Tag Archives: new albany classic

September 25, 2016

img_9324Look who got to bring home the class mascot this week! Finn was so excited to bring home Tony the Tiger from his class. We had an action packed weekend weekend and Tony was able to join us on our adventures!

Tony’s first adventure was to help Finn make dinosaur fossils with Debbie and Sam. It looked like quite a fun baking experience. img_9326 img_9328Next up was a bike ride through our neighborhood followed by ice cream at Graeters and plenty of snuggles. Yum!img_9331 img_9333 img_9337On Saturday we went on a road trip to pick apples at Apple Hill with Mom and Dad. It was a warm and sunny afternoon, a perfect day to be outside! And once again, Lily was able to join us. This girl is getting to be pretty spoiled!img_9340 img_9341 img_9345 img_9346 img_9352 img_9354 img_9359 img_9361 img_9367 img_9376 img_9387 img_9381 img_9397 img_9399 img_9403 img_9407 img_9412 img_9417 img_9419Afterwards we decided on a whim to stop for dinner at the Buckeye Diner, which is just off Rt 97 exit of 71. The restaurant is an old train that has been converted to a diner. We all had burgers and fries and played around a bit outside before heading home. img_9427 img_9435 img_9438 img_9441Sunday was yet another beautiful day and our adventures took us to our annual trip to the New Albany Classic. It was WARM and sunny. The layout was a bit different this year so all of the inflatables were in the sunshine, which made it nice yet very hot! Tony the Tiger got to meet princesses and see some horse-jumping. One of Finn’s favorite parts was new this year. They had a Hollywood exhibit that showcased costumes and apparel from movies and shows. Batman, Spiderman, Ironman and many other characters outfits were there. The plants in this exhibit looked really cool this year, most of them were from Millcreek!img_9457 img_9458 img_9462 img_9464 img_9468 img_9470 img_9472 img_9478 img_9481 img_9484 img_9499 img_9505 img_9509 img_9510 img_9517And here are a few others from our week. Finn is getting to be really great using a knife for cutting. Here he wanted to help me cut onions for dinner and he did a fine job. Finn, Debbie, and Sam also ventured to Highbanks Metro Park this week where they explored nature and got their feet wet! And they made yummy pumpkin sugar-cookie cut-outs!img_9323 img_9321 img_9318 img_9315 img_9314

September 20, 2015

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This boy. He just warms my heart. He is growing so quickly and his personality is so vibrant. He is loving and affectionate often saying “bless you mom” after a sneeze or giving the best hugs and kisses.  He’s a great caretaker. He loves Lily and Cameron and always notices when they need some water and is the first to want to fill it up “by myself”. Cammie has been having some bowel issues lately and he talks to her so sweetly and gives her hugs and tells her he hopes the medicine makes her feel better. Then there is his spunky side, full of show and entertainment. He can hit the switch and make people giggle like none other. His  personality shines through in some of the photos from this week when we visited the New Albany Classic on a beautiful fall afternoon. It was perfect weather to be outside and enjoy the many kids activities. The horses are amazingly beautiful and strong animals. I often wonder what it would be like to have a horse and wish we had some land to have one. Other days I think I’m crazy for thinking that, but most days, it’s wishing we had a lot of land, a barn, and lots of different animals. Finn has such a heart for animals. He loves looking at them and petting them too.

I’ve been taking Monday’s off for the last several weeks and it has been really nice being able to take Finn to pre-school and pick him up. He’s doing really well at drop off, going right into his room. He’s been wearing big boy underwear too and using the potty that is connected to his classroom. Every day he comes home with art work and he beams with pride, usually, about what he made. A few times afterwards we’ve gone into the worship room and he’s run around playing ball. IMG_20150916_130830583 IMG_20150916_130903431

We had some mid-week fun downtown at the Slice of Columbus, the yearly fundraiser for Nationwide Children’s that is held downtown at the Columbus Commons. Finn was a great age this year to play in the bounce houses, go down the big slide, and make his own “pizza” to take home. It was another beautiful night of weather and lots of yummy pizza.

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Oh, and a pouty face for a bit too – as he didn’t want to sit down and eat anything, he just wanted to play all the games.
IMG_20150916_191543162 IMG_20150916_202109961 IMG_20150917_195751710Look at the beautiful skies on the afternoon of the New Albany Classic! 
DSC_0050One of Finn’s favorite parts are petting the animals they have in the petting area. However, this year the horse had a big sneeze of sorts and Finn didn’t want near him after that – as he didn’t want to get any boogies on himself from the horse, lol!DSC_0019DSC_0025DSC_0026DSC_0030DSC_0031DSC_0039DSC_0043These next photos are all the same play structure – it’s like a big maze with a lot of challenges.  Finn was excited to do it, and during certain parts where he was apprehensive the worker guy went through it with him.  Check out his face once he comes down the slide – beaming and doing the happy dance!DSC_0052DSC_0054DSC_0057DSC_0058DSC_0064DSC_0066DSC_0071DSC_0073This year there were flag-bearing sky-divers that were a part of the opening ceremonies for the horse-jumping event. It was really cool, and the American Flag was huge!DSC_0080DSC_0083DSC_0087DSC_0089DSC_0092DSC_0094DSC_0096My pictures don’t do the horses justice. They are strong and beautiful animals!DSC_0103DSC_0105DSC_0109DSC_0114DSC_0115DSC_0119DSC_0121DSC_0123DSC_0124DSC_0125DSC_0126DSC_0134DSC_0113DSC_0111And here the cousins are having some fun, check out Greta’s giggle face and Finn’s bear hug!DSC_0140DSC_0143DSC_0153And these days we see lots and lots of this. Finn is always on the move, running and usually carrying a ball. He has the cutest football run when he crouches down and throws his legs in a funny way. DSC_0156DSC_0158DSC_0160DSC_0161Later that afternoon we headed to Enon to celebrate Grandma Armstrong’s birthday at Brett and Missy’s house. We enjoyed a delicious mexican dinner that Missy prepared and some more time outside playing soccer with Grandpa. And of course, cuddles with Grandma and play time with Babou!DSC_0163DSC_0164DSC_0168DSC_0169DSC_0171

September 21, 2014

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We’ve had a fun week in the Armstrong house!  Tuesday was Griffin’s 18 month birthday! Wow. I can’t believe it. I thought it would be fun to do something to celebrate his half birthday so we made chocolate cupcakes together and then indulged in one before dinner 🙂 Finn taste tested the batter before baking, he approved with a “mmm”. DSC_0128DSC_0129DSC_0133DSC_0142DSC_0146DSC_0147DSC_0149DSC_0153DSC_0161DSC_0163Tractors are all the rage for Finn lately. He wakes up and first thing in the morning says “tak-tah” and wants to hold the one from his bookshelf (that isn’t a toy!). Kevin mowed the yard one evening and Finn just wanted to watch the entire time. He even went and retrieved his farm tractor with animals to have with him while he watched from the window. DSC_0176 DSC_0171 DSC_0184Another of our family favorites is pizza, and this week was Slice of Columbus, held downtown at the Columbus Commons. It was a beautiful fall night to be outside and enjoy (way too much) pizza from many places around Columbus. The proceeds benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital and this year there were TONS of people, though the lines moved fairly quickly all things considered! Finn also enjoyed dancing and riding the carousel. DSC_0186 DSC_0188 DSC_0203 DSC_0190 DSC_0217Griffin’s 18 month checkup was on Friday, and he checked out great! He weights 23 pounds, 14.5 ounces (46th percentile), is 32.25″ tall (44th percentile), and his head circumference is 48 cm (68th percentile). His growth charts look super and he surpasses the targeted marks for development, walking, talking, and so on. He got one shot, which he watched, and didn’t even cry! To enjoy the day afterward, he and I headed to the Zoo for a brief visit. Of course, within an hour of the doctor mentioning the biggest area of concern for kids his age is safety  (as they do everything more – run faster, climb higher, etc) Finn got a nice bruise/scrape on his face during our afternoon adventure. He slipped off the running board of the Jeep that the kids can climb on in the Heart of Africa, all while I was holding his hand and standing right behind him.  Ugh! You’ll see he has a little shiner to show for it! But he’s a tough cookie and doesn’t seem bothered after the original incident.  He is beginning to adventure away from us and into crowds of kids. He kind of watches and observes what is going on and then after a short bit looks around to find us and usually walks over to check in before heading back. It’s cute!DSC_0236DSC_0233DSC_0238Saturday we headed to Lynd’s Fruit Farm for the second year to pick apples. Last year Kevin, Finn, and I headed out on a solo venture, this year we went with some friends in a play group. It was lots of fun, full of climbing on tall hills, riding the barrel train (twice for Finn, all by himself!), and a wagon ride around the apple farm. Then we picked more apples than we’ll know what to do with – I think it was a peck! I’m gonna be looking into making some applesauce I do believe!DSC_0241 DSC_0245 DSC_0252 DSC_0256 DSC_0259 DSC_0261 DSC_0263 DSC_0266 DSC_0268 DSC_0274 DSC_0280 DSC_0289 DSC_0291 DSC_0292 DSC_0298 DSC_0299 DSC_0301 DSC_0303 DSC_0307 DSC_0309 DSC_0310 DSC_0314 DSC_0317 DSC_0319 DSC_0321 DSC_0323 DSC_0326 IMG_20140920_123041819_HDR DSC_0330 DSC_0331 DSC_0358DSC_0361Next up we headed to Enon, where we had tasty pizza and cake at Brett & Missy’s to celebrate Pat’s birthday! We spent time outside and in their screened porch, it was such a nice afternoon! Finn, in particular, loved playing in the sand he found in the backyard. And the yellow ball, of course, was his favorite of the three he was playing with. Everything is “wellow”. DSC_0379 DSC_0399 DSC_0394 DSC_0383 DSC_0384 DSC_0377 DSC_0385 DSC_0367 DSC_0363Sunday was the Family Fun Day at the New Albany Classic. We enjoyed a few hours after church walking around, petting the horses, donkeys, llama’s, and bunnys and watching a pig race. We watched the horse jumping for a short bit too, Finn wasn’t too interested in sitting for long. The plants that decorate the jumps (on the grass) are rented from Millcreek for the event – so I’m always curious how everything will look! I love watching the horses, and petting them too. Such majestic animals. DSC_0137-2 DSC_0099 DSC_0100 DSC_0090 DSC_0089 DSC_0073 DSC_0066 DSC_0064 DSC_0049 DSC_0002 DSC_0027 DSC_0037 DSC_0130-2 DSC_0134-2 DSC_0110 DSC_0121 DSC_0104 DSC_0051

On the remodeling front: our bathroom in nearing completion as Kevin hung the mirror and light fixture this week. We aren’t set on the light location or direction it is facing (we kind of like it facing downward better) so we are letting it ride to see how it wears on us. Brett did some fine detail work on the ceiling between the dining room and kitchen this week – it looks really great. This is our fix for having part of the downstairs with cabinet-colored trim and the remainder of the downstairs being oak trim. We’re thinking someday we may go to white/off-white woodwork rather than oak, but we aren’t ready to make that call just yet! The pull-out drawers for several of the cabinets came in this week too, as well as the final corner cabinet. It will all be finished soon. Our freezer for the pantry has arrived too, though it hasn’t been filled up just yet. DSC_0143-2 DSC_0147-2 DSC_0148-2 DSC_0149-2 DSC_0150-2 DSC_0151-2

Here are a few other shots from the week: Finn continues to talk and play with the dogs (especially Lily because she follows us around) all the time. First thing in the morning, last thing at night, “yeh-yee, yeh-yee, yeh-yee”. And he’s sporting his airplane PJ’s from Gisle. And we finally brought our houseplants back indoors, and Finn has found the “dirt”. Maybe working on a fix for that soon! Yikes.  And, since Sammy is potty training, Finn is sort of interested in the potty, so we sat him on it for the first time this week. No results, but he seemed to like trying and we’ve done it a couple of times since. IMG_20140918_203648 IMG_20140918_203016879 IMG_20140920_082905338 IMG_20140920_083110033_HDR DSC_0136DSC_0226