Sunday, July 21, 2019

Niagara Falls and Pool Update

Lots of fun for A^4!  We hope everyone is happy and healthy and enjoying summer! 

White board art


Addie loves music and will pick at her guitar and play the piano throughout the day


Addie made a friend during Ayson's lacrosse practice: Reilyn





Ayson (orange undershirt) in a face off


Good game!  The team from Skaneateles had half their players not show up until after the 2nd half (not sure what happened).  So some of our players played with Skaneateles until the other players arrived.  Our team was on the field non-stop and was edged out of their first win on the year.  They may not have won but the had lots of time on the field!


On Tuesday, Dan the Snake Man was at the library
Tortoises


Alligator


Ball python


Yellow ball python


Addie and a tortoise


This is a huge improvement for Addie as she was hesitant to touch the snakes we saw while visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Alabama!


On Tuesday we went to The View with the Gates Family for Taco Tuesday!  Scott showing Ayson and Adam how to play the card game Munchkins


Ayson's prized purchase - a card board box.  It was a hot day On Wednesday and both kiddos crammed inside to hide from Mumma


Amazing clouds for the last "fun" lacrosse practice of the year - the coaches and kids played games all practice and all the kids received a medal


On Friday, we left the house at 6 am and drove to Niagara Falls
First stop: Niagara Falls State Park and Cave of the Winds.  We learned about Nikola Tesla and alternating current electricity.  We then took an elevator down 175 feet and walked along a board walk so as to get up close to the spray from Bridal Veil Falls.

Dressed in our rain coats before the kids and Mumma got drenched. Adam's had his hood up on the rain coat and the water did not go down his neck as much as us!


Bridal Veil Falls - bottom view.


Top view of Bridal Veil Falls with Mumma and the kids getting soaked


View of Bridal Veil Falls and the American Falls from the rim


Snack and break time before


Horseshoe Falls with Canada in the background










After lunch, we went to the New York Power Authority Power Vista Visitor Center and learned all about the hydroelectric power plant and the technology invented by Nikola Tesla.  We all had a blast and loved the fact that the visitor center was air conditioned and kept us out of the rain that afternoon!


View of the Lower Niagara River


A bug on the outside platform




Adam and Ayson using mechanical energy to create electricity for a light bulb.


Van de Graaff (electrostatic) generator - due to the humid day, we did not experience super crazy hair but it was fun!






After dinner, it was hotel pool time!!!








After the pool we were all ready for bed and Ayson and Mumma watched fireworks (at Horsehoe Falls) from our hotel window. 
We had an exciting Friday night as the fire alarm went off at the hotel a little after 11 pm at night - ugh!  Luckily, there was no fire and we were able to go back to bed within 30 minutes:)

No pictures of our Saturday morning activity but we went on a Whirlpool Jet boat ride and we had a blast and totally got drenched with water from the Niagara River.

After we changed out of our soaked clothes, we had lunch at Whirlpool State Park and then walked the Gorge Rim Trail for a bit - the kids were SO done ;)  Adam and Amy could have kept on hiking but we know not to "Mess with Sasquatch" ;)

Ayson not having it



Addie was "DONE"


Two out of four smiles!!


Addie hiding behind a tree so as not to get her picture taken :)


Our yard Saturday night!  We had four of our spruce trees (right around the fort - which Adam had to move) cut down in order to make room for our pool which will hopefully get installed within the next 2 weeks (cross your fingers!)  The septic issue has yet to be resolved but we have time for that


The storm clouds were amazing!  Luckily we did not experience the quarter sized hail!




Adam was working on clearing the limbs by 6 am on Sunday!
Saturday night:


Sunday at 9 am


Sunday at 2 pm

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Summer Days

A busy week for A^4!  Getting ready for a pool, lacrosse, a quick trip to Grandma's house, a minor set back with the pool, bike riding, beach and pool fun, AND Ayson had a friend spend the night!
We hope everyone is having a relaxing and enjoyable summer!!!

Monday activities after breakfast: 15 minutes of reading for both, and spelling/math for Ayson.


Getting ready for the pool - digging the electric line!


Shadow cat napping on a pile of clothes ready for donation - too cute!




Ayson's Lacrosse game Monday evening




Addie wanted to go to the Big Park instead of Ayson's game.  So we rode bikes and she played on the playground equipment




Summer blooms!



On Tuesday, Adam took the kids to Grandma Collene's to help her pull garlic



Garlic ready to cure!






The PLAN was to get a pool on Wednesday but we found the septic distribution box instead :(


SO, the pool is now on hold until August.


Lacrosse practice antics






Thursday reading time


Our gorgeous bee balm!


The kids trying sardines (yack - Amy used to use sardines as bait to catch rats/feral cats in Hawaii and hates the smell of sardines!)


On Friday, Amy took off from work early so that we could enjoy the gorgeous afternoon biking on the Erie Canal trail





The trench to nowhere


Our red raspberries are amazing this summer!




Thunder and Shadow :)


Saturday morning the kids had to help fill in the trench before we could go to the park!


Green Lakes State Park was PACKED with people/families enjoying the gorgeous day!
Playing Frisbee


A short bike ride





Beach fun








Can you find the crab (think the movie Little Mermaid) on the top and the face with a beard in the middle?!?


Ayson's canal system


Saturday night, Ayson had Grady over to spend the night: lots of laughs, pool time, and electronics




On Sunday, Amy had a brunch date with girlfriends and then it was pool time with the turtle!!! (Thanks, Kathy!!!)