Good morning everyone! (or afternoon or evening or whenever you are reading this) Wyatt and I have a bit slower week this week as far as appointments go, and that means longer lazy mornings, which we both love.

We have been up to quite a bit around here. Most of it in and around around our house, but also some fun times as well out and about.

Let’s start with…. the out and about.

Last Friday Wyatt and I had a big day out! We started our day at the library, where we picked books to check out and also bought a few from the book sale (even though I literally just got rid of a ton of books…you all know how it is). We also caught up on the summer reading program missions, and picked up all the National Park cards and cryptid cards that he has earned.

Next we headed down the street to the art fair, as we do every year! I usually go twice, once with Wyatt in the morning and once with Billy in the evening, but this year due to weather and schedules I only made it the one time with Wyatt. We had a pretty good time, although it was so hot and humid we were melting. Wyatt was actually really droopy by the time we started back to the car and that was after not stopping at any of the booths on the other side of the street. But that was ok! We went and had fun and then came home. I didn’t feel the need to push ourselves to see everything at the expense of Wyatt being uncomfortable.

I picked up an art print from a local artist named Anthony Brass. Billy and I picked out a squirrel print from his booth last year, and this year I had Wyatt choose a print. He picked a sleeping fawn and I love it! The artist was super nice to Wyatt. He asked Wyatt if he liked to paint, and you all know that Wyatt loves it! So we shared that, and Wyatt told him that he loves to paint snails and wolves, to which the artist agreed with Wyatt, that they are pretty cool. He also showed Wyatt a huge snail that he had painted. I loved that he got down on Wyatt’s level to talk to him – not many people do that and I was surprised to see it from a younger person. It was nice.

We were starting to get really hot and gross so we popped into the ice cream parlor and shared a gigantic scoop of Moose tracks ice cream. I asked for a single – I would hate to see the double – or maybe, I wouldn’t hate it. Hmmm.

After ice cream I scurried us back to the car in search of regular air conditioning and headed home. But first a stop at my friend’s house, who had a present for me!

My friend Mary went to a book signing the other day and had wanted me to go with her. We used to go to book signings together back in the day all the time, and unfortunately I was not able to go. But Mary being the super thoughtful person that she is, not only bought me a book and had it signed, but video called me from the signing and let me “meet” the author RaeAnne Thayne virtually! There was nobody else in line at the time so it worked out and it was really neat. Ms. Thayne also included a bookmark and book darts that she had made.

We also had our very first Cub Scout committee meeting last week as well. Our committee is made up of Billy and I, my brother and sister-in-law, and Mary (see above lol). Mary and Anthony belong to the boat club (rowing boat club) and we used the board room there for our meeting. It is such a cool spot that Billy and I are going to join as well – only $40 for the whole year and it is a very cool place to watch the river and the boats. We are that much closer to making this pack a reality! We accomplished quite a lot.

Now, the home stuff! Billy has been working super hard outside on the ramp. He poured cement for the landing pads, and cleared an area of the yard near the ramp for the A/C unit. We have to move our A/C unit a few feet over now so that is our next step. Once it is moved then the boards can be put on the ramp! We are getting closer to that goal too.

I have been working on updating Wyatt’s room for ages now. This has been a long process! I have been collecting items with his help, buying new furniture that suits him, like a new low dresser that he is able to manage. It is looks like wood but isn’t! It fools everyone. It is wood framed but the drawers are fabric so that Wyatt can open them easily and even if he pulls it all the way out he can’t hurt himself. We are working on him becoming more independent this year, and changing the house to suit him. We are also making his room look outdoorsy/campy and it has been fun to find stuff for his room to echo this theme. I found some cool vintage items and he has picked out some pieces himself, like a yellow owl lamp from Target. We had to go through his books and get rid of a bunch which made me sad but … it is time to make changes. Everything is basically in place – I still have some packing up and unpacking to do, and then the finishing touches including hanging artwork, but it is coming along slowly but surely. And he loves it. Like never wants to leave it! Oh! And we picked out the curtains last night – they are a bit maximalist but I think it will be fun. You are only a little kid once!

So. We were hoping to go to the corgi dog races at a local Celtic festival but opted not to go. The weather was just too hot and humid for kiddo, and it was $50 to get in for all of us. I just couldn’t make the hour drive plus pay that if we were only going to be able to stay 30 minutes. I really wanted to go but I also didn’t want Wyatt miserable from the heat. If anyone has any ideas on how to keep a kid in a wheelchair cool in the summer I would love to hear them. I did buy a cooling towel for him but I am open to all suggestions. He has never been great in the heat but the wheelchair makes it even hotter for him.

So, I took the $50 dollars I would have spent on the tickets and booked an Airbnb near Akron. Then this morning I bought tickets for the train that runs through Cuyahoga Valley National Park! Wyatt loves trains so I hope he will like this. I bought the dome seats, that have covered windows up and around us and I think it will be awesome! It is a two hour train ride and we are going in the fall so it should be beautiful. The dome is not wheelchair accessible but Billy will be able to carry Wyatt up the stairs to our seats.

I think this is a really cool unique way for Wyatt to experience the park. As a person with mobility issues, that can be tough at times. I think this will be a fun way to do that!

Annnnd that my friends, is a wrap! Have a wonderful day, and I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile!