Abe's Labor Day Sunday

 Our family decided to celebrate Labor Day a day early and we started with lunch at The Cheesecake Factory at Crocker Park in Westlake, Ohio.

Look at that face!

 Our Abe is sitting on top of the world...

 ~Love~

And then...

 Father and son headed to the TRAIN!

 Tickets for Abe, Mommy, and Oma!

 Abe got to pick our train car and he chose red.

 Choo choo...

 ~The simple joys of childhood~

Next...

 We traveled to Bay Village and the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center...an amazing place where I spent hours as a child as did my children.

The Center offers interactive experiences with animals, a planetarium, and lots of programs and camps for kids.

 Now it will be Abe's turn...

 The best buddies EVER!

 Abe was interested in all of the exhibits...

 Abe was mesmerized by the snakes...

 Grandpa Joe is such a wonderful teacher...

 ~Angelic~

 Scott and Auntie Brooke had as much fun as Abe!

 The beehive was quite interesting to everyone...except for Scott.

He is highly allergic to bees.

 Abe was intrigued with the bees flying in and out of their hive.

 It was 90 degrees and the outdoor animals were quiet.

All the wildlife at the Center are in the process of being rehabilitated due to injuries sustained in the wild.

 Joe kept Abe hydrated with lots of water on this very hot day...

 The pond fish were moving...

 The fox was sound asleep...

 The owls were awake and Auntie Brooke and Grandpa Joe seem to be pointing in different directions.  Go figure...

Up next...

 My beloved Baycrafters...where I spent several years teaching children's art.

Oh, such fond memories!

 The Sally Price era is sadly over and the art colony has been updated and I must admit...it was time.

 I really wanted to see Abe climb on the caboose my dad helped move to the Baycrafters location...which has a train station theme.

My mom and dad were very active in Baycrafters as well as myself...

 Be still, my heart.

Tears of joy.

It goes on.

And finally...

 Time for a little walk along Huntington Beach!

 Abe knows what's coming next...chasing the water's edge!

This was Scott's first trip to Huntington Beach and he was captivated by the beauty of the landscape.

 Taking it all in...

 I know of no greater joy than watching my grandson experience life...

 It was time to go and Amy is definitely going to bring Abe back for a longer play time.

Back home in West Park...

 Noah, Amy, and Abe attended their neighborhood Labor Day Steak Roast.

 Abe and his Daddy played a bit of soccer in their neighborhood "island".

 Noah's artistic interpretation of Abe eating his dinner...

The neighborhood friends had a wonderful time...

Abe had the best of days and so did the rest of us!

~It's all about FAMILY~