Hiking with the wifey

A few weekends ago through some random work scheduling I had a Saturday off. I knew that I wanted to do something with just Jennifer and I immediately thought about taking Jennifer to the Pinnacles in Berea to hike. I had only been there once with my little brother but I had really enjoyed the hike and the views. We dropped the kids off at MiMi's and headed south on I-75 to Berea. When we arrived the parking lot was packed full and I just thought there were going to be a lot of people out hiking because it was the weekend. However, when we got up closer we found out that it was some kind of festival and all the hiking trails were actually closed for the weekend. I was totally bummed because I had wanted to hike there, but we had no other choice then to head on back to Lexington. Trying to salvage the day we decided to try and go hike at Raven Run. This would be our first time there without the kids and I wanted to try and walk the whole outer loop. Jennifer was up for the challenge so off we went.

The wifey and I on a bridge. The creek was pretty dry.

Pretty neat area down by the creek. Can you find me?

There I am under the rock.

I am such a lucky guy that I get to call her mine.

It is so peaceful out in nature and something about flowing water only makes it that much better.

My beautiful wife down by the cascading creek.

I captured this picture on our way over to the overlook. I thought it was pretty brilliant way to capture an image with nobody around to snap the picture. I made a video and then took a still image of the video off my phone. I love how the leaves in the front are all in focus and then us in the background.

View from the Overlook. With it being a Saturday this was a pretty popular spot and didn't seem as peaceful as normal. We spent a few minutes looking around before heading out.

I found a nice little ledge to relax on under a rock overhang.

My beautiful wife at the overlook.

Just sitting on a rock wall. Just a little before we made it to this area we got to witness a tree actually snap in half from the wind blowing it too hard. A family had just walked right under it when it started to fall. Thankfully nobody was hurt.

We were also lucky enough to spot 3 deer on the hike out. I was surprised because there were so many people out hiking.

One last picture of us at the overlook. 

After being upset that the Pinnacles were closed it actually turned into a pretty awesome day hiking with my wife at Raven Run. I am so glad that we are able to occasionally get some time to ourselves. Jennifer really is my best friend and we sometimes don't get to spend as much time being a couple as we would like, since being mommy and daddy has become our bigger role. Maybe one day I will get to take Jennifer to see the Pinnacles. Thanks for reading and God bless!

Mermaids at the Aquarium

One afternoon I got the bright idea to make a quick run up to Newport to visit the aquarium. I had gotten an email about the mermaids visiting the aquarium for just a few more days and I knew that the children had really enjoyed it last year. Thankfully we made it in time for the meet and greet and to see the mermaids swimming in the tanks.

The kids getting to meet the mermaid outside of the water before she had to go back to the water.

The kids have no fear at all and really enjoy walking across the Shark Bridge.

View from the Shark Bridge. You can see some of the sharks as well as the large sea turtle.

The best family picture that we could get today. The kids were a little on the wild side.

Picture of my little mini me. He is turning into a little man right before our eyes.

Brinley as a mermaid and Landon as Nemo.

Perks of having a kid that are technically savvy is that we always have someone to take a picture of us. So here is Jennifer as a mermaid and I am Nemo.

Brinley trying to touch hands with the mermaid. Too bad there was about 2 inches of glass in between them.

Brinley was completely amazed.

Landon waving hello to the mermaid.

The kids seeing how they measure up to Big Mike.

Landon and I taking a selfie with the mermaid.

I am so glad we made that afternoon trip because there wasn't another time that we could have made the trip. The kids loved seeing the mermaids again this year. We always have a good time at the Newport Aquarium and we would highly recommend it if you have never been. Thanks for reading and God bless!

Brinley's Preschool Field Trip

Brinley started in preschool earlier this year and she absolutely loves it! They had a fall field trip where they went to the pumpkin patch, Bi-Water Farms. Jennifer had worked the night before so we let her sleep and I took both kids on the field trip. The weather turned out to be great and we all had a lot of fun! Here are the pictures from our adventures.

Brinley loves preschool and was so happy to be going on her 1st ever field trip.

Brinley with the rest of her classmates getting ready for the hayride.

Landon and I on the hayride. Brinley left us to sit with her friends.

We had just finished the corn maze when we arrived in the pumpkin patch. Here is the pumpkin that she picked out.

Landon with his pumpkin too!

Daddy and kids selfie out in the pumpkin patch.

Brinley and her classmates right before they headed into the spook house.

Most of her class decided to call it quits for the day, but my kids were just getting started. Brinley was riding on the large blue rocking horse.

The kids walking in the huge pipe.

Brinley learning how to use the bouncy ball.

Brinley enjoyed a few trips down the huge slide.

Landon riding down the big slide too.

The kids riding the Bi-Water Train.

We even spotted a big dragon too.

Brinley was just barely big enough to ride the big tricycles.

One last picture before leaving the farm. We had a ton of fun and we will definitely be back in the future. Neither kid was ready to go, but I was worn out.

If you ever get a chance to visit Bi-Water Farm then I would highly recommend it. There were some things that Landon wasn't big enough to do so I would recommend waiting until your children are a little bit older. It was a great field trip and I can't wait to go on many more with my little girl. Thanks for reading and God bless!

Hiking with Landon

My little man only goes to school right now on Tuesday and Thursday so that gives me 3 days a week to spend some time with just Landon. We decided that a few weeks ago we would go for a hike at Raven Run. I knew that we were on a time restraint because Brinley is only in school for 3 hours and I had to factor in driving to and from the school. So we decided to take about a hour and a half hike. I was so proud of Landon! He walked for about the first 20 minutes all by himself. I couldn't believe that he made it that far. 

He was so happy to eat his snacks when we got to the overlook. Just a few minutes before we got to the overlook we spotted a couple of whitetail deer. I didn't get my phone out quick enough to get a picture though.

Our view from the overlook. It is so peaceful there and you can even spot fish out in the river. On this trip we even spotted a turtle.

Look at the smile on my little man! I really enjoy our one on one time.

Another picture where he isn't cheesing and he just has his regular smile.

Being silly and Landon won't smile for a picture.

On the return trip back to the car Landon got a little tired and he just wasn't feeling it for a selfie.

One of Landon's favorite resting spots is up on my shoulders. He looks pretty relaxed up there. I am not sure how many more years he will like riding on my shoulders, but I'll try to do it until I can no longer lift the little man up there.

These times with just the two of us guys are so precious to me. I hope that I am always able to spend some time with just him. I know that he won't always want to hang out with his dad, but I want him to know that I will always be there for him if he needs something from his old man. Thanks for reading and God bless!

On the Move Art Studio and Crank & Boom

There is a pretty cool non-profit organization called On the Move Art Studio. Every month they do an event around Lexington and we just so happened to make it out to their September one at Crank & Boom Ice Cream. You just have to show up and kids can do an arts and craft activity and then get a nice treat of ice cream of their choice. It also happened to be their 1st anniversary so they also had cake and other party favors.

Brinley painting with her party hat on. 

Landon also doing a painting with his favorite colors which are blue and green.

The kids with their final artwork and ice cream. Both kids picked out strawberry ice cream for their treat. I think they both did well with their art. Landon's is a little more abstract.

Crank & Boom has a selfie room with all kinds of props. The kids really love taking pictures and adding props just makes it that much more fun. Landon had on a leprechaun hat and Brinley was the cat from Cat in the Hat.

We were in a little bit of a Christmas mood so Brinley wore a Santa hat, Landon had on a moose hat (which he called a reindeer), and I was a little elf. They can be so silly sometimes.

The couple of times that we have been able to make it out to the On the Move Art Studio events we have had a lot of fun. My kids would highly recommend it! Who wouldn't love arts and crafts and ice cream all for free. Thanks for reading and God bless!