Bye Bye Ohio house

Yesterday I left Ohio and drove to Gram's house in Maryland.  It was a long day in the car but I did wonderful.  Maryland is the 10th state I have been in since leaving New Mexico (New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland).  Sunday when I go to our new home I will hit state 11 - Virginia!!

I had a wonderful time playing with my cousins all summer.  We had swim lessons, park programs, library programs, T-ball & baseball games, trips to see other cousins and visits from Grandparents.  It was a jammed packed and super fun summer - I learned and explored so much!

Exploring with Aunt Heather!

Playing T-ball with Luke

Creaking with Uncle Jeff

Playing with Cole

Favorite thing to do with Cole: Making books
Favorite thing to do with Luke: Playing baseball
What I will miss most: Everything!

Snake!

Today at the New Albany Library they had the reptile man come and talk to us about different reptiles.  I saw two snakes, a tree frog, a tortoise, an alligator and some sort of lizard.  I got to hold the really, really big snake twice.  It was tons of fun to see the reptiles up close and learn about them. 

Family visits

The theme of my 4 day visit with Nana and Grandfather was baseball!  The first night they came to my T-ball game with Luke. Then Saturday we went to Cole's baseball game. Finally Sunday we went to a AAA league baseball game between the Columbus Clippers and the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.  The Clippers won in dramatic 9th inning fashion after being behind the entire game.  During the game I ate popcorn, hotdogs, cotton candy and ice cream!  After the game was over they let the kids run the bases!!  I ran the entire big league bases twice and loved every second of it!  The Clippers are the farm team for the Indians but I still wore my Orioles T-ball shirt and hat.

 

 

Today Nana and Grandfather left and we drove up to Medina to visit my cousins Grace, Jason and Genna.  We had a great time playing with them and going to their community swimming pool.  I played in the kid section and did a big kid twisty slide a few times with Aunt Heather catching me when I landed in the water.  After visiting with them we went to see Cole's baseball game.  His team the A's have not won a game all season but were close several times.  Today was their playoff game (6th seed team) and they won!  They played great and won 20-17. Cole played his favorite position of catcher and made an out on defense and scored twice on offense.  It was almost as exciting as the Clipper game the night before!

Metro Park Explorer!

Super Park Explorers!

Looking at soil, bugs, worms, etc

Outside an old farm house

My explorer badge!

Since arriving in Ohio I have visited several of the local metro parks.  They have great programs almost everyday at the various parks around Columbus.  At the programs the naturalists teach us about things like: dirt, ants, water, wild animals, salamanders, and lots of other things in nature.  We usually get to read a book, do an art project and look around the woods or creeks for items.  I have been to enough programs now that I earned my Explorer badge!!  I am very proud of my badge, hopefully I can earn another one next year!

T-Ball

Batting Practice

Throwing and Catching practice

The actual game video - normally you only get to run one base at a time but I was up last so I got to run all the bases and get a home run!!

I really like T-Ball and will play it again next year. However, my next sport will be soccer this fall in Virginia.

Future Writers/Illustrators of America Club -- member total: 2

My big cousin Cole loves to color, draw and create his own books about superheros or nature.  Since I arrived in Ohio I have also written several books - four about superheros and one about volcanoes.   Today Cole wanted to actually print one of his books but the mommies explained copyright laws and said we would have to invent totally new superheros if we wanted to actually publish a book.   What came next will be comicbook lore once we are old and the adventures of Spikers and Bootman become cult classics!

Cole's book centers on a new superhero called "Spiker", his normal name is William Fire Johnston.  My book centers around two superheros - "Bootman" and "Hotman"

Cole and Spiker

Bootman - by Dexter

Spiker battling Archer - his nemesis! 

Cole is going to try and make some more pages for his book and then we will add words and publish it on blurb!  It is going to be awesome!!  I love making books.

Outdoor Explorer

Superheros keeping the forest safe

Exploring the creek - we found a frog, crayfish, salamander, snail and worm

Hiking the woods

On an old farm - petting a lamb

Every day we have outdoor activities - swimming, hikes, nature park programs, farms - you name it and we are doing it.  Heather has devised a jam packed summer for me and my cousins!

Swim class

Here I am (and Cole on the left) walking around the kid pool prior to class starting

Here I am actually participating in class!!  I am blowing bubbles while floating with my teacher!

 Playing on the fun slide

Me during the last class - It was really cold and I did not want to swim

One week down, one week to go of swim class.  Of the four lessons, I have done 1 complete class, 1/4 of another class and nothing in 2 classes.  The one day I went in the water and listened to the teacher was the nicest day outside - sun shinning and warm.  The other 3 classes were overcast and chilly (the water is heated, but still!).

I am not sure why I don't like class - perhaps I hate structure and listening to teachers?  We arrive 20 minutes before starts and I play nonstop in the water.  Doing slides, practicing kicking, walking all around the 2-3 feet deep pool - but as soon as the teachers say class is starting and get on the wall for class I get out and tell mommy I am done and I dont want to do it.  She has tried everything to get me in the water again - even going to the doughnut store or ice cream store as a reward but I refuse. 
Perhaps next week will be better? 

Super Safe

Captain America - Dexter & Robin - Luke

Flash

Superman

Captain America - Cole & Ironman - Dexter

Green Latern

Since arriving in Ohio I have played superhero many times.  My cousins have tons of costumes to play with!

Busy Friday

No pictures to show today but just wanted to tell you about my successful Friday.  At 9am I met with the builder to make sure all the final items were corrected - that went smooth and everything was fixed.  At 11am I went to the title company to sign the mountain of paperwork that goes with buying a new house.  Not only did I get to sign my name 100 times but I got to sign for Dan as well.  For Dan I had to write "Daniel R Karrels by Allison Karrels, his attorney in fact".  Then at 2pm I had a job interview for a part time PACU position at the hospital closest to our new house.  That went great, it seems like a nice place and I am sure I would enjoy it there.  Then at 4pm I met with a "wood artist" carpenter guy about building a window seat and bookcases in the playroom.  It was very busy but everything went great and now we are proud owners of an amazing new house.  I can't wait to actually live there in a few more weeks and finally show Dan the house in person when he arrives July 11th!