Jet Boat!

Yesterday we continued our adventure by taking a jet boat ride through the rapids. Because I'm prone to feeling seasick, I'm not a huge fan of water sports. I knew that the kids really wanted to do this activity, so I swung by the drugstore on the way to the dock. I didn't want anything to interfere with our fun.

My goodness they had a great time. The big kids were able to secure the best spot on the boat. They were up front, tackling the waves at the head of the boat. Timmy and I were in the back (he couldn't sit up front because he was too little). 

Even though we were in the back, we had a great time. Timmy giggled and cheered throughout the boat ride, egging on the rapids with jeers like "you've got nothing on us wavy" and "is that all you have wavy" with each bump and splash. Even the people sitting next to us enjoyed his enthusiasm.

After the exciting boat ride, we went to the Hard Rock Cafe for an early dinner. The Cousin Crew really wanted to go to the Hard Rock and were excited to check it off their bucket list. They were excited to look at all the memorabilia and to experience what they believe to be an iconic experience. 

All good things must come to an end, and today we are packing up from our adventure and heading home. Even though we are leaving, I know that we created memories that will last a lifetime. The kids will always remember this trip, and I hope that they will always smile when reminiscing on these past few days. 

Niagara Tour Day

 Yesterday was tour day at Niagara. I wanted to make sure that we experienced all the highlights, so I opted for a guided tour to experience the Falls. The tour was amazing! Everything from our guide (Larry the Legend) to the experiences was incredible. At the risk of sounding cliche, yesterday was an experience of a lifetime.

It is hard to pinpoint the favorite activities of the day, but among the list are the Cave in the Winds and the Maid of the Mist. In the Cave in the Winds, we were able to walk up to the Falls from below. The view was awe inspiring. The kids absolutely loved the section where the Falls fell onto them. They danced and played for about 30 minutes, giggling about being in Niagara Falls and soaking in every moment.

The Maid of the Mist was another incredible experience. Seeing all of the Falls on a single boat helped to put the pure scale of these wonders into perspective. The kids were again all giggles as they enjoyed being splashed by the water. They were also thoroughly tickled that their cell phone location pinged them as being in Canada. Despite never getting off the boat, they now fancy themselves international travelers.

After the tour we returned to the hotel, changed and swam for a few hours. After we ate dinner, Timmy was exhausted but still managed to muster some energy to play in the fountains and to assist with some magic tricks. The older cousins hung out in the Executive Lounge penthouse while I settled Timmy and got him to sleep. 

I don't know what is on tap for today. I told the Cousin Crew that we would do whatever they wanted, but it had to be unanimous. I'm excited to see what they decided!

Niagara Falls

 After 6 hours driving, we finally pulled into the hotel at our secret adventure.  Greetings from Niagara Falls!  I wish I had a camera on the kids when they realized where we were headed.  They were so excited that they couldn't speak.

After checking into our family hotel suite, we grabbed dinner and headed out to explore. What an adorable little area! The cobblestone roads around the falls are lined with quaint shops, restaurants, attractions and sidewalk games.  

Today we are heading out on the grand tour.  We will be riding the Maid of the Mist, going through the Cave of the Winds and seeing the falls from just about every angle and orientation..  

It is going to be a great day

!

Aunt Peggy Awesome

I am ridiculously excited for today's adventure. The kids (minus Timmy, who has been awake for awhile) are still sleeping, but soon I will take them up to start the day. Last night I gave them a list of items to pack, which created confusion and intrigue concerning our final destination. Per Aunt Peggy Adventure tradition, they have no idea where we are going or what we are doing. 

I can't post any details this morning because I am certain the kids are going to read this blog for clues. (Nice try guys, but it won't work!)  Stay tuned for pictures after we arrive at our destination. 

This week is going to be Aunt Peggy Awesome!

Surprise

We had a nice albeit quiet anniversary. I spent much of the day working while Scott relaxed and watched movies with the boys. In the evening we all got dressed up and headed out for a nice dinner. It was nice to return to our favorite restaurant, even if we were nervous about the amount of people. 

Today the boys and I are packing up and heading to Pennsylvania for a week. We haven't spent a lot of time at my Mom's this summer. I am looking forward to hanging out and hearing the giggles of the Cousins when they are reunited.

Truth be told, I have exciting plans with the Cousin Crew. They have no idea, but my adventure has been in the works for about six months. I'm proud of myself for keeping a secret for this long! I can't wait until Monday afternoon when the secret is revealed.

Stay tuned...

Anniversary

I think I may have overdone it during our bed construction project. My leg has been achy and my back is reminding me that I am no longer in my twenties. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm closer to fifty than I am to forty. I can no longer exert myself without ripples of discomfort being felt throughout my body.

Thankfully, I was able to relax and play in the pool. Everything feels better in water, even when the depth is only four feet. When I was done playing and splashing with Hamlet, my body was tired but no longer sore. I'll take fatigue over pain every time!

I'm glad to be feeling better because today is not just another day of summertime fun. Today Scott and I are celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary. We don't have grand plans, but I suspect we will be going out for dinner. 

Happy Anniversary Scott!

Some Assembly Required

Robby's new bed arrived yesterday. I was optimistic about assembly when the truck dropped off two (albeit large) boxes. I was hoping that fewer boxes meant that it would not require much assembly. When we opened the first box, I knew that my theory was wrong.

The manufacturer managed to fit a lot of pieces into a single box! Scott and Robby unpacked and organized the pieces while I set up Timmy with a bag of Doritos and the SpongeBob Movie. When everything was ready, we started to work. 

Working methodically through the directions, we were making astonishing progress. Robby even boasted that the assembly was much smoother than he anticipated. It was in that moment that I realized that he had jinxed us. We managed to assemble a piece on backwards, forcing us to disassemble 3/4 of everything we had just done.

After reassembling the pieces in the correct orientation, we continued trudging through the project. Three hours later, Robby had a fully assembled teen loft with futon. In reality, it probably should have taken us about 90 minutes but we hit a few "snags."

Even though it took us longer than it should have and involved a few more curse words than I care to admit, the bed assembling project was a success. Now we are just waiting for the futon mattress (sold separately of course) to arrive. In the meantime, we put a twin mattress on the platform so that we could get a feel for the look.  Robby is delighted!