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

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Every year the Zoo gives their employees free (if you can't tell by now, 

I'm all about the free!) tickets to a Columbus Clippers baseball game.  

Last year we decided to pass because Max was still so young, but 

this year since we have become a little (and I mean little) bit more carefree 

about Max's bedtime - we gave it a go!  

Basically, I got home from work and announced we were going to the baseball game.

We hyped up the popcorn and Max became pretty pumped! 

Getting down to the stadium was pretty easy and we arrived early

so we could walk around a bit and get our energy out.

The ticket person asked if this was Max's first baseball game

and we said yes, and he gave Max a baseball! 

Max was sort of unimpressed but gave the guy a high five

and in we went.

Max spied this bounce house within minutes of walking into the stadium. 

And, at a buck for three minutes of bouncing - it was kind of a no brainer. 

Plus, the gal running it could have cared less how long he bounced for

so he got the whole house to himself and bounced for more like ten minutes. #winning

Moving on from the bounce house we also found this baseball glove and bat structure. 

Max though it was perfect for climbing all over while simultaneously 

ignoring the mamarazzi.  

He was more than happy to oblige sticking his head through

the hole for this picture opp - and the next one too!

Now it was time for Mama's favorite part of a baseball game - the food!

We settled on hot dogs, nachos, a box of popcorn, a beer, and a dr. pepper for like 

a hundred dollars.  Okay, actually it was like $30 because baseball food isn't cheap. 

I'm sure Papa Rob would tell you his $10 beer tasted real good though because 

it was a hot night in Huntington Park. 

Max was pounding the popcorn, had his sippy cup in the cup holder on the seat, 

and was totally fascinated with the folding seat.  As in, he would slide off and the bottom

would spring back up.  And then, he would push it down, sit on it again, repeat x 100. 

He lost his mind (kind of) when we wouldn't buy him cotton candy. 

How did he even know he would like cotton candy, I have no idea?! 

The child next to us was chowing on it though - so maybe

Max just had a touch of food envy. And dang it if those

cotton candy vendors don't just keep walking up and down the aisles! 

For the love it was so hard to distract him when they are coming around

every five seconds. Eventually, Papa Rob took him back to the bounce house

for round two. 

We lasted through three innings (the first inning took FOR-EV-ER).

It was about 8:30 when we left (look at us - such schedule breakers!).

Max kept saying "it's dark out mommy".  We made our way back to the 

parking garage and he stayed awake the whole ride home!  (It may have been 

the fact that I let him have an ice cream cone just ten minutes beforehand.  I thought we would share it, but Max be like nope and only let Papa Rob and I take some bites

at the end when it was melting all over him.  Like literally, we went through twenty wipes). 

I would call this a success!  Next time, I would bring more cash, 

more wipes, and spring for the cotton candy!

XoXO

Around Here

What's that you say?  You were curious what we've been up to these last two weeks?

Well jazz hands or slow clap (whatever your preference) because I'm about to e-walk you through the last two weeks in the Hauck house.

 

 

Well, we've been to a lot of parks...trying to soak up the last of summer.

When we go to the park, Max always insists on his sunnies (usually the green pair,

but he will accept the blue pair as well since the red pair bit the dust).

 

"Train park" - also known as "library park" has (wouldn't you know)

a library on one side of the parking lot.  Mama finally got smart and got

a library card so we could pick out some books each time we went...but

wouldn't you know Max just goes straight for the I-pads.

 

We've been trying to use our grill more (so we don't have to turn

on the oven or the stove) which means we've been eating a lot of hot dogs, hamburgers,

grilled chicken, and brats - which always pair well with mac and cheese!

Max also now demands the bun too with his hot dog but never

actually wants to eat them together.

 

The above shot is from our other favorite library,

called "North West Library" - and Max likes it here

because I let him put the books in the return slot.

 

This airplane has been getting a lot of action recently too

(pictured above).  Max finally understands that you have

to put your feet up for it to go anywhere.  He also likes

to ask me, "what this button do mommy?" - even though

he 100% knows that it makes the propeller go around.

 

We three Haucks have also been having a lot of Mexican food!

Tacos, enchiladas, beans and rice - we like it all!

Max is also holding up a knife (#parentsoftheyear) but

that's mostly because he likes to try and cut his own food now-

which is simultaneously cute and painful to watch.

 

We made a pretty epic trip to Trader Joes. For once they had

a small cart for him to push. He nearly took out all ten of the other

customers that day, but man if he didn't look cute.  He wore

his sunglasses the whole time. He also insisted on putting everything

we were purchasing in the cart, ALL BY MYSELF MOMMY!

Then, we went to pay and he wanted to take each item out,

all on his own - one by one. The cashier, thankfully, was super

nice.  He said, "I like your Thomas shirt, buddy" and Max said, "fanks". (Thanks).

He was literally so well behaved (minus the rogue cart driving which I

attribute to building gross motor skills) - that I would take him back in a heart beat.

 

Family picture!  We took literally 75 to get this one little gem.

 

The bedtime routine is still in effect.  It goes something like,

coerce Max upstairs.  Read three or four books, take off clothes,

run to the bathroom, brush teeth (mommy brushes too), get in bath,

fuss for a bit, then finally sit down and play, play some more,

convince him to get out, put on pajamas, sit on mommy's lap while

Daddy reads two stories, one last trip to the bathroom, prayers with mama,

and put in crib.  Typing that seemed exhausting but really it's not too bad.

He used to try all these stall tactics until we let him cry it out

for a good long time.  Now he usually only asks for Rob one more time

and he requests the door be open.

 

 

Just like his daddy, Max loves puzzles!  He

got this farm floor puzzle from Auntie Stacy awhile back

but has recently really been getting into it.  He likes to point

out the cat that looks like Pecan and the silo.

 

We went to the Saint Joan of Arc festival (it's the church we belong to)

last weekend. All week leading up to it - Max would say, "I want to go

to the vegetable church" and Rob and I would look at each other

very confused.  It finally dawned on us that "vegetable" meant "festival".

He wanted to go to the festival at the church.  We had a really good laugh at

that one.  We loved it!  He rode the slide, train, flying dinosaurs, and jeeps.

We also won two goldfish (though one has since passed. RIP fish).

It was so much fun, we went again on Saturday with friends!

 

Last Saturday we spent some time at the park with Auntie Stacy

and then we went to the "nuggie store" (Wendy's) and had lunch

at her house. Max kept thinking her dog Penny was going to

eat his nuggies and cupcake.  It was hysterical.  Max also

thought it was funny that Penny could touch his toes with her

nose (because she can fit under the table and his feet just dangle

from the high chair). Max also loves the Legos at Titi's house!

 

We got a double dose of fun with Titi on Sunday too!

We went to the Zoo in the morning (just through North America

and Heart of Africa).  Max rode the camel (he said "I'm up high Mommy!"

and "look at me Titi, I'm on camel").  He also fed the giraffes and

pretended to drive the airplane.

 

We finished out the weekend with some fun at the Plain Townhip pool

by Auntie Stacy's house.  What a gem!  It's got an awesome splash

pad and then huge pool (with two adult water slides).  You can go for

$5 and children 2 and under are free after 4 PM on Sundays.  Max

loved the splash pad and jumping off the side of the big pool.

We had to leave after only an hour though because someone

(thankfully not us) had an accident in the pool so it was going to close.

 

TGIF...Friyay...and see ya back here real soon!

Xoxo