Funny Story about our “Best Poconos WaterPark” Post
The other day we met up at the park with some out-of-town friends. Let’s just call them Kate & Justin. Kate was telling me that they were doing some research to decide what waterpark to go to in the Poconos area. They wanted to determine which waterpark was the best for their family. They found this really helpful post – that only after reading it – did she realize it was ours from this blog! Last year that post got over 22,000 views and the corresponding comparison chart post we did also get over 8,000 views. Funny to hear that & encouraging that some posts draw so much traffic! You can see the posts here: Great Wolf Lodge vs. Kalahari vs. CamelBack’s Aquatopia! THE POCONOS Water Park SHOWDOWN & the comparison chart is here: Poconos Waterpark Comparison Guide: Kalahari versus Aquatopia & Great Wolf Lodge!
We are soon going to be posting another one – that compares the prices of the waterparks. So keep your eyes out for that one too!
Sold the Miata
My first new car was a 1996 Mazda Miata M Edition. When I met Melani – that was the car I was driving – and both Melani & I have a lot of fond memories associated with that car. Over the last several months I had a couple unsolicited offers regarding the Miata. It has been in storage for the last several years – but people remembered that I had it – and they were interested in it. I really like electric – and don’t see myself going back to a gas car. So I ended up selling the car to a good friend. I definitely had mixed feeling about selling it – but like the guy I sold it too – and I hope he enjoys it as much as I did. It is funny to see the Miata around town!
Slackline
We broke the slackline out this spring – and everyone had a crack at showing off their balancing skills! Someone was able to draw on their former life as KGB spy – and was WAY better than the rest of us!
Dani & Teddy’s Wedding
We had to head down to Virginia for a family wedding. We rented a house with my brother & his family. It was just a long weekend – but it was great to see everyone and have some fun. Congratulations Dani & Teddy!
Dominick – Geodesic Dome for the Science Fair
Dominick decided to build a geodesic dome for the science fair this year. It ended up being a very interesting topic & project! He constructed 2 domes out of paper straws and wire. They were the same size – but one had many more pieces – or facets to it.
His hypothesis was that the geodesic dome will get stronger as more triangles/pentagons are utilized and the shape more closely resembles a sphere. When we put the weighted blankets on both, he thought that the dome with more triangles/pentagons will distribute the weight better and therefore hold more weight – and he was right!
We were really surprised at how much weight the dome on the right could actually hold before collapsing. Both domes weighed less than 1 lbs each – and the one on the left (with fewer triangles) collapsed when we put the initial 13.6 lbs weighted blanket on it. The dome on the right (with more facets and triangles) was able to hold 21.8 lbs and didn’t actually collapse until we put 24.2 lbs on it!
Date Night with Annie
Annie & I got to spend a little time together one evening. We try to do the date night thing – but we haven’t been very good about doing it consistently. Annie and I got to go out to dinner at a Greek diner and then out for some ice cream. It was nice to be with just her & we had a great time together! She really can be such a pleasant and fun kid!
Corning Museum of Glass
This is another place that is right in our backyard – yet it has been YEARS since we have been here – and never with the kids! Well, we changed that – and actually went in May! There is a great mix of both ART & SCIENCE at the museum! The museum has exhibits that feature modern art, the history of glass use and how it has been made throughout human history, how optical fiber is made and there are even live demonstrations on glass blowing. We watched one of the glassblowing demonstrations in the amphitheater area and really enjoyed it. I went up to the host afterwards and was talking to them about the Netflix glass blowing competition series called ‘Blown Away” that we like – and he told me that they played a significant role in the last 2 episodes. I told him not to tell me anymore – because we only had the last 2 episodes to watch! We went home that evening and were very surprised to see that the very gentleman that I was talking too DID in fact have a big role in the last 2 episodes. It was neat that we were just talking to him hours before….
This was the beginning of our greater plan for the summer to visit /do 30 fun things in Upstate NY this summer for vacation. I asked the kids to look at my post 111 Things to Do in the Adirondacks & Upstate New York! and to each pick out 5 things they wanted to do. I know it is AMBITIOUS – but at least we are going to give it a try!
Easter Egg / Treasure Hunts
Last year I spent SO MUCH time on the Easter Egg Hunt/ Treasure Hunt – and STILL did not finish it. So the kids only got to do the portion that I finished. Well, this year I set out to finish my maybe over-ambitious project. I incorporated a story line into the hunt and had it mostly web-based with self-administered clues – if they felt they needed them (which they did!). If you are so inclined – it is available on our other website here: Prometheus Rises.
The kids – & Melani, had a lot of fun – but it did take them a couple of days to complete the treasure hunt – even with the self-administered clues! As always, I made the treasure worth their while!
St Patrick’s Day
The kids “tried” again to catch a leprechaun on Saint Patrick’s Day – but it was, at best, a half-hearted attempt (at least for the older ones). I keep telling the kids that those little creatures are bright – and not easily fooled! They are just laughing at the kids at this point. Maybe one of these years they will significantly “up” their game and actually succeed in bagging one those crafty little troublemakers….
Kansas City Work Trip
At the end of March Kevin, Nick & I went to Kansas City for a work conference. It only every 5 years or so that we do this – and the last couple of times it has been in Santa Barbara. We drove out this year – and it was fun to do a road trip with my two business partners. On the way out we stopped at St. Louis to see the arch. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to go up the arch – because there was too long of a wait and we needed to keep heading west. We did, however, get to visit the museum and the gift shop. The museum was definitely worthwhile, and they did have a live video from the top of the arch looking out – so you could really get the experience of being up there – without the cost or hassle.
The conference itself, was great too – we learned some new things and got to meet, face-to-face, the people that we work with on a daily basis. They were gracious hosts!
We also made other stops. We took a little detour to Branson – which we were not very impressed with. We stopped @ Saint Bonaventure University – and I got to show Nick some of my old stomping grounds. It was wonderful to be in the library again and also revisit the Riley Center. It definitely brought back a lot of fond memories! Finally, we also stopped at the National Museum of the US Air Force. It is located near Dayton Ohio – and definitely worth a trip. I had been there before a few years earlier (see my post: Adventure Update #007: Cincinnati Road Trip – “You’re Gonna Be A Baby!”) and it was great to be able to show it to Nick. He enjoyed it so much – he went back with his wife in June!
Soccer:
Sophie
Sophie played soccer again this year – and on this past Saturday’s game she KICKED THE BALL! If you remember, last season she didn’t even MOVE at all on the soccer field. In fact – people generally confused her with a misplaced lawn gnome (see my post Adventure Update # 060: Back to School! from 2021). Two weeks ago – she started running around the field with her friend – with no relation at all to where the ball was – or was heading. But she was moving, and we saw that as an improvement. So her actually KICKING the ball has totally blown our minds!
Dominick
I was particularly proud of Dominick this year! His coaches set limits on the number of goals he could score during the scrimmages/games. Dominick was a great sport and really did a good job of passing the ball around and involving other teammates.
During 2 scrimmages/games late in the season there was a boy on the other team that was trash-talking Dominick – and even doing so to his little sister Annie! Dominick chose to counter the trash-talk with action & athletic ability – and soon silenced his critic!
Dominick’s team was down heading into the final stretch – and Dominick really wanted to score to bring it to even. You can definitely tell when Dominick REALLY wants to score and taps into his full potential. Anyways, that is what happened in two of those games – and I was just really moved by his tenacity & skill. The kid simply WOUKD NOT be denied a goal – and did what he needed to do to score. Twice he NEEDED to score a goal in the last minute of the scrimmages/game- with the whole field counting down from 60 seconds – and he did score. He had to zig, zag – and use every other trick in his bag of tricks to make it to the goal – but he did! Way to put on a show Dominick! It was AWESOME to watch! (I wish I had it recorded…)
Annie
Annie had a pretty good season. We think she really enjoys playing on the same team as her brother. She has really improved with her dribbling and sometimes we see flashes of brilliance. Eiter way – Annie is very good at getting the crowd behind her. I think a lot of people notice her and admire her tenacity – especially considering she is usually playing against a lot of older boys!
Parents versus Kids
On the final day of soccer for the spring league – the parents matched up against the kids. We were vastly outnumbered – about 4 to 1. My philosophy in such contests is that victory won’t mean anything to the kids if you just let them beat you – so I usually come out of the gate and make it clear – that if the kids want to win – they are going to have to EARN it!
I got a several shots on goal. My first shot – I dribbled up the field and got a clean shot off – right at the diminutive, pre-adolescent goalie. He made a great save. No goal. With my second shot I made a goal – with the ball going over the goalie’s head. The third & fourth shots were wide, and the last, and gaming winning goal – I received a cross from one of the other adults – and hit it in the air for a goal. After our first goal – Dominick made a run for it and dribbled through most of the adults. I was defending him and playing him pretty tight. He still managed to get a good shot off on our goal – hitting one of my colleagues in the head – and then the ball bounced over the goalie’s outstretched arms and into the goal.
Final score: Parents 2 – Kiddos 1! It was a lot of fun – and I don’t think us parents would have beat them – if it hadn’t been for the fact that the kids played for about an hour before we challenged them! Nothing like soundly beating a bunch of exhausted 9-12 year-olds to boost your self-esteem & show off your athletic prowess!
End of the School Year
Kids all had a solid school year this past year. We were especially proud of Gracie for making such an unbelievable transition to middle school. She did a great job of balancing extra-circular activities, sports & her academics. She did X-Country (fall), Track (spring), Science Club & Robotics Club, AND attained High Honors for the entire year! Way to go Gracie!
Sincerely,
