We are home

We got home from vacation at about 10 PM last night. What a wonderful week we had. Getting through the border to Canada was a breeze. Right now you still only need a birth certificate and picture ID. The lady was asking us if we had any weapons and Charles mentioned the kids' pocket knives. Then Chad piped up with, "What about the ax and knives we bought?" YIKES! Is he trying to get us strip searched at the border? We had stopped at a sporting goods store on the way and found a really cool camping knife set on sale, but did the border agent really need to know about that? Luckily, she didn't hear Chad so we were passed right on through. Canada was awesome. The people were so nice. Our hotel was RIGHT in the middle of everything. The only time we drove was when we wanted to get out of the touristy area for lunch. Food was extremely expensive around the falls. We found a local place a couple of blocks away that was very reasonable though. When Charles ordered, the waitress asked if he wanted "soup or juice". He asked, "What is juice?" She said, "You know, like apple, tomato, or orange." LOL We thought it was some Canadian specialty or something, to be offered as a choice of 'soup or juice'. LOL Anyway, just a little culture for us I guess. We also visited a Buddhist temple while there. It was very cool and interesting, so beautiful and ornate. Charles took the kids to a Lego City that was pretty neat and we all went to Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum.







And Charles caught his first Canadian fish



We saw a beautiful swan on Lake Ontario



The falls were awesome! Definitely a sight to see, but more than the sights are the sounds of the falls. You can hear and feel the power. When we left we went to the American side of the falls and I think I liked it better there simply because you can stand right in between the bridal veil and the American Falls themselves and the power is incredible. I'm glad we stopped. We weren't planning to. We only did it to get the cache that was there. :) I have to say though, I think everone's favorite part was feeding the seagulls. There were tons of them and they'd fly by and hover waiting on a french fry to be thrown, then they'd catch it in the air. Some of them were brave enough to take it right out of our fingers. It was just a TON of fun and one of those things the kids remember.



And then one last look at the falls before we left.



We stayed at the same hotel going up and coming home because it was SUCH a good deal. It was a Marriott in Charleston, WV and with their military rate it went from $189/night to $98/night WITH breakfast at their restaurant, not a continental type. It was the best breakfast EVER. The omelets were to die for. He grilled the ham first and that made all the difference. Yum.

We saw Lake Erie on the way home.



We did have one little disappointment over the week though. Chad lost his Nintendo DS case that holds *6* games! UGH!! We called the hotel way before housekeeping or anyone else could have been in the room, but they claim it wasn't found. Sigh. We're pretty sure it was left under his pillow. That's where he likes to keep his 'stuff'. :(

We had a great trip though! Now it's back to the grindstone. Charles goes back to work tomorrow and the kids and I are getting started on our summer routine. Today we went to the library for a magic show and tomorrow we go on our first playgroup field trip of the summer...a nature hike/presentation and swimming at the lake.