Christmas at Krohn

For the past couple of years I have taken the children to the Christmas display at Krohn Conservatory and this year did not disappoint!  If you are local they have really amazing train displays, a beautiful Christmas tree and a "real life" nativity scene with real donkeys and goats.  Last year the twins were only 5 months old and hung out in their infant seats, but this year they got in on the action and "ohhhed and awed" at all the displays.  Although it just gets trickier and trickier juggling three toddlers, it is SO fun taking them on outings where they can all enjoy it.

What We've Been Up To!

Things have been pretty chill around these parts lately (likely to have jinxed us...naturally) and we had an all around great time this past weekend.  We're all gearing up for a bit of travel this month so it was nice to have a weekend to ourselves.  We laid low on Friday night and began our Saturday with respective workouts (run for him, spin class for me).  After R woke up from her nap we took advantage of the mild weather and headed to Findlay Market.  All summer I've been meaning to go but it just never materialized.  So happy we were able to squeeze in a trip!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We wandered around, picked up a few goodies and stopped in the Biergarten to rehydrate.  R enjoyed my water and Larabar and Tom went for gold with a tall beer.

 

 

Spontaneous monkey hug from your baby RIGHT as a picture is being taken?  Pure gold.

 

After we finished up we made the short drive over to the Celtic Festival at Washington Park.  Overall, I gotta say this festival was weak.  But you could buy, and walk around with, beer in public and adorable little dance troups were dancing to Irish music, so it was a good way to spend an hour.  And wouldn't you know, R lost her mind over the music and dancing.  Guess she is half Irish after all :)

 

Banging on dad's head to the beat of the music!

 

Sadly the day ended with a pretty ugly Michigan loss, but you can't win them all.  In other news, Authenic Weather App is the most hilarious weather app there is.  Accurate, not so much, but funny...indeed.

 

 

Washington Park: Cincinnati, Ohio

If you would have told me five years ago that I would be taking my baby, by myself, to Washington Park to play I would have promptly responded that you were smoking crack (which you likely picked up at Washington Park).  Fast forward a few years and thanks to an amazing renovation, Washington Park  is flourishing amid what seems to be a renaissance in central Cincinnati.  Since 2008 several phases of development in Over-The-Rhine have taken place, making it one happenin' spot in 2014.  Now don't get too disillusioned, there are a several very nice and highly developed blocks bursting with restaurants, bars, and condos....all of which are surrounded by an area filled with crippling poverty and violence.  So, ya know, be careful where you park and such.  BUT, where it's nice, it's really nice!  Anywhoo.

Last week, on one of my days off, I felt the itch to get out and do something different with Reese.  Our pool doesn't open until 2:30, which tends to fly a little too close to the "in-between-naps meltdown" sun.  I packed a lunch, towels, all the necessary "water sport" items we require and after her morning nap we headed downtown.

One of the HUGE benefits of not yet moving to 'burbs is that we are centrally located to pretty much everything in Cincinnati.  We may pay a stupid amount of taxes for schools we'll never use and plummet in to potholes every 5 feet...but damn if we aren't in a great location.   I figured what the hell...if it was a bust we were only giving up about 30 minutes of our day.   Well.....we had a blast. 

Reese is still quite little so I was a little worried that she would be terrified or completely uninterested, but I couldn't have been more wrong.  Being the water bug that she is, she was lovvvvving it (mental pat on the back, mama).  She braved the big kids and made her way right into the middle of the foutains.  My kid is awesome.

We had so much fun we came back over the weekend with Tom.  After the usual and very sad carseat-screaming-drama and unexpected parking snafu's we had a blast, yet again.

It should be noted that Washington Park has tons of events going on all the time so check the website for details.  I know there is a huge city flea market, fitness and yoga classes on the grass and even concerts and parties.  If you're in the area check it out!