Katie S. 28

Well we are now on day four of our vacation and the trip up here went great.  We were so impressed with how well the kiddos did in the car and it seemed like we were here in no time.  Right now we are staying with my Aunt and Uncle in Kitchener and I have no idea how we are going to convince the boys to leave.  They are both totally enthralled with their cousin Jordyn who is the four year old daughter of my cousin Kristie….which would actually make them second or third cousins I think…but I digress.

We went to Niagara Falls today and it was beautiful.  We rode the giant Ferris wheel and then spent over an hour just sitting under a shade tree and enjoying the view.  Since we got here the weather has been in the mid 70’s and wonderful.  This has gotten Chris and I thinking that maybe we should start making an annual July trek up north.  The day after tomorrow is July 1, which is Canada’s independence day and by that time we will be in Toronto with some family friends.  I am taking all kinds of pictures but of course I forgot to bring the cord that connects the camera to the computer.  Oh well, at least I remembered the passports.  Losing those was my biggest fear coming into this trip!

I think I’ll end the post with a few vacation quotables from the men in my family:

(In the car on the way up here this exchange took place)

Papa: Look at that cloud Corbin, it kind of looks like a poodle.  In fact it kind of looks like Bingley.

Corbin: Bingley is NOT a poodle Papa.

(And the following comments were made at different times after our trip to Niagara Falls today)

Papa:  Gotta love socialized medicine, the Niagara is free! (Papa does love a good pun)

Corbin: Papa, I think you are losing your mind.

Well tomorrow is the big day.  My dad, the boys and I will pick Chris up after work and then we will head up to Kentucky to meet up with my mom.  (She’s been on a quilting retreat this week)  We are planning to spend the night in Ohio and then drive the last 6 hours up to Kitchener the next morning.  Tonight I am feeling a good mix of excitement and anxiety.   I am just hoping the boys can hold off on their naps tomorrow so that they will sleep in the car.

Packing for four people, cleaning up the house and taking care of the boys has made for a pretty crazy day.  Unfortunately Bingley was left feeling a bit neglected in  the midst of all the chaos and he decided to show his distaste for the situation….. by pooping all over the living room and hallway floor…..and smearing it into the carpet.

I have two thoughts on this subject:

1) I don’t think it was a coincidence that he left one of his little ‘presents’ right next to the suitcase I was packing.

2) I hope Chris’ parents’ new puppy nips and annoys the hell out of him while we are away.

In other more joyful and/or less disgusting news:  Bennett took his first steps this week!  He is getting more and more confidant on his feet and I have a feeling he will be walking by the time we get home.  I am going to try to post some pictures and updates from the road.

I am so excited because today we finally got the boys’ passports in the mail.  (And let me just tell you, NEVER have two such adorable photographs been featured on a piece of international identification!….Seriously, I would put the pictures up here to prove it if not for the whole identity theft thing.)

Anyway, back to my excitement.  In exactly two weeks we are planning to take the boys up to Ontario.  Neither of them have ever been out of the country and I just can’t wait to show them where Nana, Mommy and Aunt Jaki are from.  The best part is that we are going with my parents, which is a very favorable adult to child ratio for a vacation.  We are going to take two cars and two days to get up there.  (I’ll give you just a minute for that to sink in)

Yup.  That’s right, we are just crazy enough to drive all the way to another country with two toddler boys who until now have never done a car trip of more than 7 1/2 hours.  But hey, its only 13 hours to London Ontario and did I mention the grandparents?  I mean how bad could it be

Anyway, we are all pretty excited about our upcoming trip and Corbin has even started learning the words to ‘Oh Canada’ in preparation.  Of course his version of the anthem also pays tribute to his favorite Canadian, Nana Di.  It goes, “Oh Canadi!  I love my Nana Di!  Oh Canadi, Oh Cana, Canadi!”