Niagara Falls Aquarium

Ask Jack put it, "We're going on an adventure." He was right. We spent Friday morning at the Aquarium in Niagara Falls. We had great fun with our friends.

(although, the biggest adventure may have been trying to get all 3 carseats in the back of my car. Even with trading out for narrow carseats it was a VERY tight squeeze)

Jack loved these big jaws and teeth.

Addy measuring herself against a shark.

Jack named his crab, Muffy. He licked Muffy off his hand on the way home. (ewww.)

Nora showing us how the shark is "this big."

Highlights of the Aquarium:
Going with friends
The elevator (I think we rode it 20 times)
The Sea Lion Show
The "Nemos"
Playing outside
face painting
and the trip to Dairy Queen

Lowlights:
It is small
No hands-on exhibits

Overall, it was a great way to spend a few hours on a Friday and the drive was enjoyable as it was shared with a good friend. Can't beat that.

Loving Wilson

Last week marks the 5th anniversary of my nephew's short life. To remember him, my sister started doing service the year after he died. We've continued that tradition. Last year, I sent all of the cousins this wonderful children's book and asked them all to collect pennies for the Pennies for Peace program and bring them to our family reunion to help us remember Wilson.

This year, we decided to do something for Jack's integrated preschool class. His teacher gave us a list of things we could donate to his classroom and Jack and Addy helped us go shopping for the items.

This morning we delivered a bubble machine with bubbles, watering can, ingredients to make fun treats, potting soil and rice and beans to add to the touch table.



Here is Jack with his teacher Lisa and her aids Mary and Andrea after delivering the items.


We feel blessed to have Wilson as part of our family.

My baby is 4

Yes, he turned 4 on March 30th.

Hard for me to believe that he is 4 and only one year away from kindergarten.

He requested an excavator cake and I was able to make one with relative ease.

However, when he saw what I made he asked, "Where's the tracks?" He didn't want a wheeled excavator but one with tracks. Next time I will make sure to get the specifics.

He seemed to love the idea of the cake.

He even gave it a hug.

We didn't actually eat the cake but he did lick off all of the frosting. What a lucky birthday boy.

Jack brings a lot of excitement and enthusiasm to our lives. Life would be pretty dull without Jack. Sure do love that kid.

Loving Rochester

Lilac Festival
4th of July at the Pulley's House
Our House
Strong National Museum of Play
Abbott's Custard
Dinosaur BBQ
Ryan gets to walk to work
Beautiful summer and fall
Our GREAT friends
Wegmans

These are just a few of the reasons why I am happy to remain in Rochester.

And I will add one more to the list.


I get to have my same, wonderful, most favorite OB deliver the third and last Shelton baby in early October.


Icing on the cake.


No joke, I promise.