Stuff to ponder

Ben breaks a arm. Leg expected to follow soon :)

Sun, 1 Feb 2009 14:49:43 -0500

Once again our super-boy exceeded our expectations and beat Maddie out for our first ever trip to the emergency room for a kid. Grandma was watching the kids and playing a movie for Ben to watch. I guess the movie was so enthralling that he lost track of where he was (on a chair) and he further seems to have lost track of the whole gravity thing we have going on here. So - off he fell - and off we we went... One screamin x-ray later the doc confirmed a hairline fracture. One more screaming fit later and the new green cast was on. He slept on the way home from the doctor (a dose of Tylenol and Motrin helped) but wakin up this child was not a happy experience. So into the house comes Dad with a crying Ben... Well - that set off grandma who was already feeling bad.

In the end all was cured by a good old fashioned remedy... French Fries! As soon as he’d had a few of them - we had a new boy. That’s when we took these pictures. The following Friday we’ve been back to the Doctor for the first followup and another x-ray (screaming included no extra charge.) As it stands now if He can manage not to break anything else we go back in two or three weeks and if this next x-ray shows the bone growing We’ll get the cast off and be back to abnormal...

Visit to Old Man’s Cave in the Hocking Hills.

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:38:13 -0400

Once again our normal drive north on St. Rt. 93 home from the farm is blocked by road construction so today on the way back to Columbus we decided to turn left on Rt. 56... In just a little while we came upon the Hocking Hills region and if you’ve ever visited and loved the Smokies you will know how wonderful this place is - albeit on a smaller scale. We stopped for a quick visit to Old Man’s Cave. If you have kids in a stroller, or a physically challenged person the main entrance and upper sections of the trails and around the visitors center are paved and almost flat for good accessibility. The trails into the gorge and cave areas are not good for very small children or those that are not sure of foot. Also there are man made cave passages in several places and if you any taller than say 5ft 11 inches be careful not to bump your head! In wet weather several places along the trails can be very slick. (experience from past visits it is dry as a bone there today!) There is a nice gift shop and concession stand at the visitors center if you need a snack. The restroom facilities again are pretty primitive in the outlying areas and I did not have the joy of visiting those in the visitor center - however which looked more modern (I wish I’d seen them first!) . There is a very nice picnic area and access to some other hiking trails.

Fairfield County Fair

Thu, 9 Oct 2008 12:04:53 -0400

The fall weather this year has been so good we could not resist taking the kids for a few hours at the 2008 Fair... Corn dogs for lunch followed by a Elephant ear... Life is good. Ben likes the tractors but not the cows or goats so much. Maddie just wants to touch (and chew on if allowed) pretty much anything she gets near. Afterwords played for awhile in Rising Park (next door to the fairgrounds) This beautiful park has a very very nice playground and is a all around great recreation area right next door.

Visit to Ash Cave in the Hocking Hills.

Sun, 5 Oct 2008 22:20:02 -0400

We normally drive north on St. Rt. 93 home form the farm but it’s closed for some sort of road repairs so today on the way we decided to turn left on Rt. 56 (there the Detour sign pointed right but you know how I am). In a few minuets we came upon the Hocking Hills region and if you’ve ever visited and loved the Smokies you will know how wonderful this place is - albeit on a vastly smaller scale. We stopped for a quick visit to Ash Cave. If you have kids in a stroller, or a physically challenged person the main entrance and trail to the cave are almost totally flat and well paved for good accessibility. The restroom facilities left quite a bit to be desired but allow one to accomplish the task at hand - I guess... There is extra parking across the road as well as a nice picnic shelter and access to some other hiking trails.

Lee and Jimmy’s Halloween Party

Sat, 4 Oct 2008 22:12:45 -0400

Today we were off to visit the farm to visit Lee and Jimmy for the yearly Halloween party for the kids. Dad ended up driving behind the hay wagon so sadly he did not get to do much visiting. But we got candy (which dad is enjoying!) and a few minutes to talk with Uncle Larry, Wanda, Abby, Lee Jimmy, Aunt Della, Kim, all the kids - man all the kids! Later a camp fire to roast marshmallows - can’t get any better...