Summer Vacation. Day 2.

We woke up and made quick work of our trip across the border. And then we hopped off the highway for some lunch only to find out that a crash on the highway was going to severely delay our arrival time. So, in true Caleb fashion, we drove along all the backroads until reaching our destination. While I can’t say that it was any faster than sitting in traffic, I do know that the drive through Canada’s scenic wine country was a nice change of pace. So pretty! And, who knew Canada had so many vineyards?

{The kids as we were crossing the border.}

After we arrived at Niagara Falls, we settled in for a few short minutes before making the two block trek from our hotel to the Falls. This is what we saw. 

And because water that you can’t swim in is completely uninteresting to this group of kids, we almost immediately set off for the Midway--a money sucking sideshow--up the hill from the Falls. Think Vegas for kids. 

We happened upon the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum. Perhaps the kids’ most favorite museum to date. We learned more useless facts in 1 hour than Google has been able to spit out to Mason over the course of this past year. It was entertaining for all! And, the vortex--what may have been the crowd favorite--had the kids laughing like crazy (and Caleb and I feeling nauseous). 

We finished off our first day of actual vacation by watching the nightly fireworks display shot over the Falls. As luck would have it, our hotel has the perfect view of the Falls from the pool deck, so we cozied under blankets and sat on lounge chairs to take it all in! 

{View from our pool deck. Not too shabby!}

{The Falls change colors every few minutes. So cool!}

{Fireworks photo credit: Camryn. Shot from the perspective of a 5-year-old lying horizontally in my lap.}

Summer Vacation. Day 1.

With plans to head to Niagara Falls on Sunday, we decided to leave a day early and travel halfway, which landed us in Lansing, Michigan. But before arriving in Lansing, we swung through this little piece of kiddie heaven. 

{The kids were all in for a round of putt putt golf until about the fourth hole when all interest was lost.}

Next up: This crazy tall contraption and zip line course. The kids loved it. And because Camryn was too small to travel solo, I was the lucky nominee to escort her around while Caleb relaxed with a beer several stories below.}

{It was a lot of fun! I would pick defying death with my kids over having a beer any day!}

Last up: Go karts! Jacob was tall enough and old enough to successfully lie about his age to score driver of his own kart. The rest of us doubled up for a fun race!}

{Caleb and Mason’s kart got pulled on the first lap with a flat tire, which ensured Camryn and me a first place finish. Yay, girls!}

We arrived at the hotel an hour before the pool closed, which gave the kids plenty of time to splash around in the tiny hole of water with 20 other obnoxiously loud children. Day one for the win!

Cousins. The final installment.

Yesterday we spent our last Wednesday together exploring Lincoln Park Zoo.

{The weather was perfect as were the views!}

{Oh, hi, Black Bear.}

{A little bit of frozen sugar to keep the energy level on high!}

{My monkeys sitting on monkeys.}

{A quick carousel ride before hitting the road. And had we known that our drive home would move at the same speed as the carousel, we may have considered an overnight in Chicago.  Nearly 3 hours to travel 30 miles is no bueno!}

Cousins. Week 6. A double whammy.

We spent two days with the cousins this week doing two very different things!

On Tuesday we went blueberry picking at a farm not too far from home. We even tricked my dad in to joining us in the chaos! 

And after what seemed like hours of picking, but in actuality was probably only 30 minutes, we headed back to pay for our loot—5.5 pounds, not including the 10 pounds we collectively ate as we picked—while the kids played at the playground. 

And yesterday we saw Hotel Transylvania 3. Super cute movie with no real message to take away, but the kids were introduced to the Macarena. Both the song and the dance. So there was that. 

*Picture taken in a very bright outside after having been in a very dark inside. Hahaha! 

Day Trippin’.

My mom and I took the kids to Springfield for a day spent in our state’s capital. 

{Our first stop: lunch. This restaurant was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and I believe it qualified as both a diner and a dive. Camryn took a look at the exterior of the building and announced, “I don’t think the food here will be good at all.” Jacob thought the food was good enough to eat all of his, half of Camryn’s, some of mine, and a bite of Mason’s. The waitresses’ shirts said “eat it and beat it,” so we did.}

{Next up: The Governor’s Mansion. We were among the first visitors to tour the building on its first day open after extensive renovations. And, I can say that 2/3 of my children have now pooped in the mansion. The tour was that interesting. So on to another house tour...}

{Lincoln’s house. The tour was great. The kids were engaged, and we all got to touch the same banister that Lincoln used nearly 150 years ago. That was pretty neat!}

{A quick stop at Lincoln’s tomb where the kids rubbed the statue’s nose for good luck before heading inside the memorial.}

{One final stop before hitting the road: The Capital Building. I challenged the kids by asking, “who is going to have the best smile?” And that is what Mason came up with. Head shaking.}

We had fun learning about our history, and the kids had even more fun road tripping in my parent’s Tesla, stopping at car charging stations, and requesting songs on the radio. And after 5 hours with three kids crammed in a back seat, I am now confident in my decision to drive a car with three rows of seating... 

Cousins. Week 5.

Back by popular demand: a trip to Blackberry Farms, where there are no blackberries but...

The kids rode the carousel. Twice.

{This girl prefered to ride side-saddle.}

{And Jacob preferred to act as if he were on a bucking bronco!}

And then they rode the real horses. 

{Mason was over-the-moon to ride the horse “with a really big wiener.” His observation.}

And then we all hopped aboard a train to cool off. And scream obnoxiously loud in the tunnel. Camryn has been training me for that moment for the past five years!

And then, before our picnic lunch, blue slushees, and trip to the playground, the three oldest and I ventured around the lake in a paddle boat. 

{I was partnered with Mason. Lots of fun until it was our turn to paddle the boat!}

Another great Wednesday in the books! 

Filled.

Mason had a cavity, and yesterday he took care of it during Camryn’s cleaning appointment. And this momma was in constant motion between the two rooms because no one wanted to be left alone!

The first kid cavity in our family left this boy feeling a little nervous. And tense.

But, alas, it was super easy to fill and it was the cold water spray—not the shot to the gum—that Mason complained about. Way to go, buddy!

Five minutes later, and he was good to go. And once the numbness wore off (he said it felt like he had a gumball in his cheek) he was released from ice cream to a solid food dinner of jelly and jelly sandwich. Hold the peanut butter. 

Cousins. Week 4.

This week’s adventure included our annual train ride a few suburbs away. 

{Something fun about sitting on the second level of a moving vehicle. And something even more fun about walking around on the second level of a moving vehicle for nearly the full duration of the 19 minute ride...}

{Our annual round of bowling in the underground dive alley. This year Jacob took first. And finally bowled a higher score than Camryn!}

{The fountain at the train station. This year, all bodies stayed out of the water...}

Not pictured: Playing at the park, eating at the restaurant, or having ice cream. We packed a full day into a 3-hour trip with lots of time to spare! 

Another great trip with the cousins! 

Sick.

Never mind picnics and fireworks, this year we are trying something new: strep throat. 

This kid. A super sore throat and a high temp prompted an afternoon visit to the walk-in clinic today. A quick throat swab and a prescription later, and we were on our way to DQ for ice cream treats and the pharmacy for some meds. And while Jacob rests in the air conditioning, the other two are off contaminating the neighborhood.

Happy Fourth, y’all!