Racoon Creek State Park

It has been super hot in Pittsburgh.  This weekend in July it was going to be around 100 degrees.  Our Air Conditioner doesn't work well so we didn't want to sit at home in the heat.  We decided to head to the lake.  Hayden has been asking to go to the beach and we figure he would think this was the beach.  It has sand and water so he was happy.


We went early before it got hot and took a short hike to the mineral springs area.  The trail was very overgrown.  Phil and Kris hiked along with us.



It was a mile round trip hike to the springs.  Water comes out of rock and in the 1800's it was believed to have special healing powers.  So they built a resort there for guests to stay. 

We visited the cave where there is a waterfall in the spring.


We touched the healing water.












We also visited the old resort.


Amelia got filthy


But looked cute doing it. 

And of course Hayden is super cute too (I am biased though).

Then we headed to the beach area and had lunch and then went swimming.  The area was not as crowded as I thought. 



Hayden had a blast. He could stand in the water so he loved it.  And there was plenty of sand in the beach area unlike other lakes in our area. 

Amelia loved the lake. She didn't want to be held. She actually wanted to swim.

She kept trying and would go under and come back up and try again. She had no fear and would go up to her chin in water and just laugh. If we tried to bring her back to more shallow water she would scream and cry. My crazy little girl. I will have to get her in swim lessons as soon as she can go.

I would like to go again in the spring and see the waterfall and do a hike.  Hayden would like to go back and go fishing. 

Here are the rest of the pictures:

4th of July and Kennywood

We did our anual 4th of July trip to Kennywood.  It was really hot but we still had a great time.  Hayden loved riding all of the rides.  Amelia loved riding the rides too but hated waiting.  Loading the rides in Kiddieland takes forever.  If she waited to long she would wiggle and climb her way out of the seat belts and get off.  She did this numerous times.  So then she didn't get to ride.  My kids are such monkeys!

The kids loved the whip.  Both the kids version And the big version.  Amelia was cracking up.

Amelia's favorite ride was the swings.  If she saw them she wouldn't go on any other ride.

I got to ride the new ride the Black Widow.  It spins and goes back and forth until you are upside down.  Crazy.

Hayden loves the roller coaster.

and the mini pitfall

We got our picture with the old cowboy (the man next to the cowboy yelled at hayden pretty bad when he wouldn't look at the camera).

Hayden had a great time but was exhausted.  He slept over Kennedy's house the night before after watching Carnegie's fireworks.  He fell asleep while I was still buckling in Amelia in her seat.

After Kennywood we watched Scott's fireworks at my sisters house.  The night before he watched fireworks with his cousin and he was so excited.

This night we saw better fireworks but he was more subdued.  He was so bothered that there were no fireflies out.  He is so silly sometimes.

Overall it was a great 4th.

 

Gone Fishin

 

 Pap came and brought Hayden a fishing rod.  He was so excited to go fishing.  We went to the Rennerdale Duck pond which is just down the road.  Amelia came long too and loves looking at the ducks.

Hayden did really well at casting.  I was surprised.  But he did not like putting the bait on (meal worms).  Amelia loved the worms and kept trying open the container.

Hayden had more patience then I thought he would (not that it was a lot but he is only 3).  While we were sitting and waiting to see if a fish would bite, all of the firetrucks and ambulances returned from a parade.  So we went to watch them pull into the station.


 Hayden was lucky enough to get a tour and "pretend drive" a truck.  It was very cool.


While we were in the station Hayden got a bite and we ran out.  He started to reel the line in.  When he saw the fish he got excited then reeled a little more then got scared and dropped the fish back into the water.  So we helped him reel it in and gave him the net.  He put the net out but stood as far away as possible it was so funny.  Here is the only picture I got of him and the fish (you can't really see it) b/c he took off.



We put the fish back in the water and did some more fishing.  Hayden got some bites but no more fish.  Pap didn't get any bites and hayden kept letting him  know it.  He kept telling him "Pap you didn't get any bites, you didn't get any fish".  He is so bad!

Overall it was a fun time.  Hayden wants to go fishing with Pap again.  He asks to go fishing almost everyday now.

Father's Day

For Father's Day I put Hayden in one of his new shirt and ties.  This one matched Mike's so we took a picture.  The Sears Outlet by our house has coupons where you can get one piece of clothing free on Tuesdays.  I have gotten Hayden 5 shirts and ties like this in every color.  He looks so cute in them and you can't beat free.

Family Visits

Mikes mom and dad visted in the beginning of June.  The kids had fun playing with them everyday, going to the park, out to dinner, and to Sarris.

Mike and his parents and the kids took a short trip down to West Virginia to visit his Grandpap too. 


It was a nice visit and the kids miss their grandparents.