It has been a busy end of the summer...

The title says it all... and in most aspects I could probably leave it at that, but eh... you all know that isn't me... if it isn't worth rambling about then well... why would I post right? :) Of course right. Anyways, yes it has been a busy end of the summer, and the kids and I start back to school on Tuesday Sept 7th. Granted I've already started school, reading my text (well hopefully today after I post this I will be reading that text book LOL), I posted my introduction for class and responded to several people to meet that requirement and I am getting the boys ready for the start of school. Roman will be a senior this year at Eastview and Demitri will be a second grader at Oakridge. Man the boys are growing up FAST!!!

Just a few weeks ago we went on our annual family vacation, and this time we went to Niagara Falls as our destination, but along the way we stopped in Chicago, IL, Cleveland, OH, Niagara Falls, NY, Niagara Falls, ON, back home through Canada, come through Detroit, MI, back to Chicago, IL and then to Wisconsin Dells, WI and finally back home. It was a long 12 days, but I think the whole family had a great time. Niagara Falls was beautiful like a state park should be on the NY side and on the ON side it was like a cross between Orlando/Las Vegas! I say that because it had lots of touristy goodness like Ripley's Believe It or Not, museums, rides, arcades, miniature golf, lights, and lots of action and then casinos!!! We stayed in ON at a lovely location only about a mile from the falls (within walking distance, and we did... oh my feet... oh my ears... listening to Demitri whine he was tired) at the Diplomat Inn. It was a great deal being only 69.99 a night, were every one else was asking in the hundreds and two hundred dollar range. And it wasn't as if this place was a whole in the wall either. It had nice beds, and an okay TV, and it had an outdoor pool (which we didn't use because well we were to tired or to busy to think about it). We did the Cave of the Winds, where we were able to walk down by the waterfalls, and feel the force of the water one our toes and blasting our face. Thankfully they gave us poncho's even though I now know how leftovers feel be wrapped in saran wrap. LOL.

After Niagara Falls (spending roughly 2.5 days there) we drove through Canada and stopped at the great lakes to dip our toes in. The boys wanted to swim but I didn't want to, so they are still upset with me about that, but there were no bathrooms near and I wasn't going to change on a busy beach. Granted I have changed in the parking lot of a Renaissance Festival, BUT I didn't get naked to do it. LOL. :) I always had myself covered with clothes as I changed. Anyways so we drove through MI and we stayed in a hotel on our way to Chicago to spend some more time there, to use our Chicago City Pass. It was a pass where we could go to 5 different Chicago locations, that included: The Aquarium, the Planetarium, the Field Museum (which we didn't get too), the Industrial and Science Museum, and then the Sears Tower (which we also didn't make it too :( which was a bummer). Each of the locations we visited had it's high points and not so high points but overall was a good time. We also went to the Navy Pier and basically paid $24.00 to park in the parking ramp to eat at a restaurant. Granted it was a good seafood one but still parking was CRAZY! Before we went home we stopped at Wisconsin Dells, WI at the Great Wolf Resort, and did the waterslide and MagicQuest. Which were both fun and the bed was nice and soft and it was so relaxing. It would've been nice to stay a few extra nights but alas it was time to go home...

So, Demitri came home to go straight to Grammie's house the next day, not only did he miss her but he saved up enough to buy his Nintendo DSi XL and he was excited for her to help him buy it. Which she did and he has played it a few times here and there. It has been very cute that he saved so much and was so proud that he did so. Children can certainly surprise you at times with the things they do and the things they say.

Next week we find out if we are having a baby boy or girl. I am still hoping for a girl, but if it is a boy I will still love him just the same. I just figure if it is a boy we will have to try right away after this one is born for a new one... might as well keep them close together with all the diapers and feedings, etc. We shall see though. :)

Thanks for reading and as always take care, hugs, and blessed be!

Cleo