Our week in PA this year was a bit....different. Chris' sciatica really flared up on him the morning we were going to leave which made for a pretty painful ride up for him. That night we ended up in the ER to try and get some pain relief. The 3 shots only helped until 3am and Chris spent most of the week in the bedroom trying not to move. We all celebrated when he made it to the recliner on Friday (6 days later!!) for 4 hours.
The kids enjoyed getting some time with him in the bedroom since a Harry Potter movie was on ;)
The rest of us made a few outings during the week. We enjoyed the putt-putt course:
Don't all golfers wear socks to their knees??
Gramps cooled Owen off with the hose:
Owen helped wash off the window that Willow decorated with Christmas window clings. Christmas in July anyone??
Here's the best way to keep from getting dizzy on here. Owen's version (he's always gotta step it up a notch)
The kids made a sweet sign to hang up in the room with Chris:
Niagra Falls is just over 2 hours away and we'd never taken the kids but this was the year!! Gramps and I took the kids up for most of the day and had a great time! There's a fun rest stop with a bridge over the interstate where you can watch the trucks go underneath you. It really feels like some of the trucks are just going to crash into you! It was fun to see the drivers wave back and some truckers even honked for us!! Check it out here and here.
We got tickets to go on the Maid of the Mist boat ride that goes on the river at the bottom of the falls. After standing in the 90-degree heat to get on, it felt really refreshing!
Before: Hot and dry
The only time I'd been to Niagra Falls was when I was 8 years old! Looks like they've gone with a cheaper poncho version these days ;)
American Falls on the left, Bridal Veil Falls on the right.
See the people on those walkways by the falls? We did that too!
Horseshoe Falls
After: Wet and refreshed!!
Ice cream helped cool us off even more!
The pedestrian bridge to the other side:
See those people in yellow ponchos? That would be us about an hour after this photo!
Willow was super excited about this bear that she appropriately named Niagra:
We got tickets to the Cave of the Winds which allows you to walk beside the falls and even stand directly under the falls! The kids weren't interested in going but their "mean" mom wanted them to truly experience Niagra Falls, not knowing when we'd be back, and it ended up being their favorite part!!
We even got nifty water shoes as souvenirs!
What looks like rocks are really a bajillion seagulls (and the Canadian version of the Maid of the Mist):
Before: Hot and dry
(Yes, we kept all of our ponchos!!)
There were tons of baby seagulls too...just feet from the walkways. This mom had a baby and unhatched egg:
Sooooo many seagulls!
The bottom of the falls, outside the spray zone:
Closer!!
There were a lot of people wanting to experience the falls on them so you had to weasel your way to the corner. My phone was already drenched so I didn't brave moving 8-10 feet closer to get a picture of the kids in the corner. There is no photo evidence, but I weaseled my way to the corner too!
Can you spot Gramps and Willow near the middle?
Willow went to the corner probably 3-4 times. She loved it!
The poncho only keeps you dry if you keep your hood on ;)
After: Wet and refreshed!
We had dinner before we drove home. We always joke that Owen needs to learn how to eat pasta before he goes on his first date. We've still got time...
We enjoyed watching most of the town's 4th of July parade. The kids got lots of candy!
One of the kids' favorite things to do is go to Sara and Murph's camp site. They enjoy playing in the creek, the pool, the playground, the dogs, and s'mores. It's a kid heaven, really! We enjoyed spending time there with family on the 4th, then went back the next day for another visit with Linnie.
The boys had a good strategy for the water balloon fight: throw the balloons double-fisted, then get more from the girls' bag ;)
Bubbles with Joyce!
S'mores!
Owen's clearly excited about the topping choices for the popcorn!
The campsite had water games for the kids. Our introverted kids each took one turn throwing bags at the target then moved on to the pool.
I was disappointed that they didn't want to sit in the chair and risk getting a bucket of water dumped on their head. I totally would've thrown the bean bags!!
I love how impressed Linnie is with my handstand ;)
Sign us up for synchronized swimming!
Owen wanted to take this picture of Mallie because she looked "so cute."
Poor Dakota wasn't a fan of the thunder. (picture by Owen also)
Gramps showed Owen some of Chris's baseball card collection:
The drive home was much more bearable for Chris with some heavy-hitter drugs and his chair reclined all the way back. The kids even did pretty well sitting next to each other in the car. Now that we're home, Chris has had an appointment with the doctor, chiropractor (x2), physical therapist, MRI, and upcoming orthopedist. We're hoping he'll be straightened out soon!!
Alli left her food nice and sorted out for us when we got back. Silly cat doesn't like the chunks of chicken in her food.
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