Marineland

What a fun day we had yesterday! It was the observed day for Canada Day which meant a holiday, so we decided to go to Marineland in Niagara Falls. Stephen and Timothy have been watching a video from the library (The Big Aquarium from The Big Adventure Series by Little Mammoth Media) which has really captured their attention and we knew they'd love it. Besides, children four and under are free, so we decided that this was the year to go!

Bianca and Andy came with us and we had a blast! Even Christopher was getting into it! He'd get so excited when we'd be in the aquarium exhibits and the fish would swim by. He loved watching the dolfins jump out of the water in the show ... until he fell asleep ... but that was quite alright with me! Stephen especially loved the show because the humor of the initial entertainer was simple enough that he could follow what was going on. He was laughing at all the attempts the guy was making at getting his ball back out of the water and when he finally fell in trying, Stephen was thoroughly enjoying it!

We were hoping that the kids could go on some rides, but there were only a few that were age appropriate for them. We went on the ferris wheel and a little boat ride together. Bianca and Andy gave us a little treat of taking the boys to see the buffalo, bison and elk exhibit and Fred and I got to ride a roller coaster together! What a lot of fun! I haven't been on a roller coaster for YEARS, but this was great! Stephen was fascinated by the fact that we went up side down on the ride and he kept telling us about it over and over. We all decided that the Sky Screamer (similar to the Demon Drop at Cedar Point) was not age appropriate for any of us. The four of us adults were too old for it and the three little boys were too young for it! Even though Fred and I enjoyed our ride, we realized that we are pretty much beyond roller coaster age anymore. I could handle one, but a whole day of rides would probably do me in.

We had a pizza supper at the Zimmerman's on our way home and got home pretty late. The boys conked out pretty quickly and I was really hoping they'd sleep in today. No such luck. Even with staying up late Sunday night watching fireworks, getting up early to go to Marineland, no naps in the afternoon, and getting to bed late, they still got up at 7:00 ready to go! All is quiet now as they are napping today, and I'm thankful for that.

As Fred and I were recapping the day last night, we were commenting on how thankful we are for these boys! We got so much joy out of watching their excitement and fascination! I'm sure God feels the same when He watches us enjoying His gifts to us! I'm so thankful that my parents modeled activities like this for us because I have such wonderful memories of going to Sea World or The Blue Hole (Remember that one, Mom?!), The Dover Train Museum, the Glass Museum in southern Ohio (Remember that one, Liz? You really weren't thrilled about that one!), the canal boat ride, Ohio and Zane Caverns, etc, etc. Mom and Dad always had some new place for us to try out and we loved it! I want to pass that excitement along to our kids. I kind of think we already have because every day when Timothy wakes us he asks, "Where are we going today, Mommy?" Every day is an adventure for them!