Summer outings with only 2 kids

Even though I am getting hugely pregnant and it has been a crazy hot summer, I have been trying to get out as much as possible and let the boys have a lot of fun before #3 arrives.  A big tummy gets pretty uncomfortable, but this is still easier than going out and about with 3 kids!

Ryan and I both agree that the Columbus library system is the best we have ever experienced.  One of the many perks they have is the summer reading program (for adults and kids), through which we got free passes for the kids to Zoombezi Bay (a huge water park next to the zoo).  Every time we go to the zoo, the boys ooh and ahh over the water rides and ask when we can go over to the water park.  With free passes for the kids, I couldn't pass it up!  

These are actually the only two pictures I got of the day.  Very exciting, I know, the kids eating lunch on a lounging chair.  We did have a lot of fun though.  Since I knew we would not be going there again, we stayed as late as we could.  However, I knew it was time to go when Tate started falling asleep while we floated on the lazy river.

 We had also promised the boys we would go camping this summer, so camping we went.  We went with a group of friends to Hocking Hills for the night, even though the weather forecast looked threatening.  And yes, there was a thunder/lightening/rain storm throughout the night, but at least things had cooled off a little in the morning.  Sorry for the baby bottom shot, but I figured Tate's first pee in the woods was worth documenting (and also I again did not take many pictures, so there weren't too many to choose from).  Note the proper form of stepping one foot out of the trousers, then spreading the feet wide to avoid dripping pee on his trousers and undies.  A born woodsman.

The storm started around 10pm so everyone just headed off to bed at that time.  Tate, after consuming 2 whole s'mores and at least 5 additional large marshmallows, was literally bouncing off the tent walls and was not showing any signs of slowing down as we all laid down to sleep.  You know your child is in the crazy, loopy stage when his flying jump is stopped mid-air by a solid, dad-clothes-lining-arm and he falls to the ground laughing and tries to do it again and again.  Finally his fall to the ground was hard enough to leave him thinking this game wasn't fun anymore.  After that, he had about 5 more minutes of singing on his sleeping bag and then complete silence, when I guess the sugar rush ended and he dropped into an immediate deep slumber.  Who's idea was it to go camping again?

Another summer activity that can't be missed is the Ohio State Fair.  We started with our usual favorite spot, the draft horse show, where the 6-team Belgians were pulling their wagons, all combed and braided with polished harnesses and such.  The horses at the fair are always so amazingly huge and beautiful!  It always surprises me how much I enjoy seeing them do their thing.

I think the only snacks we got this year were the famous lemonades and some mini donuts.  It was too hot for anything else.  The boys loved the cheap rides although we ran into a few problems with the height differences and who could or could not go on what ride.  Here, Tate disobediently stood up while riding a floating alligator but at least that was the slowest moving ride at the fair (I think he was just trying to up the excitement value).

Giving their obligatory wave from a pumpkin ferriswheel.

Grant was actually too tall for this ride, though I'm not sure why.  This one seemed much more fun than some of the others he was not too tall for. 
Besides these big outings we have been going to the pool a lot, playing with friends, and just enjoying being outside while the sun is still shining here in Central Ohio.