Niagara Falls

Woohoo!!! Steve had a week off for vacation so we decided to visit Niagara Falls and Toronto before we move West. The weather was absolutely perfect and sunny the day we decided to visit the Falls so of course we loved just being outside and enjoying such a beautiful place. The Falls are breathtaking. We came from the Canadian side, which we heard was better anyway, and were completely awestruck by how powerful and loud they were. We were told to just pay for the package tour, which was in our budget only because all of our children were free. This will change when Thomas turns six next month, but in the meantime, hurray for free children. We started with the Journey behind the Falls, which was impressive only because it got us so close the falls. It also got us really excited to go on the boat. Our favorite activity by far was the Maid of the Mist. Our family and four Asian ladies were the only people on the lower part of the boat so we had free reign and could run around as much as we wanted. When the boat stalls right next to the falls Thomas had to hide behind the deck because we were getting so wet. Hewitt and Donny both loved it though. Donny made me nervous because he kept running everywhere and I thought he would fall. The Asian women made a lot of squealing sounds whenever he ran past them though which made him do it more and more. There is nothing like a bunch of Asian women shouting your praises that makes you want to showoff. Hewitt pretty much stayed right next to Steve and watched the Falls. Hewitt absolutely loves water so this was a dream come true. We spent the rest of the day watching a movie about Niagara and walking along the water to see the rapids. Both of these events were relaxing, but nothing came close to how much fun we had on the boat. I guess we need to buy one as soon as possible:)

Journey behind the falls

Walking along the boardwalk and eating a little lunch. Thank goodness there was usually a little piece of land behind the fences. I had a dream before we went that one of my boys scaled a fence and fell in.

On the Maid of the Mist

Frozen Four

I am a huge sports fan. I blame my family who has been making me fill out bowl predictions and brackets since I was little. ESPN is our home page. Even with all of my sports interest, I have never even heard of the Frozen Four, which is the final four for college hockey. I didn't even know it existed, but when I heard the name Frozen Four and that it was in Detroit this past weekend, I knew we had to visit. So we packed up on Saturday and went downtown to visit the fanfest. At the first booth we visited, two of our paralympic sled hockey players were there increasing awareness for the paralympics and showing off their newly won Vancouver Olympic gold medal. Now, I may not know much about hockey, but I love the Olympics. I was thrilled to hold the Vancouvery gold medal. It was huge and heavy. The boys got to hold it and put it on. I was in heaven. Already, I deemed our outing a success.

Our next stop was a hockey skills test. Lights would flash on this 9 block grid and you would have to hit it with a hockey puck. Your total would flash above it with a counting down clock. We were second in line behind this 9 year old kid who proceeded to hit about 8 of the blocks in a minute. Needless to say, we were super impressed. Steve couldn't follow the child prodigy so he made Thomas go next. Thomas had a great time and enjoyed just hitting the puck as hard as he could. When Steve got up, one of the guys explained that the upper left light was having trouble so if ever did need see a light then that was the one to hit. Steve looked at him like he was crazy. Steve then proceeded to hit the lower, middle block about seven times in a row. It was hilarious. Steve would definitely be accurate in his attempt to go through a goalie's legs. We decided that we needed to learn how to get the puck in the air before we try any more timed hockey events.

By the way, Wisconsin was playing Boston College in the final. We decided to cheer for Wisconsin after the paralympics gold winner told us that one of their players had a great family and a couple from Maine heatedly told us how much they disliked Boston. Unfortunately, for all of you who don't live in Detroit and see the headlines everywhere, Boston won 5-0. Oh well. I would have lost that bracket. So after the fanfest, we rode the people mover, which is a long monorail around downtown and then walked on the Riverwalk. We had a great time. And the only thing I regret is not buying a Frozen Four t-shirt. I don't suppose I will ever get the opportunity again.

Kensington Metropark

With the recommendation of my neighbor Lisa who is becoming a regular on our weekly outings, we took advantage of the beautiful spring weather with a bike ride. I have been hearing about this park for awhile, but this is the first time we have ever visited. There is a 8 mile bike/jogging trail around a beautiful lake with a bunch of nature hikes, beaches, and playgrounds along the way. I didn't realize that the bike ride was 8 miles long when we started, however, but once we got going and decided we wanted to stop we were already halfway. So poor Thomas rode his bike 8 miles around the lake. He started complaining around mile 6 and I started getting nervous, but he stopped when we hit the boardwalk and had no problem finishing. It was so much fun. I can't wait to take Steve. I feel bad sometimes that he can't do all of these fun adventures with us. Poor guy has to work.

Easter

Easter this year was a lot of fun. We kicked things off with an Easter egg hunt at the local park put on by the community. My boys personalities are summarized completely by this experience. The kids were divided by age groups. Upon hearing the bell, Thomas ran around like crazy and gathered a bunch of eggs, but dropped them all while carelessly swinging his basket while running. He ended up with zero eggs. Hewitt, on the other hand, did not run at all when the bell rang and instead sat himself on the ground with no desire to find an egg. I handed him one, opened it, and gave him a piece of candy. After savoring it for a few minutes, Hewitt decided that he wanted another and started looking for eggs. He probably picked up two before they were all gone. Thankfully for Thomas, some nice man took pity on Hewitt and offered him about 7 eggs, most of which Hewitt donated to Thomas, who was crying. Donny was the only one who walked away a winner. He grabbed about 10 eggs and was super happy the entire time. He required no attention or help.

Easter egg dying is a fun tradition, but a messy one. I will take lessons from my cousin Ellice in the future who had aprons on all of her children as well as all utensils on a cookie sheet pan for each child. I think her children were just as happy, only cleaner.

For Easter this year, the Easter bunny brought a basket full of marble pieces that she bought at a local Mom2Mom sale for $10. Best purchase the Easter bunny ever made. They've played with it for hours and hours. Thank goodness we don't have a baby right now because I am finding marbles everywhere.


HAPPY EASTER!!!

Poor Donny

One of Donny's many bloody noses. Not all are caused by his brothers, sometimes it's just the dry air, but more often than not it is their fault.

American vs. Lafayette

Last night for our date, we and some good friends visited the famous Coney Island Restaurants located in downtown Detroit. Like Pat's and Geno’s in Philadelphia, American Coney and Lafayette Coney are bigtime rivals. They have an interesting history. In 1917 the Keros brothers decided to start a Greek American restaurant with the Coney hotdog and Gyro as staples, but soon after starting the business, the brothers had an argument resulting in the restaurant splitting into two. The restaurants have remained side by side ever since and there have been taste disputes for the past century. So last night we took the Coney challenge and tasted both hot dogs (after palate cleansing in between.) I must say it was very fun and the hot dogs were much better than anticipated. The typical Coney has chili, mustard, and onions. Each topping differs between the two Coneys so you have to try and isolate the sides as well. After careful review, I declared the American coney the winner of the taste category, but the Lafayette won out in texture. Steve would tell you that the American would win both categories, because he liked the “snap” of his American hot dog. Our friends Julie and Shelly agreed. So if you ever come to Detroit, you have to take the Coney challenge and find your favorite. Both restaurants are packed and have a loyal following. Let the best Coney win!

The interior of the American Coney Island Restaurant

Belle Isle

Spring has come early to Detroit or at least last week was beautiful. (Today was a different story--windy, cold, and rainy) We took advantage of the nice weather to head to Belle Isle, an island in the Detroit river between Detroit and Canada. The shores of both are equal distance and really quite close. I wonder if people try to swim it because it isn't very far. I think if I was in trouble from the law, I would make the attempt. Here are some pictures from our outing.

One of the highlights was getting to feed the albino deer. I must admit our tour guide was a little perturbed when I called the deer a goat and when I was skeptical that they were in the wild. I told him that I was pretty sure the white deer wouldn't last long in the woods unless they were in the arctic. So then I called them the polar deer. Very cool no matter what their origins.

I have no idea how this ice sculpture came to be around this tree, but it was fun to walk around on. I wonder if some snowplow got a little bored and pushed all the snow on this one tree. It was cool.

I also thought this long hay was cool although my friend Lisa thought it was ridiculous I would stop the car to get a picture. If only I had a nice camera and a photographer's eye. I'm sure my friend Jane could have taken some cool shots here.

On the pier, overlooking the Detroit River and the Canada side. Doesn't it seem close? I'm pretty sure I could swim it if I needed to get out of the country for some reason.

Also, for all of you moms out there. Please notice the large space in between the railings. It was a death trap. I was sure I was going to have to jump in the freezing cold water to save one of the boys when they fell in. I remember my Mom being paranoid about these kind of situations and scoffing at how ridiculous she was. Now, that I am older though, these things give me nightmares.

We didn't last long without getting in, ice and all.

It was cold although it probably wasn't much colder than the Pacific Ocean, which I used to swim in all the time as a kid. Everything is relative.

We love Belle Isle and I'm sure we will be taking Steve before we move.