S-P-O-I-L-E-D

As I mentioned in my previous post, Molly Kate and Mikias came to stay with us for a few days in July. We had an absolute blast with them, and cannot wait until they come back for a visit! The great thing about being an aunt and uncle is that you can spoil them rotten, and then send them back home! We played and played while they were here. We went to the pool, the park, Bottle Tree, Square Books Jr., and all the greats of Oxford! Mikias was eating a cinnamon roll at Bottle Tree one morning, and he said, "I love Oxford! I want to stay here." That made me so happy! My sister said when he arrived home he asked, "Mikias go back to Oxford in 2 days?" Sadly my sister had to break the news that it would be a while before he could come back. We are hoping they can all make a trip down for a football game this fall!

Mikias at the pool

Molly Kate at the pool

Mikias and Molly Kate

Mikias at Bottle Tree

Molly Kate at Bottle Tree

Cutest pirate I have ever seen!

We bought this for Mikias

at Square Books Jr.

Mikias and Molly Kate at the

Chick-fil-A playground

Mikias loved his bubble bath!

I had a little fun too!

Ice Cream before bedtime!

Only at your aunt and uncle's house!

Happy Happy Birthday!

July is a month filled with birthdays in our family. My birthday is the 12th, Kyle's is the 21st, my Mom's is the 22nd, and Molly Kate's (my niece) is the 23rd. We definitely do a lot of celebrating in July! I was not really looking forward to my birthday this year, because I was turning 28 which is two years away from 30, and I have no children. However, my sweet husband organized a dinner with all my close friends in Oxford, and it brought much joy to the day! Also, my niece, nephew, and mother were in town for a few days, and they were able to celebrate with me too! It turned about to be a very special day thanks to my friends and family! I am beyond blessed! I guess 28 is not so bad after all! Maybe this will be my year!

Mom and Dad took me to

lunch at Nagoya to celebrate my birthday!

It appears Molly Kate likes the fire in this picture.

After it was over she looked at the chef,

and said, "You can not do that fire no more."

Mikias loved catching the food!

Molly Kate, Me, and Mikias

Molly Kate and Mikias loved helping

me open my birthday gifts!

Kyle, Molly Kate, Me, and Mikias

Mom, Molly Kate, Me, and Mikias

Missy and Me

Delicious birthday cake

that my husband got me!

Corrie, Audrey, Me, Molly Kate,

Missy, Ellen, and Etta Catherine

Kyle and Me

Mom and Me

Kyle's 29th Birthday Dinner

at Ajax

One Helluva Ride

While in Louisville (we covered a lot on this trip), Kyle and I took a mini trip to place he has been dreaming of since he was a child. CEDAR POINT!! The Roller Coaster Capital of the World! Cedar Point is about four hours from Louisville, and we have always talked about going. This was the perfect opportunity, so we took it! We spent the night in Cleveland, Ohio, visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and got to see an Indians game at Progressive Field. Kyle and I are trying to see all 30 of the MLB parks together...this made #9. We had a fun evening at the game just soaking up one of America's greatest traditions...baseball!

The next morning, we drove about an hour to Sandusky, Ohio. Sandusky borders Lake Erie, and the views from Cedar Point are gorgeous, especially from the top of a roller coaster. Before meeting Kyle, I would not even go near roller coasters. I was always that girl waiting on the side for everyone to get off the ride. Within a few months of dating Kyle, we were off to Disney World and Islands of Adventure, and he had me riding every coaster in the park. I still get nervous while waiting in line, my palms still sweat sometimes as they are gripping to the handle bar, and I often close my eyes. But, I ride them all, and these coasters at Cedar Point have some of the biggest drops in the world! I was definitely holding on for dear life! We had a blast though, and covered the entire park in one day, all sixteen coasters and some more! I am so thankful that my husband is a kid at heart!

Kyle at The Rock and Roll

Hall of Fame Museum

The lyrics of "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Bill Joel.

Look closely and you will see Ole Miss!

Me at The Rock and Roll

Hall of Fame Museum

Progressive Field

Home of The Indians

Kyle and I with the mascot

Any "Major League" fans?!?

Kyle and I at the game

The Indians Won!

Kyle and I outside the stadium

Kyle's impersonation of Lebron James

RAPTOR

Raptor is 3,790-feet long, stands 137-feet tall, goes upside down six times and flies

at a top speed of 57 mph. When it opened it was the tallest, fastest and

longest inverted roller coaster in the world.

MANTIS

Mantis is a multielement "stand-up" roller coaster. Three specially designed trains allow riders to experience this 3,900-foot long tubular steel tracked roller coaster while standing up. Mantis begins with a 145-foot tall lift hill and a 137-foot initial descent that accelerates the trains 60 mph.

MAVERICK

Maverick is a 4,450-foot-long course that propels the train to the top of a 105-foot-tall first hill. From there, it's not straight down - it's more than straight down! Maverick will take its passengers down to Earth at an astonishing 95-degree angle at speeds of up to 57 mph to within five feet above the ground! From there, the train will hug the terrain as it twists and banks around hairpin turns with quick but smooth changes in direction. Throughout the 2-minute, 30-second ride, passengers will also experience eight "airtime-filled hills," three inversions and a second launch through a dark tunnel that will leave them in awe as they

reach speeds of 70 mph!

MEAN STREAK

At the time of its debut Mean Streak was the tallest, fastest wooden coaster in existence. Built in 1991, this wooden forest of hills and thrills features a stunning 161-foot-tall first hill, a blazing top speed of 65 mph and more than 5,400 feet of track.

MAGNUM XL-200

When Cedar Point debuted Magnum XL-200 in 1989 it broke the record book for roller coasters. This amazing roller coaster was the first in history to stand more than 200-feet tall. Magnum XL-200 staked its claim as the tallest (205 feet) and fastest (72 mph) roller coaster in the world. This mile long thrill machine offers riders an incredible view and appears to actually drop into Lake Erie, but fortunately turns just in time to run along the shoreline before doubling back.

TOP THRILL DRAGSTER

Cedar Point amazed scream machine buffs the world over with the debut of Top Thrill Dragster in 2003, the tallest and fastest roller coaster on Earth. This 420-foot tall, 120-mph steel roller coaster is Cedar Point's 16th scream machine. Top Thrill Dragster is an Intamin "Rocket Coaster" featuring a hydrualic launch that shoots the trains from 0 to 120 mph in just 4 seconds. The 16-passenger trains then "reach for the sky" as they climb up a 420-foot tall tower, twisting 90 degrees while ascending. Cresting the apex atop 42 stories the trains start a 400-foot vertical drop with a 270-degree spiral twist. While in descent Top Thrill Dragster once again reaches speeds in excess of 100 mph!

Yeah, Kyle rode this one alone!

MILLENIUM FORCE

Millennium Force has an "out and back" layout in an L-shape that begins with a 310-foot tall lift hill that parallels Lake Erie. This 6,595-foot long scream machine includes a 310-foot, 169-foot and 182-foot tall hills, a stomach stealing 300-foot drop at a near vertical 80 degree angle, two dark tunnels and three overbanked turns. Since its debut, Millennium Force has consistently been voted in polls the No. 1 steel roller coaster in the world.

This one was the most frightening for me! A 310 foot drop

with only a lap bar!

Kyle held me captive at Cedar Point!