So, a lot has happened: Toledo Spring

Posted by kara

Preface: Well, it’s not really a preface. I just wanted to mention that I have lost my spring/summer shoes! I feel like this is my new “lost-engagement-ring” story. I remember separating my most useful warm weather shoes so I would have them in Toledo. But then I thought I maybe left them at my Aunt Karen’s house because we didn’t have room for them on our road trip. (Did you see how packed in we were?) And since it was snowing in Seattle, I couldn’t even imagine needing those shoes anytime soon. Still, I looked in as many boxes as I could while in Toledo (our stuff was being stored in the garage). I didn’t see them, so I thought my aunt had them. She couldn’t find them, so I thought I’d find them when I unpacked. I HAVEN’T FOUND THEM! I know of at least 3 pairs I’m missing. They would have come in handy many times. Ugh. I’m making due, but it ain’t pretty.

Okay, beyond shoes… We lived at my parents’ house for about 3 months. I thought it was awesome, and I think Paul liked it too. We took over the top floor bedrooms, and Paul used my grandma’s suite as an office. It worked out really well because he was more separated from the rest of the house. My parents both still work, but they usually came home by 4 or 5. So that means the kids pounce all over them when they walk through the door. My mom did most of the grocery shopping and we came up with meals or my dad would pick up dinner. Their schedules were busier than ours, so they were usually out at night. And on the weekends, we usually went to Indy to look at houses.

While in Toledo, the girls took gymnastic classes. Marf was pretty hilarious running on the trampoline, and Toshi put forth great effort trying new things. They were awarded medals for completing their classes and love to proudly wear their medals when we go on errands or to museums (hoping someone would comment on them). We also went to the art museum and the science museum many times. The girls visited horses, an orchard, and a pool. They LOVED vacation bible school. They played with backyard neighbor Brooklyn and her playset. Toshi took some tennis and dance lessons. We hung out with some family friends, made a couple of trips up to Ann Arbor, had a nice visit with David/Molly/Gus/Penelope, and basically had a nice comfortable spring with lots of bagels and ice cream.

Toshi and Marf loved seeing Oba and Oji all the time. One time Oji and Oba took the girls out for ice cream. Oba got orange ice cream (sherbert flavor?) and didn’t like it, so she dumped a bunch of it in the trash. I think that surprised Marf, so she kept bringing it up days/weeks later and suggesting that Oba try vanilla. Every time Toshi heard the garage door, she’d run to open the door and smile and wave at whoever was pulling in.

It was a good long visit. I love seeing Toshi and Martha so excited to be around their grandparents. And the good thing is that my parents are in driving distance. In fact, they have already visited twice!