4th of July in downtown Akron. The weather was nice this year. No rain to be found. Patty, Eddy, and I packed up a sleeping bag to sit on and rode our bikes to the University of Akron to meet Christi-Anne and her twins for the fireworks. We would have tried to find somewhere closer for her to park, but honestly we have been riding our bikes downtown for so many years that we just do not know where else to park. It is a bit of a walk, but that is part of the adventure.

We found a spot in Lock 3 to lay down the sleeping bag and to sit and wait for the show. We explored the Rib Festival that they have on the 4th of July every year in downtown Akron. We tried the ribs and lemonade and it was good. It was actually the first time I have ever tried the ribs at the Rib Festival. We usually try and ride our bikes down there so that we are just in time, but with all of us going we really needed to be there earlier to have a place to sit. You do not need good seats to enjoy fireworks, but it was nice. The pictures can be found on the pictures page.

My brother, Adam, has been staying with us for a few months. He brought along his dog, Shadow, and we have been spending time taking it on walks. Going to Firestone Park with the kids, Adam, and Shadow is a great way to spend a few hours. It is close enough to walk to and there is plenty of open space. It seems watching them play that I really should have gotten them a dog when they were younger. It was always “too expensive” and I “didn’t have time”.

It is far too late now. I would be getting a dog for myself at this point. Patty is heading to college in Cleveland this year and Eddy is going to be a senior. They really seem to all enjoy just chasing the dog around and playing fetch. Maybe when they grow up they will get married, have kids, and get a dog. I am sure from spending the last six months with a dog they realize how cool that would be.

It was not quite warm enough to take a bike ride when the sun was starting to set. Perhaps with the right clothing to keep a person warm while bike riding it would have been fine, but as it stands it got chilly at the end. This is not to say that we would not have gone out anyway, because we would have. It would have been nice to be a bit more prepared though. It is hard to really adequately express the need to go outside and do something usually reserved for the summer when the weather finally starts to get nice. The ground is still frozen, so while the sun is shining and it feels warm enough, the breeze sweeps over the ground and reminds you that it is still very early in the year. All the pictures can be found on the pictures page.

Coming out of another Ohio winter it was time to do something fun. Even with all the holidays and family and activities planned around the Fall and Winter it is still enough to make you a little stir crazy waiting for a nice day. School is not quite over yet and there are going to be more days of snow and freezing temperatures, but it was a good time to do something. Something to get moving. It was time for Fun ‘N Stuff.

The kids went roller skating. They do not really go roller skating. I still call it roller skating, but I am often correct as they are actually going to roller blade. Roller blades used to cost more to rent, but now it is the same price either way. I have never actually been on roller blades, but I have gone ice skating and I was told that it is a similar experience. In which case I will stick to roller skates.

They were both allotted tokens for games. They proceeded to play games that resulted in winning tickets that they spent on toys before leaving. Air Hockey games were played. We did not play the crazy kind with the multiple pucks or the one that four people can play at the same time. No, it is strictly the old fashioned type for us. The kids are better at Air Hockey than they were last time we played. It was good fun.