Our Staycation

We took a week vacation in August, but decided to stay home to enjoy the fun right here in Cleveland. There are so many things to do around here, and our schedule was packed. It's amazing how much fun you can have in your own backyard.

We started our week at the zoo. 

Looking for elephants

Watching kangaroos - hop, hop, hop!

We got to feed a giraffe! Ainsley wanted to do it, but chickened out
at the last second, handed me the big lettuce leaf, and said,
"Mommy do it!"

Mommy & Ainsley, in front of the lion
(he's back there, you'll have to trust me)

We drove up to Lakeside for a day, with a quick stop at Marblehead. Ainsley loved the park and the water. We even had time for a little shopping and picked up Ainsley's very first Lakeside t-shirts.

Marblehead lighthouse

We spent a lot of time at the park.

Waiting for pizza

Ice cream for dessert. Wouldn't be a trip
to Lakeside without ice cream!

Ainsley is SO big!

Also wouldn't be Lakeside without boats

Daddy taught Ainsley how to get her shuffle on.

She had her very own stick, just her size.

She's a natural!

Just hanging around

Playing peek-a-boo behind a tree

Peek-a-doo!  (as Ainsley says)

Who could resist this sweet face?

Another day found us at Lake Farmpark, or as Ainsley calls it, the Animal Park. We saw horses, cows, pigs (a mommy & babies), sheep, goats, alpacas, and more.  Ainsley gets a little afraid of the animals, but she still loves to come here! There's also a great educational center where the kids can play and learn about how ice cream is made. 

Taking a rest by the goats

That's a big cow!

Riding the tractor

We heard good things about the Memphis Kiddie Park from several different people, so we thought we'd try it. Ainsley loved it!  It is just right for kids her age.

The merry-go-round was her absolute favorite
today. I think she asked to ride the horsies
at least 10 times.

On the boat

Our little peanut all by herself in the yellow cage.
She asked to ride, and she loved it!  Another little
boy didn't want to ride alone, but she wouldn't ride with him!
Poor little guy!

Ainsley & Daddy on the train
I love how you can see Ainsley's fancy jewelry here.

She also wanted to ride the roller coaster -
here they are, in motion!

And we finished the day on, you guessed it,
the horsies. This was her favorite horse,
because the elephant on the saddle looked
like Dumbo.

We spent another day close to home at Preston's Hope, a local park. It is huge, with a lot of buildings to run through and activities to do.

There is a sandbox near the place
where you learn about construction.

Ainsley's favorite building was the hair salon.
Grandma would be proud!

Driving outside the fire station

Playing at home in the pool

We enjoyed our fun family vacation, even though we didn't go very far. Seeing so much joy in Ainsley's face this week reminded us that the simple things in life truly are what bring the most happiness. And being happy and having fun together is what's most important, no matter where you are!  

Grandma & Papa's House!

Daddy had some busy days at work, so Ainsley & Mommy visited Grandma & Papa Molnar for a week. Everyone around us on the plane knew where we were going; Ainsley kept yelling, "Ama Papa hah!" (translation for those who do not speak 2-year-old: Grandma & Papa's house!)

We spent an afternoon in Port Washington at the Fish Day festival. We arrived just in time for the parade. We had a fish fry for lunch (what else?), listened to a small group from the University of Wisconsin marching band, and rode the merry-go-round.

Watching the parade

Dancing, always dancing

Ainsley wouldn't ride the horse because of a boo-boo
on her leg, so we sat on the bench.

We had some fun just hanging around the house.

Watching Mickey Mouse with all of her guys

Playing with Mommy's My Little Ponies

Running around on the patio

Grandma, Mommy & Ainsley spent an afternoon at Bay Beach in Green Bay, WI. Ainsley LOVED the rides that were just her size. She probably rode a few of them six times. It didn't take Ainsley long to start asking Grandma for another ticket each time she wanted to ride.

Miss Hollywood, driving the green bug

Driving the pink fire engine and ringing the bell

We were a little nervous to let Ainsley ride this one, since it went
pretty high, but she insisted. And she loved it!

Mommy wanted to ride the big slide and dragged Ainsley along.
Ainsley loved it and asked to ride again!

This little train drove right by Green Bay.

View of the bay from the train

Mommy & Ainsley on the Ferris Wheel. Ainsley asked to ride
this a second time, too. I can't believe she wasn't afraid!

Racing by! This car drove in and out as you turned the wheel.
She figured it out pretty fast.

The boats might have been her favorite -
Daddy would be so proud!

Having a snack at the end of the day

And a summer vacation wouldn't be complete without going to the beach & the park.

Bubble wand in one hand and PB&J in the other.
Life is good.

Ainsley still loves watermelon. 

Ainsley with Grandma & Papa

Bye-bye, Grandma & Papa!

Go Tribe!

This summer, we took Ainsley to her first baseball game - Cleveland Indians vs Tampa Bay Rays. Ainsley watched as the players threw the ball and caught the ball. And they ran so fast! Every time the crowd cheered, Ainsley joined in, clapping and yelling, "Go, go, go!"  She was very excited to cheer for the Indians.

In addition to the game itself, there were many other fun things to see. Ainsley loved the fireworks when the Indians came onto the field. She's an old pro with fireworks now... boom, boom, boom!

The hot dog race was pretty exciting, too. Who knew hot dogs could run around like that?!  We sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch. Ainsley waved her arms and cheered while we sang.

We stayed through seven full innings, and the Indians held onto their lead, winning 7-3.  What a fun summer evening at the ballpark!

Taking it all in

Enjoying a ballpark hot dog

Go, go, go!

Fourth of July

We spent the Fourth of July at Chez Wills West - Nana & Grandad Wills' house.  It was a fun day, but boy, was it hot!

We started out the morning at Bay Days for the kids' bike parade and some rides. Daddy decorated Ainsley's stroller with red, white and blue!

Waving her flag and waiting for the parade to start

Daddy pushing Ainsley in the parade

Ainsley with Daddy, Nana, & Grandad

With Mommy & Daddy

Ainsley wasn't as interested in the rides this time -
I think it was just too hot!

Ainsley & Nana marched home from Bay Days

Ainsley was playing in the backyard and started to climb in the pool fully clothed. There was just no time for bathing suits...this was a swimming emergency!  Did we mention how hot it was?!  So we stripped down to the diaper and jumped in!

Then Grandad got in, too!

He sure is fun!

This was the first year Ainsley was able to stay up for the fireworks. She learned at Big Girl School (a.k.a daycare) that fireworks go "Boom, boom, boom!" When the fireworks first started, Ainsley got a little nervous, but after just a few, she was captivated! With each one, Ainsley yelled out the color of the lights - green, blue, pink! So much fun!

Happy 4th of July!