I wanted to get some daily blogs up for vacation, or at least group a couple of days together, but first I need to backtrack to last week, where we were still in Florida. I would say we were enjoying the sunshine, but lets face it.. wherever I've been in the last two weeks, it's been raining. I am ready to see some sunshine already!
Monday July 1- Disney 4th of July!
Our fourth of July plans usually include going to see Disney fireworks on the Third of July. Since they set off the same fireworks, we avoid some of the crowds, and the late night driving on the fourth. However, this year Disney extended their fireworks to the whole first week of July! And so we headed out Monday night to see them, knowing we had a busy week ahead and the first worked the best.
Mom decided to take us out to dinner, and the boys were thrilled when she let them pick. They had wanted to eat at The Whispering Canyon Cafe in the Wilderness Lodge for awhile. We had hoped to get there for Celebration weekend, but it really was just too expensive.
We drove through the rain, and got there a little before our reservation, so we killed time playing all the games they had in the lobby. Hayden went right for the Giant Dominos, while Asa taught Calib how to play chess, and we got Peyton a happy birthday button.
The Canyon Cafe is a great place to take a group of boys. They are loud, and throw things (like napkins and straws), and when you ask for ketchup, all the ketchup in the restaurant is brought to your table. They even bring out the stick ponies to ride around the restaurant on.
The food is all you can eat, but served to you at your table. It was expansive and awesome. We had chicken, and steak, pulled pork and fish, barbecued ribs and smoked sausage. There there were baked beans, corn on the cob, and mashed potatoes. I loved the green beans, but everyone else was too enamored with all the other food to care. Hayden, I'm pretty sure, ate at least a loaf of cornbread himself.
Then there were the drinks. I, myself, just had water. But, Asa ordered a rootbeer and got half a gallon (literally) in a glass jar. The boys and mom got bottomless milkshakes. Hayden has 2 and a half, Peyton had three and a half, and I cut Calib off at four.
Of course there was desert too. A peach cobbler, a chocolate cake, and a cheesecake. All were good, but I really liked the cobbler and Mom and Asa really liked the cheesecake. The boys were too full to really have any.
And of course we mentioned Peyton was just a few hours away from turning 11, so he not only got a cupcake, but the whole restaurant sang to him while our waiter played the harmonica.
After dinner we went out to the lobby and debated what to do. It was raining, and raining hard. I wasn't sure if we should wait for the fireworks or not. We made ourselves comfy on the couches in front of the fire hoping the rain would stop.
Eventually it slowed down, and we still had time to kill, so we decided to go swimming in the (light) rain. I like to crash Disney pools in the hope of swimming in all of them one day, and this was another checked off my list.
After swimming we headed over to the Polynesian to watch the fireworks on the beach. The boys played in the sand and we waited for the fireworks, hoping it wouldn't rain.
About halfway through we used the towels from the pool to cover up and watched the fireworks in the rain, but it was totally worth it. Those fireworks are amazing.
Tuesday July 2- Peyton's 11th Birthday
We got home just before midnight, so we were all still up to wish Peyton happy birthday at midnight.
The next morning I got up and made his ice cream sandwich cake, since he isn't a fan of normal cake. And oh boy, have we found a new favorite. It's just ice cream sandwiches layered with cool whip and peanut butter cups, and drizzled with chocolate, but so good.
Then we had a birthday visit from our resident cranes, who have finally worked up the nerve to start pecking at the window. This does not please the dogs at all, however.
After lunch at Panera, we headed home for Presents (he got some fishing gear, a gaming headset and a new pair of goggles) and some video game playing time for Peyton, per his request.
An afternoon viewing of Monster's Inc, which was super cute. Not as good as the first, but totally respectable as a Disney movie. I really enjoyed it.
And then we were off to fish on the skyway pier, a new tradition for Peyton's birthday. We didn't catch anything, but we had lots of bites. And now that we have some poles, maybe we'll go out there more than just once a year.
We made it home in time for some cake while it was still his birthday. Overall, he was pretty happy with the day. The rain held off for fishing, and that was what he wanted to do the most. 
Wednesday July 3- Our Third of July Party
As our departure date approached, I was worried about getting everything packed, but still trying to procrastinate. I took Calib to get his ipod screen fixed and ran various errands before getting home to cook and clean for our annual fourth of july party a day early. It was a good time. Justin made wings, Tracy brought a cake.
We played some volleyball and the kids built card houses, while mom worked on the infamous wedding quilt.
Katie and Kevin ended up taking Deleno home, too. As they are babysitting him while we're gone. I think he's having a good time with them though.
All in all a successful night. I wanted to make sure we got that in, because we'd be gone the next three weeks
Thursday July 4- The Second Annual Waterstraut Olympics
Knowing that this was our last day at home, I wasn't sure how we'd end up spending the evening of the fourth. But one thing was for certain, it was time for the Second Annual Waterstraut Olympics.
Event 1: Water Jugs. I don't have any pictures from this event, as Asa and I threw sponges over our heads to kids waiting to catch the sponges in the milk jug catching mitts we had made during game week. I do, however, have pictures from the medal ceremony.
Event 2: Sponge Bob Wet Pants. Basically, see who can use a sponge to fill their glass on top of their head first.
Sponge Bob Wet Pants Medal Ceremony Results:
Event 3: Dunk Tank. Dunk yourself, or whatever you can in the buckets full of water, and use that to fill up your gallon jug. First one to fill their jug wins. Although, we got put on a rain delay for this one, and ended up declaring it complete because the order was pretty clear.
Dunk Tank Medal Ceremony Results:
Event 4: The Frozen Tshirt Contest. This is my favorite. So much fun to watch, and the only event we keep year to year. I freeze a shirt in a ziplock, and then the boys have to thaw it (not going inside for anything), and the first one to put it on wins.
After 19 minutes, Hayden had freed his shirt. He won for the second year in a row.
After 22 minutes, Peyton could put on his.
Calib never finished, but got the bronze anyway.
Final Medal Count:
Calib: 2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
Peyton: 1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze
Hayden: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze.
I spent the afternoon getting some things in order, while the boys went out to fish in the pond. Still no luck catching anything.
That night we had a cookout, did some sparklers, and watched all of our neighbors around the pond set off fireworks. And I finally packed.
Friday July 5- Day 1 of Vacation 2013; Departure Day
We got up early, said goodbye to Asa and the dogs and headed out on our 22 day vacation.
We spent most of our day driving, obviously. We left around 8:30, and with only a stop in Georgia at the awesome popcorn place, we made it to Clints by 6:30. It is handy that my brothers also live right off of 75 and make for a good halfway point to spend the night.
Clint may not have video games or cable, but after pizza for dinner the boys climbed the rock climbing wall he has in his garage, and then he pulled out the tight rope for them to try out.
Peyton was the only one who walked a step without holding on to anyway, but they all gave a good effort. Even mom tried it. I stayed away from it, I'm too terribly clumsy for something like that.
After the boys went with Jess to take Elemeno for a walk, watching a movie, and playing some games we headed off to bed, some of us in hammocks even.
Saturday July 6- Vacation Day 2; Get to Ohio Day
After breakfast at Clints, and saying our goodbyes, we headed off on our way to Fremont.
Peyton has a new lifetime goal. He wants to get to all the US Presidents graves. I told him I'd see what I could do, and after discovering 5 were in Ohio, and William Henry Harrison was just outside of Cincinnati, I thought we should make it a stop. So, in the rain (of course), we took a detour into Indiana (a new state for my kids!) and checked one off the list.
It was a neat little monument. We took lots of pictures and headed on our way. I had read it was one of the least impressive graves, but I thought it was nice. Later, when I saw others, I understood. I guess when you're only President for 32 days, you don't get the full Presidential Treatment.
When we arrived in Fremont a little after 5, we stopped by Chuds for some dinner. Asa knew I had arrived safe and sound when I texted him a picture of some Chud Spuds.
And so, here we are in Ohio. I'll be sure to update again soon, so you get to see all the fun we've been having. But it's late, and I'm tired, so it seems like a good place to stop. Until then, I leave you with the slugs the boys have deemed their new Ohio pets.
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