The Geddes are a Swinging

At last the summer has just about reached us....at least warmer temperatures to enable some enjoyment outside.

With the new house, I made it a point to find one that gave us a large enough backyard. Nothing crazy big, but something bigger than a postage stamp. As we started spending time out there with my kids and a few others who join us a few days a week, it was becoming quickly apparent that we needed a few more things to do.

Phase one was building a simple basic sandbox. Its 5'x5' and required 400 lbs of sand. Yes you read that right. Try pushing it on a dolly through Lowes ;) The bottom has landscape fabric tacked on, so it never floods and keeps things where they are suppose to stay...as long as the kids will keep it all inside....sigh. Do far, any area cats have not discovered it, or do not care to, so we used the cover tarp as a nice shade canopy.

Phase two involved a little more time and muscle to construct. We were missing our ghetto swings at the old house. The old belt swings were kept, for just this possibility of building our own. After looking on Craigslist and other retail options, it was becoming clear it would be best to just build our own. Many folks who were selling theirs, did not construct them to be taken down and put back up. And for the price of it used, it was about the same in materials.

We ended up going with this option on Amazon. It enabled us to not have to figure out cutting any angles or wondering how we could get it cut. The 4x4 beams just slide in along with a 4x6 header. I wanted something which could last longer than most of the cedar products....and also to grow with the kids are they became bigger and taller. (The yard past the swings doesn't belong to us, but there is no fence and the house is bank owned for now)

Each new project has been presented with a learning curve....and tool components we lack..grrrr. And I'll never understand why there are no couples counseling resources to be found in the home improvement aisles, but its done and the kids love it!

Nolan: Flying Ace!

After attending a birthday party in Canandaigua NY, we decided to check out their local airfield after seeing small planes flying low for landing. It must have been destiny, because one of the pilots had just finished with a ride and was finishing up with the riders who booked a WW2 Warbird experience ride.

Of course, our little aviation enthusiast had to get out of the car and get an up close look. As we were chitchatting about the plane and how for only a mere $250, you could also enjoy the same experience...I mentioned how much our son loved planes and if he could check out the cockpit.  

Low and behold...he obliged and even got to wear the flight cap! Oh how over the moon he was!

Maybe some day....he might just be a real pilot.

The Heart of Community

"Won't you be mine, won't you be mine....won't you be...my neighbor" - Fred Rodgers

As our ways of communicating have become much more advanced, we taking advantage of this advancement without being present. From social media and entertainment at our fingertips which don't have to leave the confines of our homes...we are seeing a lot less of us with each other.

Over the past five years we've lived here...we have seen our neighbors come and go. Some have been great, while others we hardly knew. We were either ships passing in the night with our lifestyles, or our stages in life differed, making any possibilities of connecting to be almost nonexistent. For us, knowing how social and friendly we are...this made us sad. We like to know who we live with and see if there is any chance for us to connect with others. Our kids thus far have also inherited this friendly character trait....if not a little too well!

This is the first summer where we have more than just 1 or 2 great neighbors living with us...but the community spirit which has blossomed due to some things going on with the ownership of the properties we reside in...its something special. We are coming together to help each other out. Lawns are getting mowed with borrowing or even doing it for others. Parents actually go outside and socialize with the other parents and help watch each others kids as they play. Kids go from one side of the yard to the other...playing with each others backyard toys. Even spontaneous bonfires and grilling take place. Need a tool for a project? Chances are one of us has it and lets you borrow it.

We are coming together....pooling our resources and talents. It is the kind of things of the past like knocking on a neighbor's door for a cup of sugar. 

No one is complaining at the sounds of kids making noise like you hear about on social media.

The kids have others to play with this summer, although Eliza is the only girl of the group lol.

I am excited for the first time in a long time this summer season and the good times to be had!

You Must be This Tall

Do you remember the movie with actor Tom Hanks who wanted to be BIG? He desperately wanted to go on a thrill ride while noticing a girl from class. If it wasn't bad enough that his parents were there embarassing him, he learns he came up too short to ride. He later finds a Zoltar fortune teller and makes a wish to be big.

We have now reached the age where a little girl may experience the thrill of amusement rides for the first time. At an annual event held by the Erie Canal, kiddie rides were an obvious draw to this excited three year old. So we decided to treat Eliza to a ride wristband.

Dragons, spaceships and motor cars took her up, down and around.

I think the giant wavy slide paid for itself in number of rides for the cost of the wrist band. She carried her sack and climbed all the way to the top. Her first words after each return at the bottom was "again again" as I had to reminder to wait her turn in line.

Despite the humid heat, she was a hardcore thrill seeker. Nolan spent most of the time sleeping in the wagon since it was smack dab in the middle of nap time.

Maybe some of this growing older stuff isn't so bad...

The Discovery Zoo

We had the chance to finally make a visit to Fort Rickey with the kids. This was a first for Nolan getting to be up close to a variety of animals. He'd squeal in delight at just about each one.

My little country girl

Eliza was very fascinated with these ducks. It took a good long while for her to understand that you can't run up to the animals and not everyone wants to be pet.

River Otter

Eliza quickly caught on that the sheep and goats would eat leaves off the tree.

The Peacocks were allowed to roam the grounds as they pleased, even if it was right on top of the table you were snacking on.

Finally, one wasn't skittish to let Nolan check him out.

We spent just a few hours there in the afternoon and ended up getting a season pass for myself and put Eliza on it as my free child and there is no cost for Nolan at the moment. I just have to take the kids there a second time and the membership has paid for itself. It will be a great place to bring a picnic lunch and let the kids get out of the house until the zoo closes at the end of October.

Because it is just outside of where we live, it is a great activity for young ones to enjoy without the high costs of alternative entertainment. Free parking is another plus! 

Summer GQ Edition