Our Future Teen

We had an MP3 player that's been sitting around our house. Before we went to the campground, I filled it with songs Rudy would like, just in case he needed something different to do. We never used it on vacation but Paul took it out recently when Rudy was asking to listen to music.
He loved wearing the headphones and listening to music. He's already perfected that teenage slouch, too.

Here he is singing/ mouthing along to one of his favorite songs - "The Number Two" by They Might Be Giants.

Beating the Heat

Saturday was the hottest day on record in many, many years. Knowing the predictions for the day, we decided to head out early to a nearby lake. We knew the beach would be really hot and that if we went to the lake, we would be able to have some shade and we'd also be able to spend more time in the water. We definitely made the right choice.


We arrived early enough to get a nice spot under the pines trees. The lifeguards weren't even there yet, so we just waited and unpacked.

Rudy had all his snorkel gear on and was ready to go for about 15 minutes before we could go in the water. Then we found out he couldn't wear his snorkel in the water (there were a lot of strange rules about what you could and couldn't have in the water), so we had a little meltdown before finally getting in the water.

The water was warm but refreshing and we spent a long time swimming around until we decided to get out and have lunch. Here's Mr. Peanut Butter face.

We then swam some more. Paul and I had been checking out the kayaks they had for rent and we were finally able to convince Rudy that we should do it. It was nice, but warm, paddling around the lake for a while. We didn't take any pictures because I didn't want to have top get another camera if this new one got wet!
Rudy posed so nicely for a picture as we got ready to go to the kayaks.

But then he had to pose again...

After the kayak, Rudy got some ice cream (a lovely Spiderman popsicle that colored his hands and face red even after swimming!).

We spent several hours at the lake and it was the perfect choice for a hot day. We will be going back again this summer!

Concert in the Park

Last weekend we went to the concert in the park. The featured band was one that sang all Beatles' songs, a favorite of the two males in my house. I think Rudy was a little surprised to find out it wasn't The Beatles that were singing but just Beatles songs. He brought his camera to document the event.

Playing at the playground and taking pictures before the show.

Taking another picture.

The picture he took.

Waiting for the show to start.

Rudy and his friend, Tommy, making sure they can hear the band.

When these two boys get together, their goofiness comes out. For some reason, things like falling on the ground or bumping into things are so much fun.

They were upset about something and so we told them to make the best mad faces they could.

Pictures de Rudy

I recently got a hold of Rudy's camera and downloaded the pictures. I think sometimes he isn't really taking pictures and sometimes he manages to delete pictures, so there weren't as many as I expected but here are some of the better (or funnier) ones.

A close up of Spiderman.

The view from the back seat of the car.

These are pictures of Paul that were taken the day they made my Mother's Day video. Here he is outside of our church.

And at the playground.

And a close-up

Some pictures of Mario.

On the counter - his favorite spot to jump onto. It's been weird not constantly running into the kitchen to get him down!

Splash Magic Campground, The Last Day

I realized on the last day that I hadn't taken any pictures of our cabin. Here's a view of the inside. It was small but we weren't inside much so it was fine. The 3 boys ran back and forth between the two cabins to play. There is a loft at the top with a bed and then the room with two sets of bunkbeds. There was also a futon in the downstairs area.

Vincie and Andy's cabin to the left and ours to the right.

Another view of our cabin.

A family picture.

Before leaving, we headed to the camp store. After all the walking we'd done this week, the boys were obviously not into walking.

There was a Dragon Wagon that rode around the campground twice a day. We hadn't had a chance to ride it yet so we did that in the morning. Tyler wanted nothing to do with it, since there were characters on it, so he and Andy went back to the cabin while the rest of us rode.

Sean didn't care for the characters either, but he just sat like this the whole way.

Andy and Tyler t their cabin as we rode the Dragon Wagon.

The boys were all offered the chance to sit on the tractor but none of them would do it.

And so after our ride, we finished loading up our cars and headed out. We had a great vacation - the boys got along so well and it was wonderful to spend so much time with my best friend in a way we haven't since college. Thank goodness our families get along so well! Now we have to start planning for next year!

Day 4 - Ricketts Glen

While at the farm, one of the farmers had mentioned a state park that had waterfalls and asked whether we were going there. So Thursday, which had been our unplanned day, ended up being a hiking day. It was about an hour drive to Ricketts Glen State Park.
Once we arrived,we checked the map and tried to figure out where we were going. We knew we wouldn't make the whole trail but we wanted to be able to see a few waterfalls.

The beginning of the trail - seems easy and peaceful!

When we started the official trail, there were all sorts of warnings about how the path may be dangerous and to be careful, so we were a little nervous, but we hadn't come all this way for nothing, so we started down the path with the understanding that at some point, when it seemed too dangerous for the kids, we would stop.
We started with a big hill - going down - nice when you start, not so nice on the way back!

We found the river almost immediately and our trail followed it.

The boy in his "safari" hat.

"I wonder if we could climb that tree across!"

This picture is completely posed. 10 seconds earlier, they had all been standing and looking out, but as soon as the cameras came out, they were on the move, so we made them stand there again so we could take the picture.

Rudy was supposed to be in this picture, you can see his hat, but he moved at the last second.

Rudy was also supposed to be in this picture, but he wanted nothing to do with us.

My boys.

When we reached this waterfall, Onondaga, we thought it was the end of the line. The stairs and the path were really steep. Andy and I went down just to take pictures, you can see everyone else at the top. But it wasn't too bad coming down, so everyone followed and we continued on.

I forgot to look for a name plate for the other waterfall we saw, but I thought this was cool.

Tyler and Noah posing nicely.Yes, Rudy should have been in this picture, too. Do you see the pattern?

The last waterfall. At this point we decided to turn around - not because the path was too hard, but because we knew we still had to go all the way back with the kids. I believe this waterfall was named F.B. Ricketts.

We were able to get a whole group picture thanks to the couple that we met on this bridge.

We stopped for a snack so we cold make it back and then continued on. Here's me and the boys. I crouched to be near them and then they all leaned over.

The top of the waterfall.

Steps we had to climb up.

Vincie and I. I don't think we've had a picture of just the two of us since my wedding (8 years ago)!
I took this by holding my hand out. I was surprised how well it came out!

The troops walking back. Andy carried Sean almost the whole way.

Vincie, Noah and Tyler heading to the parking lot. The boys all made it back with little complaint. Rudy really slowed down at the end, but he didn't complain.

We were parked by the lake and beach area, so we ate lunch there and the boys checked out the water.

Since we still had to drive back, and hadn't been prepared for swimming, we told the boys they couldn't get their shorts wet. Noah was the first on to realize he could go in a little farther if he pulled his pant legs up, the other two soon followed.

Back at the campground, hanging with Sean.

After dinner (our meat from the farm), we made s'mores. Tyler was so excited to make them for the first time!

After s'mores, Rudy wanted to go swimming, For two summers now he has been asking to be like a diver. This summer I found a kid's set with a snorkel and fins. He was so excited! He uses the snorkel really well and loves to swim with the fins on.

Swimming across the pool with Paul.

This was our last night and Paul had only made a fire one other time, so that was his goal fo r the night. You can see Vincie and Andy's cabin in the background.