Two weeks ago I made my record fifth trip to Ohio in a year (only one more to go!) My sentimental brother Cort had decided somewhere a long the way that we should all have one last party at my grandma's house before it was sold. I claimed I wasn't coming (after all I had been there three times this year to clean the house out!) and I was Ohio-ed out. This party was the bane of my existence as I helped clean out the house, because there were many more items than I would have liked that had to stay put 'because we'll need them for the party'.
But when a date was finally set, I got a Facebook message from various cousins saying they were in depending on who was going. It was like an old Canadian standoff. Nobody wanted to commit until they knew who was going. I was in when Joanne said she'd come from PA, then Tim, Bridgette and Emily said they'd come from Seattle, and I found out Erin was coming from Oklahoma, and I was like... well, now I HAVE to go. (Plus, Clint was coming too, so I had that whole 'you can't deprive mom of having us all together at the same time' guilt.)
We actually got a killer deal on a flight, $103 roundtrip! Flight times were not ideal, but actually worked well with Asa's schedule. We left Friday as soon as he clocked out, and came home right when he had to clock in. Our neighbors kindly watched Ellie, Phenom, Porkchop, Maybel and Dipper- but Etta still has to go to the kennel, so Asa and I took her over to Pet Paradise on his lunch on Friday.
And after Asa clocked out, we headed to the airport. Here you'll see the rock, paper scissors tournament to see who gets the window seat on the plane, and who has to sit next to the stranger. Peyton won and chose the window, Asa lost and got the middle seat next to the stranger. But then, when we boarded, there was nobody in the window seat next to him. In fact for the first time in a long time we were on a flight only about half full. I guess thats what you get for taking a 9:30 pm flight on a Friday night out of Florida.
We got to my moms house between 2 am and 3 am on Saturday morning, and then headed up to Toledo to my grandma's around 10.
The 'Welcome Home' sign was in the door. Grandma put this up every time someone came back, and then wrote on the back each time it was up.
The idea behind this party was to celebrate all the holidays one more time- from Easter, to Christmas and everything in between. My mom and my aunts did an excellent job incorporating everything they could. I'm still not sure where they found Easter candy in September, but whatever.
Some holidays got a larger nod than others- things like Valentines Day and Saint Patrick's day got decorations, while things like Easter got a full on Ainsworth Easter Tradition (there were egg hunts & party potatoes!)
Of course, Christmas had the largest representation, including multiple Christmas outfits making an appearance (Clint & Cort said they didn't plan to both be wearing essentially the same thing). Worth noting: Emily even wore easter socks!
Clint brought Elemeno along for the trip- and the boys were excited to see him for sure!
My whole family was the first to arrive, so we took the opportunity to do our 'family tree picture', of which there are many throughout the years. We kept looking to the sky thinking we were about to get poured on, so the sooner we could do the tree picture, the better (we actually did end up dodging the rain on Saturday pretty good).
We did the obligatory kids picture, and the obligatory grandkids picture (complete with Elemeno).
And, then there was tree climbing.
Tim and Emily showed up shortly there after. I don't think I'd seen Emily
since their wedding! She used to be Peyton's pen pal way back when
we started home school so they have a bit of a special relationship. Peyton even gave her a hug, and if you know Peyton, you know how hug-adverse he is. She was surprised to see how tall he'd gotten. In fact, she was pretty surprised pretty much all of the kids in the next generation were now taller than her (welcome to my world, Emily!)
For lunch there was one more trip across the street to get Bambino's pizza. Everytime Peyton and I were up, Peyton would say 'this is the last time we'll have Bambinos'. Cort documented the whole event in pictures. (Holly went over because she was ALWAYS the one we sent to get pizza).
One thing my grandma taught her girls- make sure you ALWAYS have enough food.
Asa and I joked about how we needed a Bingo card of events that always occur when we're together. Joanne took this seriously and decided we had to make a Bingo card. So, she found some random piece of paper and we all sat around brainstorming what should be on the card.
So, we came up with all the squares, and decided instead of making us all a card, it would be a group effort. If you noticed something occurring, you'd shout bingo and get your initials in that square. We taped the card up to the wall and Asa kept track. (Fun fact: as I was leaving that night, I took it off the wall, and I'm going to frame it in the office (even with the pop spill on it). Also: We got almost all the squares.
My cousin Sarah showed up with her dog Butters just as we wrote 'dog arrives'. BINGO!
Butters had a nice time at the party, with plenty of people to give her pets.
It's not an Ainsworth get together without a cake and celebrating someone's birthday- whether it's been months since/till someone's birthday. Jessica turned 40 in July, so she was the natural choice.
We decided before it poured down rain we better go out to the backyard to hide Easter Eggs. We did this every Easter when I was a kid- it's the best back yard for hiding Easter eggs- and the tradition continued on to the next generation, though my kids hadn't been there for an Easter egg hunt since we moved to Florida.
We lined up all the 'kids' and let them loose by age. (Calib didn't seem all that interested in egg hunting until he found out there was money in the eggs- including one $20 bill egg!)
My mom moved into that house when she was in kindergarten, and her family quickly made friends with the family across the street- the Orwigs. Mrs. Orwig's house is also for sale now, so we like to think that two families will move in at the same time again and the whole cycle will start over again. Mrs. Orwig came over with her daughter Mary to watch the Easter egg hunt.
Funny enough, Calib found an egg that nobody hid- it was one that had never been found from years ago. Hayden found the $20 bill egg, so he was excited about that.
Obligatory cousin and spouses picture, except so many people were taking pictures, nobody is looking the same way ( 5 people taking the same picture- BINGO!)
After Easter, we had a visit with Santa! Santa always showed up to Christmas Eve celebrations for the Ainsworths, so the holiday theme wouldn't have been complete without him. (Although, I was under the impression Cort was going to be Santa, and I was totally there for that. He did end up with the Santa suit from the upstairs closet).
Santa threw out cookies and handed out a few gifts.
Those cookies had been made by Aunt Patti, Aunt Bonnie and mom and dished out into little gift bags for Santa to hand out. It was the last time the the dining room table would be covered in cookies for dishing out.
Santa also brought quilts for the kids, made out of grandmas clothes.
When my mom was in Florida for my birthday, we worked really hard to get the quilts made. We set up shop in my room and got out the card table for a sewing station. We cranked those puppies out, so Asa made us an appropriate sign for the bedroom door.
Mostly mom pinned and I sewed. But, we took ever available second (notice mom sewing in her swimsuit before a pool trip).
We did decide to tie the quilts instead of machine quilting them. It worked out pretty well and was much faster than quilting.
I, however, didn't help sew these quilts for any sort of accolades, so while Santa handed them out, I hid on the the stairs. There were a lot of people there (I think 49 was the count), so a bunch of us got relegated to the stairs anyway, because there was nowhere else to sit.
While we were all gathered on the stairs, we noticed Holly outside the window at the bottom of the stairs by the coolers. So naturally we decided to open up the window and turn it into a Margarita bar.
Holly got us all cups of ice, and Asa poured the drinks.
We were all totally disappointed it took us until our last trip to grandmas to realize what we were missing. We could have had a Margarita bar years ago, those coolers were always kept outside that window!
Perhaps grandma and grandpa knew of the Margarita window- because a whole slew of alcohol was found in the basement. Now, some of it you wanted nothing to do with. But, others were still totally drinkable.
Among the not drinkable was some 20 year old sparkling cider and 7 up from 1976.
While hanging out later, we suspected Uncle Warren was talking politics with Santa, so we sent Ray to spy and check it out. No dice, though.
Since Christmas was over, Clint was headed out - he had the longest drive ahead of him, so we took a group picture before he left. Many-a-group picture has been taking in front of this tree. We joked that we'll all show up once a year to take a picture in front of the tree after the house sells- we'll just hid it in the contract, the new owners will have no idea.
We all dispersed, and the boys said their goodbyes to Elemeno.
We had done our family tree picture earlier, but all the other families/configurations cycled through the tree for their pictures too.
For dinner we had a cookout, fun side note that Margarita window is also a good hot dog window.
Thanksgiving was represented at dinner, although subtly, with cranberries in the famous cranberry bowl.
We also decorated the christmas tree with a little piece of the chain that went on the tree every year.
And for dessert- there was Christmas cookies.
Christmas cookies that mom kept bringing around telling us to eat more. BINGO!
Kelley and Eric had missed our first field trip to the basement, because Griffin had a double header, so we had to show them the finds. We did decide against the brown sludge of champagne, upon Kelley's suggestion.
The kids meanwhile kept themselves busy with the making of a video. Apparently Gwen wrote a script while she was on vacation this summer in preparation.
In honor of grandma, we decided to hit the pinata with a cane, and Asa used an outdoor extension cord to hang it over a tree branch. You have to work with what you've got!
We also had an anniversary to celebrate- Aunt Patti & Uncle Emmett's 35th!
We ended the night with a nod to the 4th of July and sparklers!
I was lucky enough to be able to stay all weekend and spend some extra time with mostly everyone- but Erin had to get home to her kiddos, so I just got to see her at the party on Saturday. I was so glad she was able to make it even for just a short bit.
There was also a couple more items to be doled out, so Aunt Patti held a drawing for the last couple items.
We rounded out the evening telling stories and Emily showing us her waterproof paper.
Cort had to head home on Saturday night, so I knew there would be extra room at moms house, so I invited the Pekich's for a sleepover. It was nice to have a little more time to hang out with them.
We were going to Cedar Point on Sunday with anyone who was staying an extra day, so my cousin Jake (from the Sattler side of my family) came up late Saturday night to go with us on Sunday morning. It was a full house for breakfast the next morning.
Unfortunately, the weather didn't look like it was going to cooperate for the day at Cedar Point. The remnants from tropical storm Gordon had made it's way to Ohio (which was annoying because it derailed my labor day plans here at home- and now here it was derailing my weekend plans yet again!)
Joanne and Ray couldn't make it to Cedar Point, as they had a long drive back to PA. We were all ready to say our goodbye's when Henry declared he couldn't find the 'yellow bag' with his books and tablet in it. We all scoured the house. After quite a bit of searching, mom offered a reward of $5. Ray then found the bag- which turns out wasn't yellow at all, and was instead Christmas themed.
Once the 'yellow bag' was safely packed in the car, we said our goodbyes.
Also, that 1976 7up had somehow made it's way into the cup holder in Joanne's car.
Cedar Point didn't open until 11, and it was a little after noon by the time we made it there. We had the tickets, and no other day to use them- so we were going even in the rain and the wind.
Like, LOTS of wind.
Halloweekends hadn't officially started, but the park was ready and decorated for Halloween time.
Fittingly, the place was like a ghost town. I don't think in all my years working there I ever saw it that empty. It looked like I remember it when the park was closed.
Hayden walked right on all the spinny rides with no problem. In fact, most of the time he went on rides it was just him or him and a couple of other people.
Everyone else went off to ride some big roller coasters, so I stayed with Hayden and mom. Check out the wait at the Iron Dragon!
The Hannifins were staying until Monday so they could go to Cedar Point too. It wasn't too hard to meet up with them- since there was basically nobody in the park. Asa, Jake, Calib, and Peyton found them in line for Millennium Force.
It was the last day for the petting zoo, since it closes for Halloweekends. Hayden was glad it was still there to visit with the animals.
I enjoyed the cow that kept licking his little cow friend.
As we got to the back of the park, there were even fewer people. I think it took everyone all of 15 minutes to wait for Steel Vengeance.
Hayden wanted to go on the Mine Ride, because he likes the little coasters, so mom and I sent him up and told him we'd wait for him at the exit. He came back down and said they told him that they needed 10 people to run the roller coaster. We met back up with everyone, and we all agreed to go on the Mine Ride (even though it's terrible), so Hayden could ride it. Poor Bridgette had hit her limit on roller coasters, but went anyway 'for Hayden'.
There were only 9 of us, but they let us go anyway. We cheered the whole way, it had to be the most rowdy a Mine Ride car had been in years.
However, it was the Mine Ride guys who informed us the park was closing at 2 due to weather (I think it was because nobody was there!) We only had a 15 minute warning, so everyone ran to Millennium for one more ride. I met back up with Asa to take our obligatory Sneak Peek picture of where we first met each other.
Even though the day was cut short, we had a good time- and the tickets were only $25, so I feel like we got our money's worth in the two hours we were there. At least there weren't any lines, and we never got poured on!
Jake, however, nearly got pooped on. Maybe the seagull was aiming for his jersey.
Aunt Patti and Uncle Emmett were going to meet us for a picnic lunch at Cedar Point, but we called them and told them the park was closing- and they should just head to Fremont and we'd take the party there. I was hoping to nab some cheese fries and mini corn dogs, but they promptly closed everything at 2. By the time we got back to Fremont, we were all starving. But, in true Ainsworth fashion, mom and Aunt Patti magic-ed up a whole buffet of picnic foods.
And at least we were back in time to watch football. When we first decided to go, Calib was bummed it was week 1 of the NFL year, and we were going to miss it.
While the Bucs game obviously isn't televised in Ohio, we did get to watch the Browns not lose for the first time in over 600 days- with a Browns fan! Unfortunately for Jake, they didn't win either. But hey, at this point a tie is pretty much a win, right?
Jake headed out to visit with his parents, and we played some games with the Hannifins.
Aunt Patti and Uncle Emmett were headed out to New York to celebrate their anniversary, so we all sent them off on their trip.
We spent the evening with Tim, Emily and Bridgette playing games and watching football. Dinner, however, is apparently hard to come by late on a Sunday night in Fremont, Ohio. Plan C became AJ's Heavenly Pizza, which I hadn't had in like 25 years. I was talking about this big pizza we used to get for like sleepovers, and everyone was on board. I didn't know if it would be very good, or as big as I remembered (I was like 10!) But, it didn't disappoint.
It was around 11 when we said goodbye to the Hannifins. It was nice that I got to spend the extra time with them. They live in the opposite corner of the country, so I don't get to see them very often. We did talk of having Skype/Facetime dinner dates with them though!
We only slept a couple hours- because when you start counting backwards those 7 AM flights mean getting up in the middle of the night. We left Fremont about 4:15 AM, but we were back in Tampa before 10 and picking Etta up from the kennel. She was super excited to see us. While she ate her ice cream, she never came out of her kennel. They actually suggested we talk to the vet about anxiety medication for her while she's kenneled. They try and make it sound good, but all of her 'grades' on her report cards were the not so good ones.
Asa had to clock in as soon as we got home- so he decided to work from bed. Etta was pleased.
We had one day to recoup though, and then we were set for some visitors.
Next Up: Nate & Allison visit!
