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Stay-cation 2013: Days 1-2

Day 1: Monday
Morning: 20-week ultrasound! We have another boy!


We hired a babysitter (for maybe the third time in four years) for the younger two, but took Levi with us. Everything looks perfect!

Lunch: leftovers.

Post-nap: Washington Park. My boys have been notoriously afraid of the splash parks we've visited, but something about having their daddy along encouraged previously-unseen bravery. All three had a blast!

Unfortunately, this is the only picture I snapped before the camera battery went dead.

A lucky accident: the Washington Park farmers' market is on Monday afternoons. There weren't many people there, and most were selling artisan products rather than produce. We sampled a few fun things and then split a strawberry lemonade shaved ice, sweetened with cane sugar. 

Dinner: I threw a slow-baked chicken dish in the oven before we left. Either it needed an extra cup of liquid or an hour less in the oven, because the chicken was really dry. The flavor was good, though, as was the texture of the rice. I used this cream of chicken soup recipe and this onion soup mix recipe instead of the packaged varieties.

Cost for day 1: $2 parking + $2 shaved ice = $4

Day 2: Tuesday
Morning: Silas took a short nap, and then the boys went with Isaac to his office to play on the swingset for a little while. While there, they discovered that some of the blackberries were ready to be picked, so they came home with a small container-full. At home (blissfully) alone, I spent more time organizing the upstairs bedrooms (including going through all of my winter newborn boy clothes, which wasn't entirely necessary, but I couldn't resist!).

Lunch: more leftovers. The fridge had been full to busting with assorted jars. It's looking much more manageable now.

Post-nap: A walk across the Purple People Bridge. The plan was to park on the Cincinnati side and walk over into Kentucky, but I didn't research parking well and it ended up being easier to park on the KY side. We simply walked across and back in one trip. Unexpected bonus: the bridge was almost completely deserted, so the boys were free to run without bothering anyone!

Running free.

Two are delighted to be here.

One isn't sure.

Peeking at the Ohio River.

Not on purpose: 3/4 of my boys are in light blue.

Hey! Mommy's here, too!

Dinner: Tom+Chee in Newport, KY. We first went to this specialty grilled-cheese-and-tomato-soup joint on our first stay-cation two years ago. They've since added locations, and in Newport, kids eat free on Tuesdays! Two free kids' meals per adult combo, so all three boys were able to get their own half-sandwich and cup of fruit for free. Another unexpected bonus: there is room in the Newport location to maneuver the double stroller inside. :)

Cost for day 2: $2 parking + approximately $10 for dinner = $12
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