Nick's Life: July 2012

We made a summer trip to Pennsylvania to visit Brandi's family.  Along the Ohio Turnpike, having passed three rest areas that looked very similar, from the backseat comes, "Wait a minute!  We're driving in circles!"  We stopped along the way at the Cuyahoga Train Station and rode a real Diesel Train (which Nick "liked a little" but it wasn't a Steam Train.) Not the scenic route they claim it is, given most of the view is dense wilderness and the Akron sewage tile.  The days in Huntingdon were filled with time at Paesano's and relaxing by the pool... and lots of eating.  Uncle Andy took us for an evening ride on his pontoon, and Nick caught his first fish (bass); he also swam in Lake Raystown.

With the extreme heat, we've been in the pool nearly every weekend, and even sneaking down during the week.  The days of floating devices are behind Nick, as he swims without them, going underwater, somersaults and even diving from the poolside into the deep end.  One evening his grandpa jumped in with him and taught him how to dive - one of those moments I bet he will remember. The independence revolution continues, from showering on his own, to saving money for the things he wants by doing his chores: making his bed, clearing the dinner table, and emptying the trash.

This month's obsession, and artistic focus, has been under the ocean, paricularly with sharks, or anything that's a 'predator' (wolves, praying mantis).  Perfect timing for the Discovery network to play Shark Week.  There's a picture of Nick in the car with a whale and shark heads on poles, which he notes, "This shark is a paper predator."  It's those HD sharks that swim out of the TV that make him nervous.  Also happy he's expanding his TV interests to shows we can all enjoy.  Surprisingly, a version of the Jungle Book from 1942 had him glued to the tube.

Brandi found some huge rolls of drawing paper at the Ikea and we're going through it quickly.   'Experiments' have been big this month, messing with baking soda or taping pieces of whatever together to see what he can create.  We're saving everything from cardboard rolls to tissue boxes and egg boxes now for him to assemble into something new.

Lots of pictures this month from our adventures.

- Jason