Mackenzie goes to Ohio (...and West Virginia...and North Carolina)

The last time Mackenzie was in Medina, for Megan and James' wedding,

she was promised a summer at Aunt Karen's.

So, this year when she came to town for Adam and LeAnna's wedding,

she got to stay.

Here are some photos from our very busy summer.

After the wedding, we packed up and headed to West Virginia with

Adam and LeAnna.

They had rented a delightful cabin in the woods where you see

Kenz sitting on the fireplace hearth.

We all agreed that it would be fun to be there

to watch the snow and sit by the fire.



Kenzie and Elfthereia wait for the rest of us to get ready for

a "quick" hike to the lake for a swim.

The deck was complete with a hot tub, lounge chairs

and an awesome view!







Mackenzie hikes through the woods in her cute new swimsuit.

The hike, itself, was sort of monumental.

Boy, were we glad to get to the lake!  See that smile?

Another day, another hike.

At the end of the hike were small "puddles" in the giant boulders fill

with what else besides big black TADPOLES!  How does

that happen?!

And, a magnificent view of the bridge and

river valley :-)

We went to three Thursday evening concerts at the Akron Art Museum

Note Mackenzie's cool summer skirt and blouse~

(Very cool sax player)

and

we even took a tour of said museum.

 

Another summer adventure was a week in the Outer Banks.  Not in the picture:

 hungry sea gulls (see Ian's blog)

that always accompany the Okracoke Ferry.

One of the goals of this trip was to get to the beach at the ocean.

This picture documents that Mackenzie was there!

 While on Okracoke, we did a little "shop hopping".

Note Kenzie's favorite beach attire.

This is the "Castle of Mackenzie".

Jill came over from Goldsboro to visit for a couple of days...unfortunately it rained :-(

But, like they say...a bad day at the beach...

...besides the ducks loved it and Mackenzie loved the ducks.

Back in Medina, Mackenzie and I went for a bike ride on the new

trail that starts just a block and a half from the house.

This is a picture of momma and her triplets nursing.

We took a cool video, but I could not get it to load.

 Here are the babies.  All together I think we saw 5 or 6 deer

none of whom were the least bit worried about the fact

that we were there...close...

It was such a fun summer!  There was a trip to Miss Mollies for tea

and a Baby Shower and an afternoon at the Akron Zoo,

LOTS of shopping, reading, swinging on the porch swing, visiting,

a birthday party, a couple of play dates...

So, there you have it~Mackenzie's summer in Ohio, etal. 

A few more wedding pictures

 

 

Thanks to my friend June, here are a few more snapshots

from LeAnna and Adam's wedding.  Enjoy~

 

 

The barn was a wonderful setting.  The decorating was

delightful and so personal thanks to family and friends

who contributed their time and talent.

 



 

Here are Adam and G'Pa getting things underway.  They both

look pretty solemn.  I think it had to do with the crazy weather and

the thunder in the distance though.



 

Andy, climbing buddy, and Sarah - check out those really cool boots!

Chad, climbing buddy, (check out the new tennies) and Jeanne,

childhood friend.

 

 



 

Shane, climbing buddy, and Christie, childhood friend.

 

 

Ian, climbing buddy & brother of groom;  Eleftheria, sister-in-law of groom.

Keith, climbing buddy & brother of groom;  Gina, sister of bride.

 

 





 

Happy parents of the Groom, Karen and Pat.

 



 

The beautiful bride, LeAnna and her parents, Karen and Kevin.

 

 

 

The service was in the Gazebo by the barn.  The curtain in

the back was made by LeAnna and was just beautiful!

 

 

 

The Wedding Party

 

G'Ma Nancy shares a special poem written by a friend of LeAnna's.

 

Lighting the Unity Candle proved to be a challenge,

but...

 

...in the end, united they were.

 I hope I got people correctly identified and names correctly spelled.  My apologies for any mistakes.

It was a wonderful service and the reception was so much fun.  All the personal touches

created a celebration of love, family and friendship. 

May it always be so.



Post Wedding Trip to West Virginia

So, this is a really late post - and, I am sure

that those of you reading this either were

there or have already heard the stories,

but.......

 

 

Adam and LeAnna invited us to join them in

Summerville for a few days.  It was fun to

revisit a place where the boys spent so

much time and had so much fun.

 

 

 

Eleftheria and Mackenzie are standing on the back deck of

our cabin in the woods. The view was spectacular. 

 Ian and Eleftheria relax inside.  It was really cute inside.  It would

be fun to be there in the winter and get to use the fireplace and

watch the snow fall out the picture window.

 

There was a cool fire pit in the front yard, but it was too wet

to use - like at home, the weather had been out of

the ordinary.

 

 We went on this crazy hike. The activity book in the

cabin indicated a short, easy hike through the woods

to the lake.  I guess everything is relative.

 

But, we eventually got there and had a very nice swim in

Summerville Lake.

Not exactly the Mediterranean Sea, but still.... 



 

LeAnna's parents rolled in and we all eventually got

seats at our favorite breakfast spot - Cathedral Café ~

 

 

 ~ a "repurposed" church with beautiful windows and great breakfasts & coffee.

 

...followed by another favorite hike.  In the background

is the New River Gorge Bridge.

 

It is the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere - the site of

Bridge Day, when (crazy) people, (sorry Sarah) base jump off the bridge.

 

 

Thanks, so much, Adam and LeAnna for inviting us and even allowing us to decide

to come at the last minute.  We had a great time and we love you so.



 

Axe Men Medina

Betty McMillen, our forever neighbor had a dead tree in her yard, which if it fell had the potential to land on our garage.  So I volunteered the family axe men to fell the tree before mother nature had her way.

 WMD's

 

The approach

 

Tieing one on

 



On our way

 



Adjustments by the ground crew

 



Some more aerial cutting

 



Ground supervision

 

 

Adam is given the honor of  the final cuts

 



Final review by the crew

 



A job well done.  Thanks boys!  Betty promised me an extra-large coffecake as payment.  I accepted.

A Few Wedding Pics - June 29, 2013

 all the lovely ladies;   where do they all come from?

T

 The Bride

 The bride and groom!

 Mom, Dad & some musicmakers

 Where are Jill & Jayson?

 Megan & James Davis

 

 

A little last minute "strategy" from G'pa.

Not originally on the guest list, but welconed anyway!



We have a toad too!

We have a toad who lives under a rock in the Crimson King maple garden.  Karen found him early in the week while she was edging the garden bed and he has been there every time we have checked.  He may get tired of being disturbed by the picture taking however!