Monday, September 14, 2015

Labor Day in Dayton

We have established that three day weekends are my jam...so it probably goes without saying that I was really looking forward to Labor Day weekend! So much so, that I took off work on Friday to make it a four day weekend!  We started the weekend off right with some sprinkle donuts from Krispy Kreme (of course). Then, Max became my little shopping buddy as we went from Buy Buy Baby, to Nordstroms, and even Anthropologie.  (It's kind of wild, but he's actually better behaved one on one than he is with both Rob and I both around). 


Around nap time, Auntie Stacy and Penny (her new doggy that Max LOVES) picked us up and we drove to Dayton.  Papa Rob was originally going to come on Sunday because his fantasy football draft was Saturday evening, but then he decided to also work Monday (and save his holiday) - so we certainly missed him but we didn't let that stop us from having fun too!


We did some adventuring over to the local sunflower patch on Yankee Street. 
We've been there several times now...and while Max loved cavorting around 
the rows and rows of sunflowers, he was like N-O- when it actually came
time to try and take a picture. (See pouty face below). 
We capped off Friday night by heading to Chick-fil-A for 
some nuggies and indoor playgroud time, which Max did not hate. 


Saturday morning dawned (bright and early at 6:45 when Max started
trying to take his clothes off in bed because I always insist that he change his clothes before we go downstairs and start the day at our house).  What a mean mom. 
We played and ate breakfast and watched some Jake and the Neverland Pirates.


And then we drove down to the Greene (local mall) for some shopping. 
Max lasted about three minutes "shopping" before I decided to just save money
and take him to the free fountains/splash pad.  He didn't complain. 
In fact, we put his swim suit on in record time and he was off.


I don't know if it's because it's the end of summer and he finally
gets that sprinklers and splash pads are fun....or if he just 
decided to not be afraid anymore - but man, he loved it!
He was SOAKING wet, running in and out of the fountains, 
stepping on them and giggling when the water would squirt back up, 
dodging in and around...it was so much fun to see!
I was laughing and smiling the whole time because
he was just having so much fun. We even made one trip 
to the potty and I thought he would want to be finished but no, 
he wanted to go back for more!


He sought solace in a snow cone after I made him come
out of the splash pad.  It was his first snow cone and while
it got everywhere - like dripping down both our legs - he 
enjoyed every last bite/slurp of it. 


Saturday evening rolled around and we decided to hit up an old classic. 
Alter Fest.  This festival is put on by my old high school - and it proved 
to be tons of fun too!  Having just been to a festival the weekend before, 
Max was kind of a pro.  He still loved the slide - only this time he went on
the burlap sack all by himself - while holding our hand.  (Although - he went
once with Grandpa and nearly left Grandpa in the dust!)


He was tall enough to ride the motor cars alone too!
He waved every time he drove by - and it was so freaking cute. 


He needed an assist on the elephant - but didn't seem to mind too much.  
I think he's mid wave in the above picture. Or he's shouting "we're going up!"


There was also a fun house/obstacle course/slide thing - 
that I asked/forced Grandmim into going on with him the first time. 
Then Grandmim let him go alone the second time (much to all of our
chagrin because he looked so small in it).  She "only had one ticket
left" - so, what's a mim to do?  Have him go it alone, I suppose. 
But he emerged and managed the whole thing and slid
down the big slide backwards and his belly. What a goof!


His final stunt for the evening was going on the "Frog Hopper". 
I swear he only passed the height requirement on this one 
because his curls were extra fluffy from the humidity. 
I was kind of terrified to let him do this - only because it operates 
much like the Tower of Terror - where in the ride goes up and then free falls for a bit
and then bounces back up and free falls for a bit and bounces back up - which
was enough to give me a heart attack. But, in true Max "no fear" fashion - he loved it. 

Not pictured at Alter Fest includes - all the tickets we spent at Plinko, 
Duck Pond, Pick a Mailbox, Ring Toss, and Ball Roll. Max participated
in all of these "games" and even though he won prizes, was more than 
happy to take the consolation prize of a Dum Dum sucker over
everything else. 

Sunday - another day, another splash pad.  I swear this kid lives the life. 
I was grateful for this pad at the Polen Farm though because it was
a super hot day.  Max (again) wasted no time getting right in there. 


Only after he was soaking wet did he tell me that he 
needed to go to the bathroom and demanded that I carry him.
So I did. And I had a huge wet spot on my shirt to prove it. 
The things we do, right? My favorite part of this one was
watching him go under the arch way of water that had
spray coming out in all directions.  He ran under that probably 
twenty five times. 


After we got home (Grandpa took us on a little
side trip through the drive through at McDonalds - 
and Max enjoyed an enormous chocolate chip cookie and Mama had an enormous diet coke)            - we settled in for a little nap time/relax time! And after nap - it was time to hit 
the Deer Run pool! 

Here again - Max was much braver with the water. 
He liked jumping in - and then would tell us exactly who he wanted to 
jump in with. I surprised everyone by actually getting in myself 
and going all the way under.  (I never like to get my hair wet
because the chlorine just reeks havoc on my hair). 
He also loved to fill up the "squirters" and ride on the noodles. 


Finally it was Monday - Labor Day!  
Max, Mims, and Mama went to the Kettering
Holiday at Home parade to celebrate!  Grandpa dropped us off
not to far from where the parade started and we were able to carry
our chairs over and get decent seats. Max sat mostly on my lap - content
to eat his combos and drink his water - while narrating what came by.


He was enamored with the "really tall bicycles" (unicycles)
and the ice cream cone that was walking down the street 
(I think it was a costumed character). 
He also liked the "little bitty bus" - and all the motorcycles. 
And he would tell you that he saw "two horses" 
(even though we saw way more than that). 


Shout out to my High School - Alter - working that brown and gold. 


Shout out to the Shriners who basically brought every
car, truck, float, bicycle, scooter, mini-corvette they 
owned and put on a real good show! 


Oh, and also the pizza king - because I mean, 
what parade doesn't have a pizza king?

Back at the homefront - we had to cool off - so back to the 
pool we went! And there were no complaints from anyone. 
(I though there might be from Max, because he had just settled in to
watch some Arthur (his new favorite show) but then Titi 
distracted him with the promise of taking Penny potty and
it was all good). 



After everyone was properly tired out - we all took naps 
and had our labor day feast :)
Special thanks to my parents and sister - who really
helped me all weekend long with keeping Max 
occupied and happy! I'm sure you can't wait until our next 
long weekend together ;)

Until then...
xoxo

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