Video Walking up Blowing Rock, NC - October 18, 2019

Jungle Book at Playhouse Square - October 27, 2019

We went to a sensory-friendly performance at Playhouse Square of a children's theater performance of the Jungle Book. This was Kevin's first favorite movie and music and we were looking forward to seeing it after seeing the Lion King Broadway performance in August. The Jungle Book performance was different than we expected because it was not the Disney version with all the fun songs that we love so much. But it was another successful opportunity to take Kevin to the theater and share the outing with Grandma, Aunt Sarah, and cousin Ethan. We had fun afterwards at Hofbräuhaus, the German restaurant....the music was better for sure!

Happy Halloween 2019

Moan's (Maui) SharkHead

I came up with this idea because we had the Shark-Head hat from Kevin's spring dance recital costume. It was super simple easy and Moana is one of Kevin's top favorite movies & music.

Kevin wore it to his therapy sessions at KidsLink before going to his Dance Unlimited halloween class. And again on Halloween day to his new Cuyahoga Falls Park & Rec adapted classes.

Aaron and Kevin switch "hats", probably because Kevin's shark hat
kept bumping Aaron in the face as Kevin's head bobbed back and forth.
Love the receding hairline. 

Happy Birthday Ryland!

SharkHead Dancers

North Carolina/ Carroll Family - October 17-20, 2019

The Ohio family took a trip to visit the North Carolina family. My mother-in-law's brothers and sisters and their families. The family lives in Hudson, "a small town in the foothills of the western part of the state with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Grandfather Mountain". It's been about five years or more since we visited. Her sister, Dryna who lives in Georgia was coming into town for her high school reunion and so we all planned a trip to visit.

Thursday - Grandma traveled with us and gave us and Kevin some good company on the car ride. I told her I was jealous of the 2 small bags she packed. We travel with everything but the kitchen sink...literally! All of Kevin's meals and snacks for 4 days, a 5 gallon cooler filled with water, dishes, spoons, cutting board, knife, etc. etc. etc. After we arrived, we met Grandma's twin brother and wife for dinner.

Friday - we met Jon's brother's family in the hotel lobby for breakfast. We all went to The Blowing Rock together, it was a very fun and gorgeous day! 

"Blowing Rock is a village in western North Carolina on scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s named after The Blowing Rock, a formation with sweeping views of peaks, forests and the Johns River Gorge."

After lunch, our car with Grandma decided to check out a walking trail nearby around Price Lake. It was a 2.3 mile loop and Kevin made us proud by walking the whole way. It was labeled as easy because there were no hills but it had uneven terrain and a little bit of an obstacle at the end of the trail. Kevin did great! He keeps surprising me and I love all our family adventures. 

Some of the obstacles

We did it!

We met some of the family for dinner at the local fish house for dinner that night. Table for 12 please with onion ring-shaped hush puppies. Kevin and cousin Ethan were entertaining as we waited for our table. 

Saturday morning - Kevin and his cousin Ethan and I went swimming in the hotel's (cool) indoor swimming pool. Jon and I took a hike at Lakeside Park with a 2+ mile trail around a lake in the red dirt. 

Saturday afternoon/evening - We gathered at Uncle Butch and Aunt Linda's house with all the family. The weather was a bit chilly and kept threatening to rain but held off mostly so we could enjoy Uncle Butch & Aunt Linda's beautiful multi-level deck with gazebo and stay warm by the fireplace. It was so nice to see everyone, especially the youngest generation of kids that we had not met yet or who had grown up since last seen. We missed seeing the cousins, spouses, and kids that weren't able to be with us that day. So grateful for this opportunity to gather with the family. 

Aunts & Uncles: Aunt Dryna & Uncle Eddie, Aunt Kathy & Uncle Kim, Uncle Butch & Aunt Linda, Jackie, Aunt Laura, Uncle Joel (& Aunt Kathy)

Cousins: Douglas & Shea (Andrew & Charlotte), David (Baby Arlo), Monica & Neal (Ava), Alison (Emma), Ryan & Emily (Zoey), Ron & Sarah (Ethan), Jon & Karen (Kevin)

Carroll Brothers and Sisters

with spouses

Carroll Cousins

with spouses

The Kids

Kevin hanging out with Uncle Butch
on his fabulous deck by the fireplace

Kevin and Grandma with Aunt Linda

Uncle Butch doing his best to introduce all the family members

The boys liked hanging out in Grandma's hotel room. And Kevin liked his cousin's iPad!