Cincinnati-Kentucky Trip--May 19-27, 2015

Jason next to their Honda CRV.

Jason, Julie, and Ethan live on the second floor on the right side of this building.  They were so good to us!!!  The meals, entertainment, and companionship was fabulous.

Wednesday was a perfect day to go to the Cincinnati Zoo.

The animals are in very natural surroundings.

There were also fascinating botanical gardens throughout the area.   We saw three lion cubs wrestling while the lion and lioness watched.  We appreciated the plexi-glass walls that provided safety and ease of viewing.

Jason with wild dog ears.

John in the bamboo forest.

Jason, Ethan and Julie.

Ethan is very observant, quietly taking everything in, then responding.  When he gets excited he exclaims, "Woe!"

"Mom" is Ethan's favorite person.

I'd never seen an armored  Rhinoceros.

The mountain lion was as curious about Ethan as Ethan was about him.  The plexi-glass walls were essential for everyone's safety.

Kathryn Ann and John

Ethan with Grandma and Grandpa on the fake tiger.

Our group checking out the rhinoceroses.

Thursday we visited the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill near Harrodsburg, Kentucky.

 The drive was beautiful and green.  This village is 200 years old and has been restored to that time period.  It was fascinating to learn the religious history of the Shakers and the "Great Awakening" (religious) in the 1820's and 1830's.

The Shakers invented the flat broom and were into medicinal herbs and developing seeds in packets with instructions for planting.  They also took in people and taught them how to read and vocational skills.

Ethan plays peek-a-boo and has a great time running around the room.

This is a closeup of the tulip poplar, the state tree of Kentucky.

There was so much limestone in the area that they built fences with it.  The fences are about a foot wide and four feet high with solely the weight of the rocks holding it together.

Friday was our day at Mammoth Caves.  The adults took turns taking the cave tour while the others sat and watched Ethan.  The area is beautiful.

There is a very thin layer of top soil over the limestone and sandstone.  This was very evident in the cuts made by the freeways through the area.

The original entrance to Mammoth Caves.

We stopped at the Louisville Temple on Friday, then Grandma and Grandpa tended Ethan on Saturday while Julie and Jason attended a session together there.

Ethan loves to run and play ball.   He has such a cute, jaunty walk.

Ethan and Grandpa heading down the steps to go to the park.

The pond in their housing area.

An excellent park near their home.

Grandpa, Ethan, and Grandma

Tuesday we walked along the Ohio River.  The shore is beautifully landscaped in certain areas.

There are many bridges across the river.

The splash park was very inviting.

The slides, climbing wall, etc. are made for adults as well as children.  I loved the "porch swings" along the river.  They were so relaxing.

We went to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center  as well as the exhibit "Unlocking the Gates of Auschwitz Seventy Years Later."  We also checked out the LDS Family History Center on the top floor which was nice.

We saw riverboats and barges on the river but no one fishing or swimming.
We flew home with 21 returning missionaries on our flight from the Cincinnati Mission, We had a wonderful time with Julie, Jason and Ethan and are very grateful for their kindness and hospitality.