Part Two: A Quick End-of-Summer Getaway

It's a little weird to be a tourist in a town where we used to live.  A lot has changed and yet so much remains the same in Cincinnati. It was the quintessential trip down memory lane. And frankly, it was more enjoyable taking five children to those places that  I once considered lonely - like the parks when I only had one child not knowing anyone to play with.  I realized how much more joyful our life now that we don't want for friends and playdates.  It also helps that the kids have built-in playmates in each other.  The Lord has been good to me, that I can say for sure.

As promised, more pictures in random order - 

Church of The Immaculata at Mt. Adams - I normally don't take praying pictures but I want this moment on permanent record of my sweet six-year-old in supplication

we used to do the Good Friday Pilgrimage at this church

you get treated to this view at the end of the steep climb

peach ice cream from the best ice cream parlor on earth - Aglamesis in Oakley - sorry Johnson's, Velvet or Graeter's, Aglamesis is truly the best.

they sell this at Aglamesis, I was so tempted to buy it but I already spent too much on ice cream ;-)

St. Cecilia Church in Oakley - this is where we got married

one of the reasons why we love IKEA

all the donuts and cookies were inhaled so only the box remained from one of my favorite bakeries, Busken

at the iconic Fountain Square

take him out to the ballgame

we used to spend our lazy afternoons here drinking beer and eating hotdogs

at the Great American Ball Park gift shop

they're number one!

the impressive Gothic Revival architecture of St. Cecilia

love the architectural details. I walked out of these doors a married woman more than fourteen years ago

view of Lunken airport from Ault Park

There's still a ton of pictures to sort through but you get the idea.  You just need to visit Cincinnati for yourself ;-)  Now I need to get out of vacation mode and start thinking back to school!