NIAGRA FALLS

Since we are homeschooling we have been able to travel as a family more.  We were blessed to take a trip to Niagara Falls...the biggest blessing of all was that we were able to have Grandma and Grandpa (my mom and dad) with us on our vacation.  What special time we were able to spend with them.

 This is the famous "Rainbow Bridge" that connects Canada and the United States...we captured exactly why it is called Rainbow Bridge (It is also called the Peace Bridge)  We walked across the bridge so that we could explore both the Canada and US side of the falls....we stayed on the Canada side.
With this picture and all of the wonder of the world in mind, go ahead and challenge me to prove to YOU that there is a God...but only if I can challenge you in return for you to prove to ME that there isn't!!!!

Here are our kids with Grandma and Grandpa...We brought rain suits with us on the trip...we were constantly getting wet

 Here are the kids looking over the falls from Rainbow Bridge...heading to New York

 Grandma and Grandpa on the bridge...it was pretty cold when we went... the leaves were changing and the scenery was breathtaking.  The air was crisp and cool...much different from the 100 degree temps that we left back in Texas

Our family in front of the falls... they were amazing!  God is amazing!! The sound of the water and the beautiful falls made us realize how little we are in comparison to His great masterpiece!

This is a pic from New York looking at the Canada side.  That big green colored hotel is the Sheraton where we stayed.. it was so beautiful.  We had a falls view room.  We could open our window and hear the water.  Even with the window closed you could still hear the rushing water.

We saw a black squirrel...it was very strange and beautiful

 The kids on the rock symbolizing when the Europeans landed at the Falls (Father Louis Hennipen...a Franciscan priest) in 1678, and making it known to the world...of course there were natives already living in the area.

 Pictures do not do the falls any justice...they are so grand in person!

 We spent one rainy day in an indoor water park that was attached to our hotel...it was so fun!!

 We had to try french fries and gravy while we were in Canada...that's a given!!

 Remember Slush Puppies?  They taste EXACTLY the same as they did when I was a kid!

 My kids fell in love with them as well.  They get slushies a lot, but back then this was the only slush out there.  It might have been the original!

 Savannah coming down the water slide!

 Nicholas coming down the water slide!  We barely had time to take this pic of him as he was off in a flash to the next one

 There is Savannah WAY UP high on the water slide

 Madison eating lunch...my children must be part fish.  They did not even want to stop to eat!!

 Savannah eating a QUICK lunch

 Nicholas didn't even take off his goggles to eat...look how they are all fogged up!! They could not wait to get back into the water

Here is my sweet Madison swimming in the wave pool

 Here is the view of the falls from our room!! At night, they light them up.  They are amazing.  On Friday (the day after Jeremy's birthday) they had fireworks over the falls!  We could watch from our cozy warm room....what a great memory!

Here is a night view of some of the Canadian skyline.  It looked a lot like Vegas

 We went to the big tower restaurant (that big needle looking building from the picture above) on the falls and made napkins hats! Very sophisticated!

 Here is Nicholas' napkin hat

 Madison "Fake" going over the falls!

 Nicholas "Fake" going over the falls!

  Savannah "Fake" going over the falls!

 We saw this old ice cream push wagon...my dad used to push one of these around for a summer job in college at the beach on lake Michigan..the kids thought that he was SO LUCKY!!

 Madison at the Guinness Book of World records museum...the tallest man exhibit

 The kids in a fun house in the "sideways room"  it was a weird feeling

My Love (Jerms) standing in the "sideways room".  It is amazing how our brain sends us messages about perception and balance.  We don't realize just how much our brain plays a role until we are tricked purposefully

 Look at this cute couple!  My mom and dad and great!!  Here they are in this oversized chair in front of the Guinness Book of World Record Museum.  We were so happy to get to share this fun experience with them!

 A beautiful day at the falls. The kids found a great little park to run around in right next to the hotel.

We still did school work each day so that we would not get behind (we still had some to make up, but what a wonderful "school" experience we had on our trip with everything that we learned.  Even though we had to do some school in Canada, the kids were sweet about it seeing how blessed they were to be on a trip.

 Every morning we all went to Perkins Restaurant for a HUGE breakfast before starting our day

They made these cookies for the kids that were 1/2 sugar and 1/2 chocolate chip.  What a great idea!!

We visited a bird sanctuary, an aquarium, and tons of other cool places.. but the VERY BEST part of the entire trip was the time with my parents.  We just LAUGHED so much!! We had so much fun making so many memories!!  what a blessing they are to us.  I love you Mom and Dad.

GRANDPA'S BIRTHDAY

It was my daddy's birthday!  We were blessed to be able to spend the evening with him, my mom, and my sister's family.  Here is a pic of my dad (Grandpa) and all of the grandchildren.  We love our Grandpa so much!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

I LOVE FALL!!! FOOTBALL SUNDAYS ARE FINALLY HERE!!

I LOVE FALL

It is cool outside (it should be at least) and warm and inviting inside!  I love the colors and the fall comfort foods, and everything..

 Here is my "fall princess"...dreaming of cool crisp fall days!!  We already have cool evenings

 Some pics of our home all dressed up for Fall..in the background (out the window) you can see the boys drinking beers on the back patio, firing up the pizza oven for our special meal...those boys just love cooking outside!! It is so much of what it means to be a boy!!  Thank you, Jesus for making boys in such a special way

 I always keep my Thanksgiving dishes out all year.  They were a special gift from Jeremy's Nana to our family.  I just love them....I get to keep a little fall around all year.  The little pumpkins are an added seasonal decoration

 Here is one close up

 The children talked me into getting a couple of Halloween houses to put on the kitchen counter this year.  I usually do not decorate for Halloween...but they are quite cute and boy did it make my kids smile!!!

 Beautiful Fall Mums adorn the front porch (they are much prettier and brighter in real life)

New Fall pansies planted in our Mary Garden.  She looks so beautiful surrounded by these colorful creations that her Son blessed the world with.

FOOTBALL SUNDAYS

The sound of the Sunday football intro music makes me sleepy!! I love Sunday football games.  It brings everyone together inside for at least 3 hours!  We love to share this time with friends too!

 Here are the Dallas Cowboys taking the field for the game...kids are outside riding bikes with great friends, the Mira kids,  and the boys are glued to the set....today we are making homemade pizzas in our wood burning pizza oven during 1/2 time.. the girls (Lori and I) visit in the kitchen while enjoying the game time snacks!!  I love little Snackies!!

 Here are some of them...Olives, dip, salami, cheese, salsa, chips, etc..

Yummy Yummy Yummy

I stole a pic of 2 of  "the boys", My sweetie, Jeremy and our Dear friend, Father John while they were snacking a little during a commercial break!  Great Friends and Great Food equals Great Fellowship!!  Thank you Jesus for the blessing of crisp fall days and football Sundays!  Hopefully in the next few shorts weeks, we will be able to build a fire in the fireplace...we are not quite there yet in Dallas...BUT
I LOVE TODAY ALL THE SAME...Thank you for these wonderful joys in life!!

SAVANNAH'S FIRST SLEEPOVER

 For Savannah's birthday, she finally got to have her first sleepover with friends!!  It was a big day for the birthday girl.  She invited 3 little girls to her sleepover

 Savannah getting decorations for her
"Smiley Face Movie Spa Party"

 The house is all decorated for our 3 party guests

Here is the smiley face cake my friend, Maria made for Savannah....isn't it beautiful!!

 After the girls arrived at our house, it was off to Southlake Town Square....were we started the evening with dinner at Snuffers.....Everybody LOVES the cheese fries!!

Then it was off to see the movie, "A Dolphin Tale" in 3D!!...Super cute!!

 After the movie, it was back to our house for some fun and sleep....well, a little sleep!!  Here is Savannah and her sweet friend, Hannah

 Here are Savannah's sweet friends, Abby and Avery!  They are so cute!!

 For the "Spa" part of the party, we did "blind makeovers" where one girl put makeup on her friend.....but she could not see what she was doing!!

 We all laughed SO HARD!!  The girls had a blast!!

 Then the girls switched places and the other girl was blindfolded!!

 They would feel with their other hand to find the proper place for the makeup, but wow, it was hard to get it right without looking!!

We just KEPT laughing!!

 What a fun game.....Thank you for the idea, Ang!!

 All of the made-over girls!! They look great!!

After we cleaned our make up off,  we did a "not blind" chocolate facial mask on each other

This was pretty funny too!!

The kitchen smelled like chocolate....it made us hungry!!

 This is what a "guy" does during the "spa" part of a girls party....he get's creative with the 3D glasses from the "movie" part of the girl's party!!

Sissy got in on the fun too!

 Time to sing "Happy Birthday Dear Savannah"...and eat CHOCOLATE HAPPY FACE CAKE!!

Then we ended the evening with some jammies and Wii "Kidz Bop, Dance"  It was a great party.  Savannah just glowed all evening!! there is just something about girl time!!