ASHLEY’S CORNER SUMMER GOAL: A GOOD PARK WITH A FENCE!
It’s a highlight of the summertime every year: As the kids get ready for their vacation from school, I have them all sit down and make their Summer Bucket List. Each of them always has certain activities they want to check off. It’s fun to see what they choose. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is always right up there, and it can spark some sparring: “No, I have the zoo on my list! You need to pick something else!” When that happens, we just take the zoo in different sections on multiple outings. They also like the Newport Aquarium. The boys love going to see the Cincinnati Reds play, and Roz likes visiting indoor play places. There are a million of those to choose from, and we hit those on rainy days. They are geared to younger kids, but so far, Mac hasn’t aged out of any of them. He will still go and help the little kids. This may be the last year we can all sneak into those places before Mac starts saying, “I’m not going there!” We also make a parks list. We have so many cool parks within a 20-minute drive. I plan our park outings around three criteria: One, does it have an easily accessible bathroom? Two, does it have shade? And three, does it have a fence? Those are my three requirements — bathroom, shade, and fence. Once we make our list, it’s fun to take turns: “Who gets to pick the park today?”
Then, we pack a lunch and drive there. The kids really like West Fork Park on the west side. It has a treehouse structure, a maze, a zipline, a toddler area, and it is fenced in. (I love a good park with a fence! I’m always worried about somebody escaping.) The downside is that there isn’t a lot of shade, so we try to go early, before it gets too hot.
Another favorite is Makino Park in Mason. It has a play structure, a toddler area, features for kids of different ages, and a cool zipline — but it doesn’t have a lot of shade either. We will also probably check out a new Ninja Course that opened last year at Central Park Playground in Forest Park. And there will definitely be more sports the kids want to do.
I love these summer outings. It will be fun to see what else the kids come up with this year.
Take a Break
TERIYAKI BEEF SKEWERS
Ingredients
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
• 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar • 1 cup soy sauce • 1/2 cup pineapple juice (optional) • 1/2 cup water • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large garlic cloves, chopped • 4 lbs boneless round steak, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices • Bamboo skewers soaked in water
Directions
1. In a large bowl, whisk brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, water, vegetable oil, and garlic together. Drop beef slices into the mixture and stir to coat. 2. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours. 3. Remove beef from marinade, shaking to remove excess liquid. 4. Thread beef slices on skewers in a zig-zag pattern. 5. Preheat grill to medium heat and lightly oil the grate. 6. Cook beef skewers for about 3 minutes per side until the meat is cooked through.
Solution on Page 4
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