The Heat is On in the Land of the Free!

Whoever thought, that we would be thankful for the relief that an 82F/28C day offers! Well today's temperature is substantially cooler than what North East Ohio has been experiencing over the past week. Temperatures have consistently been in the upper 90's (35C+), and even our little pool, which we look to for temporary relief from the heat, is now at 93 degrees (34C). So the only way to escape the excessive heat is to take refuge indoors where the air conditioner is running continuously!

Since I missed the blog last week, let me summarize it in a paragraph.
Friday night was Josh's Family Fun Night, and he opted for dessert at Menchies! On Saturday night, the boys had a babysitter, while Liesel and I went to her friend's surprise birthday party at a restaurant in Cleveland. On Sunday, in 90 degree (33C+) weather, I made use of my father's day gift, and easily removed the railings from our wrap-around porch! Take a look at the BEFORE and AFTER photos below:

That evening, after dinner, we headed out to McDonalds for some dessert, and then found ourselves a great vantage point to watch some Independence Day fireworks. As I mentioned last week, the entire program was running an hour later than scheduled due to an earlier thunderstorm, so the fireworks only got underway after 11pm. It was an impressive show, and my boys manage to stay awake even though it was way after their bedtime!

Independence Day was a few of days later, and was another scorcher. By 10am the temperature was heading quickly into the 90s (33C+). I had to mow, since we were having a bunch of friends over that evening to celebrate with us. Mowing almost killed me as perspiration poured off my body. I even experienced a strange tingling sensation in my limbs, which is not a good sign! Afterward I sought refuge in the air-conditioned house and quickly downed half a gallon of lemonade! The rest of the day, was dedicated to getting the place ready for our guests, laying tables, preparing the food and drinks and last minute cleaning. Our friends arrived later that afternoon, and we had a fantastic time together. The kids spent the whole time in the pool, while some of us sat outside keeping an eye on them, while other's preferred the cooler environment in the house. I grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner, but Liesel's desserts stole the show! Cupcakes decorated in red, white and blue frosting and sprinkles, ice cream sandwiches with red.white and blue sprinkles, and even water melon cut in the shape of stars! A good time was had by all!

This weekend started a day early for us, since I got Friday off for all the extra hours I have been putting in at work. Even though the National Weather Service had issued another Excessive Heat warning, Liesel and I wanted to take our boys for a bike ride. It wasn't your average bike ride, since this one was in a National Park. The path runs along side the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway, which allows cyclists to catch a ride back to their starting point, for a very nominal fee. So we left home at 8am to ensure we'd miss the heat of the day. When we arrived, we unloaded the bikes and headed out on a 3 mile ride to the next train station. The Cuyahoga Valley is really beautiful, and the cycling path takes you through luscious green forests and along winding rivers. We cycled a total of 3 miles, before getting to the train station, where we could sit down and relax while waiting for the train to arrive. The train arrived about half an hour later, and our bikes were loaded into a specially designated car, and we climbed into the comfort of an air-conditioned car and enjoyed the leisurely trip back to the car park!

On Saturday, Nathan and Liesel went shopping for school supplies, while Josh and I relaxed at home. That afternoon, we found the perfect outdoor activity that could keep us cool, washing my car! Nathan and I gave my car a thorough cleaning while enjoying the cool spray! That evening, we dropped the boys off with another babysitter, while Liesel and I went to friends in the neighborhood who were having a baby shower! They are adopting a baby from Russia, and to hear some of the stories about orphanages there made me realize how blessed we truly are!
Finally, as mentioned in the opening paragraph, it was a little cooler today, 82F (28C). It was still warm enough to wash Liesel's car after church, and then to enjoy some downtime with the boys in the pool! You've got to love Summertime :)