Niagara Falls Day 2

After lupper on Thursday, Jack and I went back to the hotel to rest, check emails etc.  I didn't realize how tired I was from walking all day!  We headed to the falls later to see them in the dark and then went for some ice cream.  Friday we woke up, went to breakfast and started our day.  We saw a video on IMAX about the falls and how a few people actually survived going down the falls.  After that we went over to the aquarium.  I wasn't too impressed with their aquarium at all, but it was in the package deal.  Our highlight was taking the Maid of the Mist boat ride which takes you near the falls.  It gives you a total new view of things.  I loved it.....even though we got soaked.  We had another "lupper", went to the hotel to crash for awhile and then headed to the falls for one last look and the beautiful fireworks at night.  So thankful for this time away with my husband!

Niagara Falls

 rapids before falls

 Oh, Canada!

 My sweetie

 Jack's stylish sandals....the only time sandals have been on his feet!

 down below the falls

 Just the two of us

 breakfast at Newark Airport

 Hurry....I'm getting soaked!

 Hard Rock

oops....there goes all my hard work, but the burger was sure good!!



Since the boys went to the Wilds last week, Jack and I decided to try to get away.  August will be our 15 year anniversary, and it is so hard for us to find someone to take all 3 kids!  I can't even begin to tell you how much research went into this trip.....trying to find the best deals...the best way to pinch pennies etc.  Thankfully the work paid off so we were able to go.  Let me say seeing the guy walk on the wire the week before did not do this place justice.  You have to see it in person.  I'm gonna break this trip down a little bit instead of posting everything at one time.    Jack and I got up at 3 am on Thursday (ugh) to catch a 5:30 am flight out to Newark.  We had a long layover and then flew to Buffalo.  From Buffalo we took a taxi to NF.  We were able to be out and about by 1pm on Thursday.  We really weren't sure where things were at but we quickly learned.    We followed the rapids and found the falls and then looked around.  We went to Cave of the Winds.....they give you a rain coat and sandals (and believe me you need them) and you get a side view of the falls.  Absolutely breathtaking.  After that we went to Hard Rock Cafe for "lupper". 

Wilds

Josh and Jake left this morning for the Wilds.  This is Josh's 3rd year and Jake's first.  They were up almost all night with excitement and I am exhausted!!  I know they will have a lot of fun.  The house certainly is quiet!!  Jenna went to the gym with me this morning, picked up Alyssa to give Melinda and Chris time to rest and we headed to the thrift stores.  We ate lunch and Jenna's friend Olivia came over and we are headed to Jumpin Jax for a couple of hours.  Jenna and I hope to do some shopping tomorrow and something fun on Wednesday and then Jack and I are leaving Thursday for a couple of days.  I'm enjoying the mom/daughter time especially since I know my baby girl will be going next year!!

Fun with Friends

Our summer has just begun, but we have been having fun with friends.  Tonight Jacob is with his friend Jackson.  Today we also watched the Creech girls (Jessica, Olivia, Alyssa) while their dad was getting out of the hospital.  We had so much fun with them.  They are so well behaved and well mannered.  Josh and Jessica also went down to get Ava so that she could play for a little while.  Monday Jenna went to her friend Olivia's house and then we picked her up Wednesday to go to the summer $1 movies with us.  I hope to have many more days of summer fun with more friends.

The Tabernacle Experience

The kids are out of school.....they have been for a week.  Of course the last week of school they don't really do anything and each class has some sort of party.  Jenna's class went to a nursing home to minister and then went to Jumpin Jax for lunch and play time.  Josh's class went to a house for a cookout and games and Jacob's class went to the park.  Before Jake's class went to the park, they went to the Tabernacle experience that the First Church of the Nazarene in Garner was hosting.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but let me say that I loved this and wish I could have gone back.  You got to move through a audio tour of all the stations and they would explain why the process was done and give scripture references to each one.  It was easy to get distracted when one of the kids MP3 player would not work and things like that.  There was SO MUCH to soak in and think about and it gave you a sense of what they really went through.  I wish I could have one day for each station as it was so much for my mind to soak in at one time.  One station had the place where you took your burnt offerings.  They wouldn't allow pictures, but I did take some of the outside.  Here is the snake on the pole and a couple of pictures of the signs of the tribes.  Here is the info off the web that tells more. (after the pictures)  If it ever comes back in this area, I would recommend it. 

From TabernacleExperience.com:

The Tabernacle Experience is not a museum.



It is not a theatre production.



It is an Encounter with the Living God!



Just as the original Tabernacle of the Wilderness moved about the Sinai desert, our full scale replica moves about the United States impacting the lives of individuals, churches and communities. Our guests engage in a 55-minute audio driven journey through the life size Tabernacle participating at each of the 9 interactive stations.



Jesus the Christ is revealed in each aspect of The Tabernacle.

Beach Trip 2012

                                                                 our resort

                                                             from our balcony....Tangled

                                                             Josh playing the game

                                                                    look at my muscles

                                                                    Jenna's snail

                                                             Jake's fish and pole

                                          our room (Jack watching us play putt putt)

                                                                 my pretty girl

                                                     Josh playing putt putt

                                                  LOVE THIS STORE!!! (and the name)

                                                                  Clemson territory

                                                                         Just chillin"

                                                                    ready!

                                                         I'm ready for you waves!

Since Jack has only been at his job for a year, he doesn't have as much vacation time as he used to.  We managed to squeeze in a long weekend at the beach.  We usually receive money every year at Christmas, so we put that aside and got away for a few days.  We always love and cherish this time as a family.  I love the sand between my toes....just sitting and relaxing.  I jogged along the beach all three days, and I so miss it right now!  There is something about jogging and hearing the waves and not worrying about how far you jogged or how much longer you have to go (although we did measure it later:) ).  The kids enjoyed the pools and water slides, playing putt putt and the new bean bag game (all at the resort) The resort also had kids activities all day long....some were for a fee others were free.  Jacob and Jenna enjoyed the man that made balloon "toys".  On Tuesday night they had a giant screen in which they played "Tangled".  They gave away free drinks and popcorn.  The good part about this was that we could see the movie right from our balcony.  Even though they have seen Tangled, they enjoyed seeing it outside, in the dark on a big screen.  I thought it was pretty cool myself.  Of course we ate too much and had our regular traditional run to get hot Krispy Kreme donuts.  I'm not happy with myself right now, but it is a tradition that we follow.  Jack and I realized on this trip how quickly our kids are growing.  Just a few years ago Jake and Jenna would not get into the water unless they jumped in to our arms with life jackets on.....now they are all over the place and independent!  Thankful for these family memories that I hope our children will cherish someday just as I do now.