The first day was full of our son Cameron
showing off his model airplanes.
And some of us flying those planes in the park
across the street.
The next day we helped with the yard work
getting ready to BBQ in the garden.
Kelly cut the grass
while Nana cut Jacks hair
Arlo looks on...but no thanks
Kelly and Tina chat
Jack shows Bixby new games
While Cameron and Mike cook
Dani set the table
Bixby likes to snuggle with Arlo
We had after dinner fireworks,
a preview for 4th of July
We enjoyed cooking food in our turn of the century
historic house that we rented a few blocks
from our sons in Dayton.
And eating together on the back steps
Sitting on the front porch and enjoying the fireflies
on a walk around the historic.neighborhood
Dani likes doing the dishes
We enjoy the big sectional sofa
We went off to Hocking hills State park for a few days
hiking to the natural bridge.
The cabin we rented at Hocking hills
had its own hiking trail on its property.
We found vines to swing on
Even Nana had a swing on it.
And all this right in the cabins back yard
Too much fun
It was a wonderful cabin with its own pond
good fishing
The kids liked the sleeping loft
The back garden was good for relaxing and badminton
The garage was full of darts, pool table
and ping pong table
The BBQ was perfect for the sausages
The view from our bedroom window
as Mike and Cameron head out
for some early morning fishing
The evenings were full of games
We all had a chance to catch fish
Dani gets a fish
And so does Nana
and Jack
And after studying it for a while
Bixby decided to try
And is successful
And Danis second fish
A fire warmed us as we watched
the fireflies and made smores
Then into the hot tub for a soak
The kids serve us breakfast outside
We went into Hocking Hills State park the first day
that it was open after being closed for the Covid virus.
We followed red trail blaze for
Grandma Gatewoods trail through old mans cave
We had explored this trail with Arlo and Jack
6 years ago. Grandma Gatewood was one of my heroes.
She fought for the Appalachian trail and was the first
woman to hike it in one season, and then hike it twice
and she didnt begin to hike until she was in her late 60's
She is a legend in this area and this was her favorite trail
and she hiked it until she was in her 80's.
The last time we were there we had the caves to ourselves,
but this time it was crowded.
We enjoyed watching a group of Mennonites.
People were wading in the Devils
bathtub regardless of the signs.
It was more organized than our first visit,
but still worth seeing.
Its one of those places that feels magical
but doesnt show the best in photos.
Meanwhile at the cabin...
more pool and games
And squirt gun chases
And a steak dinner...enjoying Bessie the cow
We enjoyed that cabin so much
but it was time to return to Dayton
The big table at the rental was great for card games
Bixby taught Granddad new stuff on his phone
We tackled cleaning out Camerons garage
and setting it up for his plane models
But first we had to relocate a possum.
Kelly installed the airplane hangers
And Tina introduced the new kitten
A well deserved sit down
We took a break and visited the cemetery
where the Wright brothers are buried.
We also saw Erma Bombecks grave
A view of the city
We enjoyed some good time on that big couch
Ohio has these wonderful Metro Parks
and we explored one of them.
Exploring a creek area we found
numerous shell and coral fossils,
proving that Ohio was once ocean.
Kelly and Arlo found 3
of these teeth..Dinosaur?
fossils were everywhere
Jack found the tiny frogs
A picnic lunch at the end
Aislinn found her tree to climb
At home we made pistachio sculptures.
Mikes dad used to do these.
Arlo builds a plane model
A storm rolls in and plenty of front porch time
A racoon visited us on the front porch in the evening
Fourth of July was crazy.
Fireworks going off everywhere
near and far over the city.
We had our own in the alley
Giant sparklers for everyone
Dayton is the birthplace of flight
so we went downtown to the
Five Rivers Metro Park.
Fountain go off every hour into the river
Cameron and Tina could locate their house on the map
We stand under the fountain
Tina loaned Mike a guitar
We celebrate 4 birthdays...
Mike, Arlo, Jack and Aislinn
Arlo bakes one of the cakes
Tina baked another,
Jack made the icing
We pulled English party crackers
And played with the toys inside
We all put on our party hats
Then it was our last day
Time for the last game of cards
A last trip across the road to the park
and discover some cool wood scultures
and a cicada molt
And its our last day
Cousins horse around
Father and son share a joke
Cameron shows Mike his next plane project
Kelly cooks a last breakfast
We play with Arlos small cards
A last sit on the porch
And a game of UNO
And its goodbye...till next time
Mike plays his flying game as we fly home
A wonderful visit with a terrific family.
