Mama's Big Birthday Weekend - September 26, 2019

It was a full birthday weekend...and my cup runneth over. I feel so blessed and loved spending lots of time with my boys and getting out to bike/walk. I received lots of love from family and friends with cards, phone calls, text messages, and FB messages...love reading all of them. And my Wild Goose Sisters celebrated with me Wednesday night.

My birthday was on Thursday and it started off with an awesome date night. Jon took me to the Andy Grammer concert at House of Blues with some friends. See photos in a previous post.

On Friday, Jon took the day off and we did the Bike Aboard which was on my bucket list to do together. Riding the train one way and biking back on the Towpath Trail. It was only supposed to be 3 miles but there was a detour and it was more like 4 miles and took us nearly 2 hours. See photos in a previous post.

This weekend our church had their Fall Festival. We checked out the band Friday night and got to see a friend from Kevin's music camp. On Saturday Kevin and I bike/walked over to church for the festival...an easy 1 mile there and 1 mile back, with lots of rest time in between. He enjoyed seeing our friends and listening to the music. He really enjoyed biking home as it started to get dark...he was smiling and laughing the entire way home. Yay, I finally got a photo of him smiling on his bike!

Sunday, we went on another bike/walk on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail at Station Road Bridge in Brecksville...but no train ride this time...and only 2.5 miles which took about an hour (avg.pace 25 min/mile). We Stopped by the church festival again for a short time and returned later for an outdoor evening Mass.

Hope we didn't overdo it with Kevin. I made sure I was stretching him and giving him some down time between all the bike rides. I'm not ready to go back to reality...especially when it includes a big cook day tomorrow.

Bike Aboard - September 27, 2019

I love where we live! We live near the Cuyahoga Valley National Park which offers lots of hiking trails and an all accessible Towpath Trail along the Ohio & Erie Canal (from Cleveland to Canton). The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad offers a Bike Aboard. Ride the train one direction and bike back to your starting point. I really wanted to do this with Kevin's new bike while we walk with him. Jon took a Friday off work so it would be less crowded than the weekend. We boarded the train at the Akron Northside station and got to ride the train a few miles to Big Bend. They unloaded Kevin's bike and we started what was supposed to be 3 miles back from Big Bend Trailhead to the Akron Northside Station where our car was parked. I thought this was a fair trek for Kevin and the first couple miles were very scenic on this new part of the towpath for us. But after we arrived at Memorial Parkway Trailhead there was a construction detour that led us through a neighborhood and added an extra mile or more onto our trek...which included 3 hills, one that was pretty steep. This is of course towards the end of the journey and so I helped Kevin by pushing him on his bike up the hills. My watch said that we walked/biked 4.28 miles and it took us 1 hour and 49 minutes (avg.pace 25 minute/mile). So I guess now we now know Kevin can bike longer distances...get ready kid!

Odd that we didn't take any photos during the two mile construction detour.

He did it...and we beat the train back LOL!

Jon and Kevin were wearing their 765 Steam Train t-shirts from last year's train ride with Grandee & Pap.
The steam train was in town again last Sunday and we got to see it pull out of the station.

Andy Grammer Concert - September 26, 2019

"Nah Nah Honey I'm Good" It's my birthday and Jon took me to see pop singer, Andy Grammer...second year in a row at House of Blues in Cleveland!!! I LOVE his music, he is so positive and upbeat and his performances have lots of energy and lots of fun. We went with our friends Carolyn and Jim who hadn't heard his music before and loved the show. My birthday wish is that Kevin will be able to see Andy Grammer, one of his favorites, in concert with us one day too. 

"I'm gonna be, I'm gonna be your always always"

Akron Zoo - September 25, 2019

Spending a fun day at the zoo with our friends 

Charlie (who also happens to be an amazing masseuse) and her son Catai. 

First Day of Dance Unlimited 2019-2020 - September 24, 2019

I had been feeling conflicted about Kevin continuing in the the first class time that is geared more toward the younger kiddos but the class time fit our schedule best. This year the first class is scheduled earlier and so we get to be in the second class but keep our same class time. Kevin was showing us some new moves after the spring recital...so I'd like to keep challenging him. He'll also get to be with some of the older kids in his class. I'll be collaborating with therapy to find some more ways to get him participating more this year.

Dance class is on Tuesday's at 4:15. Kevin has four hours of therapy and then gets a snack in the car during the half-hour drive to dance class. Then he has a long fast walk to get to class on time. Kevin looks a little tuckered out in his first day photo with Aaron...normally he's all smiles with Aaron. 

Miss Kellie's Dance Unlimited 4:15 Class

Last year's photo with Aaron...all smiles

Cleveland Indians Baseball Games

A couple nights of baseball with friends and family. 

September 2, 2019 with Neighbor Karen

September 22, 2019 with Aunt Jaye & Cousin Brandi & Family

Lion King - August 31, 2019

Kevin's first time to Playhouse Square to see his first Broadway Musical The Lion King. Some of my family got to join us with Jon's generous boss and family. I am so happy that Kevin can handle going to the the theater and got to enjoy one of his favorite musicals. Seven years ago, Jon and I went to see Lion King with my brother's family and it was my wish back then that one day we would be able to take Kevin. Kevin only started going to the movie theater three years ago. I kept trying to take him to small community theater's in our area but when the live actors were scared/mad/sad, Kevin would react and get upset...just like when he would react to a small child crying in church. This year, I noticed that Kevin was much less sensitive to these situations and when they announced Lion King was coming back to Cleveland...I knew we had to take him!