I Want to Slide Down on My Butt



Niagra Falls.  Isn't it gorgeous?  Everyone should go - at least once.  Correction - everyone should go at least once and ride the Maid of the Mist.  I knew when we rode the boat it would take us close to the base of the falls, but I had no idea HOW close we would be. 

Incredible. 

Awesome. 

Breathtaking.

Even the baby falls were amazing.             

We took all the babies on the Maid of the Mist.  Ella LOVED it.  If you've never ridden, you have no idea that you get soaked and it's a little scary - this of course is why my little thrill-seeker was having such a great time.  She was laughing and screaming and waving her arms around - meanwhile, Maggie and Karlie are not really enjoying themselves at all. 

When we got off the boat, the hubs (who took Karlie) and I took turns going up the stairs on the side of the falls.  Ok, that was crazy.  You could barely make it up to the top with all the wind and waves coming at you!  Karlie was petrified, and still, all she has to say about the biggest waterfall ever is..."I want to slide down on my butt."

Still.  That's it.  It was the biggest waterfall ever, and she wants to slide down on her butt. 

Crazy kids.

Farm Girls

We are in New York, first leg of our trip.  It is one of the most beautiful parts of the country that I have ever seen.  The people are unbelievable - extremely nice and REAL.  We're staying on Stephen's (the hubs) Aunt's dairy farm - I have never seen so many cows in one place at a time.  Every morning we have to take a trip around the farm and see all the cows, and every night we have to say goodnight to them.  The very first of one of these trips, all of our girls ended up covered in poop running and falling through the barn and had to be hosed off-it felt a lot like home, except at our house it's usually some mud puddle they made.  Because of our excursion, every time Karlie sees a cow, real or not, she exclaims, "they have really big poops and pees."  It's still funny now, a hundred of such exclamations ago.

Yesterday we went to ride horses and then to a Cider Mill.  The girls were unbelievable.  We could barely keep Karlie off of the horse long enough to let the babies ride!  She was a natural! 

Maggie loved it too.  She was all smiles the entire time.  When we took her off, she would follow the horse around the arena yelling.

Ella on the other hand wasn't too sure she was into it.  She was a little peeved that we kept picking her up out of the sand she was eating.

She perked right up when we put Mags on the horse with her though.

And here is all three - what a picture!  They all had a blast! 
Afterwards we went to the Cider Mill and got to pick out the tastiest apples we've ever had, then feed the ducks.  How bored are my kids going to be when we get home?

Oh well, can't wait to see what they'll think of "the biggest waterfall ever"!

On the Road Again

Actually it's literal.  We are on the road to upstate New York as I am typing this.  Vacation Time!!!!!!!  It was mandatory - the hubs' boss told him to go on vacation and he'd throw some cash our way.  He told us to get all the way away.  Sooooo, after thinking and thinking on it.....we decided to go!  Ha, ha, can you imagine the excitement in our house the night we found out?  We haven't been on vacation in 5 years - and that was our honeymoon.  The difference is that now we have these babies and all of their stuff. 
Here's the jeep loaded to the max.  We actually had people at the gas station ask us exactly how many babies did we have because of all the strollers. 

Here's my girls - packed in like sardines around their stuff.  Karlie Bea is beyond excited - she gets to see a huge farm with tons of cows and ride horses (the hubs' Aunt's farm), see the biggest waterfall ever (Niagara Falls), go to the beach for the first time, and see lots of race cars (Nascar Hall of Fame).  But really, could you ask for a better vacation for a 3-year old?  Honestly, you can't ask for any better at 30 something either - especially when it's mandatory!

Well, it's midnight.  The babies are asleep and the hubs is beginning to nod at the wheel, so it's my turn to take over.  Hopefully we will be greeted with lots of moos by 9 in the a.m.