Our close encounter of the scary kind

These are progression of what we saw, and experienced minus the crazy winds, which I was having too much of a panic attack to be taking pictures. I seriously felt like we were in the middle of Twister. I thought for sure we were gonners. I don't think I have been that scared in hmm, well since I was in Boston, and there was a weird guy on the train with a knife. But that is a different story. We were driving down the road at about 10 mph, and the wind was blowing tree branches across the road and 9 or of 10 cars were off to the side of the road, (we kept going cause is seemed stupid to be a sitting duck, plus I wanted to get out of there!) Adam says, I hope our car doesn't get taken out. about 20 seconds later.. BOOM! this big ole branch smacked into my window and I about lost myself. Finally we got off that road and onto a different one, and then the winds mellowed out... OY, it was crazy!

For miles we could see the normal sky outside of the storm.

Leg 2, Pictures

Click to Enlarge....Peacocks ran around like crazy! They were pretty Cool.

My girl silly

They had cool sprinklers, and the kids loved it and were soaked.

My cheesy kids

Click the pictures to enlarge....

Never a good idea to have a screw in your tire... especially doing 75.

Allie checking out the baby orangutan

My monkeys and the Zoos monkeys...

Allie and a moo cow

Allie was so excited to ride a pony...She LOVED it, she bravely went in by herself and rode just like she was born doing it.

We made it...

YEAH! I will have to update later with pictures from our Adventure but just wanted to say we made it and we are here, and we actually had a pretty good time except a near run in with a Tornado, and the overall depression that comes with Nebraska/Wyoming crossings.
Allie and Luke were both So happy this morning NOT to have to get in the car!

The beauty

Ok now some random fun stuff...

Jack Sparrow wantabe and Dog...

Luke and Allie loved this boat, Uncle Brandon needs one like this!

These "Polar Bears" were HUGE, and the guy had him jump that pillar I caught it on accident but it was great!

Trip Leg 1 Pictures...

Story time at the Roger Williams Zoo (above)
Luke's ride

Bathtime for Elephant

flamingos sleep on one foot comfy

intent on the Leapster!

Bass Pro shop Aquarium.

New England Patriots stadium

Checking out the wild life..

More harbor seals at the RW.Zoo

At the temple

Boston Temple

Our Family! AHHHH

Me and Amy Trimble!

ham and the temple...Hmmm

Chill'n at the hotel after much jumping on th beds

Riding the T in Boston

Harbor seals in Boston

Our family at the Boston Long Wharf

cute seal, Luke loved them he was laughing soooo hard!

Boston/Providence

Well we got here Friday at hmm, 7ish, and then we tried desperately to find some fireworks and although the hotel had maps we still seemed to miss out, Allie was devastated. So thankfully we got back and they had the Boston fireworks on the TV...Allie was thrilled!
So then Saturday we went to Boston, we rode the T (subway) which I thought Lucas would be crazy about, but alas no luck there, he was just as wild as ever. We got down to the Aquarium, the line was about 3 hrs long, Not kidding! and for 55 buck and 3 hours it totally wasn't worth it. So we watched the harbor seals splash around, and walked around the warf and checked out the ocean and jellyfish and boats. Then with no other plans we walked aimlessly for a while and came upon Quincy Market, which I was excited for, the food smelled great we saw some great street performers, some crazies too. (pictures will follow sometime in the future) We had some great Mexican at a place called Zuma. And then Allie had HAD IT! and Luke too. Kids get Way more tired on vacation than at home. So we got back on the T and headed back to the car. (which was a fight all the way to the parking lot)
Today we hung around the hotel till noon, Also note, kids + smaller hotel room = crazy parents.
So then we headed up to Boston again the kids fell asleep instantly, (they don't nap well away from home in a one roomer they need space!) so we drove up to Boston, went by the Childrens hospital, and around the MFA, and then over to Cambridge, up Storrow dr. The Charles River was beautiful. Then we went down into Harvard Sq. which was Crazy! and then out Brattle street where my old church building is, (I was trying to lead us to the temple but not quite remembering where the turn was) and when we passed the church we saw two guys standing by the street waiting and one looked like someone I knew from ages ago, and we turned around and low and behold, it was the same, and another guy I used to know too... so we said hi and they remembered me too, and I asked how to get to the temple. So we made it to the temple, it was pretty cool! I had yet to see it with the steeple on, and the trees have grown so much it was really beautiful. And of course Allie had to pee, so we walked down to the chapel below, and I walked in and I hear my name. Well hmm, that is odd.... I back up and it is Amy Trimble! I was so excited. We hadn't called or anything so I felt bad about not seeing her, and tada there she was! That worked out nicely! So they took us back to their place and we hung out for an hour or so, and the kids had a blast playing with TOYS! Then we left and went to the Bass Pro Shop. since we didn't get to go to the "real" aquarium the Pro shop aquarium had to do. And it did, the kids both loved it and it was free! Plus we got to see the Patriot Stadium too. Bonus! We had dinner and came "home" Allie was thrilled to be able to Jump on the bed again! So there we are! Tomorrow is Adam's meeting with the Dr. over Pediatrics here and the kids and I will venture to the Zoo. Then we will come back to Buffalo, and start again! It will be nice to sleep in my bed again, if only for one night!
As someone smart once said there are two ways to travel...First Class or With kids. I 100% agree! It makes everything that much more difficult! Oh well!
Have fun, hope everyone is safe and sound! Love, Chantel

Happy 4th...and rambles

This was Luke's reaction last year wonder what we will get this year?

Well since I don't have any Fourth of July pictures...I put just ones from last year with flags! haha so no Allie &Luke didn't shrink! It is just last year!
Well Allie woke up at somewhere around 5:30, woke up Luke, then made their way to our room about 15 min. later, so now we are all crabby and ready for Naps which Adam is taking and the kids are watching a show on PBS. And me I am blogging! I can't nap, especially this early in the day...Sad I know!
I found some of our last years 4th pictures too...I hope everyone has a safe and lovely patriotic day, we are truely lucky to live here, especially after Adam's Dominican trip, and seeing the pictures and hearing crazy stories, we are blessed and sadly we are so blessed that we hardly know it. In the Dominican power is so expensive they shut it off in the middle of the day and then turn it back on before nightfall. I was also reading about Niger, and they have to do the same, but I think it is worse I think they have theirs off 80% of the day, and only in the cities, the bush just has No power at all. Not to mention they mostly have outhouses not toilets, Even in the city. And the hospital, Well lets just say we wouldn't consider it a hospital or even a clinic, the people say in courtyards, not rooms, and they all stay outside together. (See here for more with pictures of hospital) Not to mention all the freedoms of thought and action we have here. I was recently asked why freedom of choice was so important, when if we were just made to do what is right it would stop misery and innocent children from being victims of others choices. I have thought about this a lot since then, and I have realized how Miserable it would be Not to be able to choose for ourselves and to express our personalities. No not everyone makes good choices, not everyone does what is right. But I am glad we have the chance to change and grow because we have the right to choose. God gave us all talents and traits that are very important, and we all have the chance to at Any point in our lives make a change if we are brave, and faithful enough. There is Never a time we can say we don't have a choice because if you think about it, we Do. Even if they are Much harder, if they are the Right thing we will be blessed in doing them.
So I hope everyone today remembers all those who have made this country free, and all those who continue to fight to make it free. Be grateful, be Loving to other, and enjoy your freedom to choose.... Now do you want a Hot Dog or a Hamburger?
Love you all!
Chantel

PS we will leave sometime before Noon, I hope!
also click here for Niger info... I found a cool girl who visited and blogged all about her experience of working at a hospital there

Yet another "Beautiful" Summer day in Buffalo....

Seriously, doesn't this make you want to move here? Don't Lie! You know it is tempting. HA

Boonshoft

So everyone has been tooting the Boonshoft horn around here, but I am slow because I am cheap but now we are going on this trip and will be visiting at least 3 of the places we could get in for free to I decided this would be cheaper and last the whole year!
Are you wondering what the heck I am talking about? Well Boonshoft is actually a museum in Dayton, Ohio...But for $100.00 you can get a membership there and use it All over the country and even in some places in Canada. It works for the Hogle Zoo in SLC, and the Buffalo Zoo, and the Roger Williams Zoo, in providence, and about a million other places too...You have to get the Adventurer level... and then it has benefits to Reciprocal sites to over 300 science museums, zoos and aquariums worldwide through the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) and Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
So Hey whatever it is just a hundred bucks right?
For your own hook up click here for the Boonshoft site and it explains it all.
Thank you Boonshoft!

Blogger weirdness

Well since blogger is working funny and it wouldn't let me fix my post below yesterday or today... I am just trying a new post here...
The Map if you click on it work to show you where we are going but it is weird on here.
We are going to Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and maybe Chicago if they get back to us positively, and Utah.
So I am a bit stressed really. But I guess that is ok, I think I was just looking forward to actually spending the summer here taking care of the basement and going camping. But Oh well, I guess that Adventure is calling.

What do you do in the summer time?

What do you do in the summertime when all the gas is high?
Yup we are crazy! But hey at least it is cut down! You know gas is so cheap we thought Hey why not! HAHA This adventure starts Friday so wish us luck!


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Who says there's not monsters under the bed! All three of my Monsters were under the bed last night!
This is me, by Allie, I am wearing Makeup...HMM, is she trying to tell me something?