was and why she could hear his crying so well. I thought it was because he was just under us, but no, he had climbed out and walked up the stairs!!! He came over to me crying and looked so cute and pitiful. Funny dude. The other thing we did together was ZUMBA! So much fun! We had such a great time with the Sanford's and we were so sad to see that visit end. It was so much fun!