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.

Day 3- Forks Farm and Knoebel's

Because of the demise of my camera, I left early Wednesday morning to buy a new one. Somehow it got ruined in the bumper boats, but I was able to retrieve all my pictures from the card.

Vincie had arranged for us to visit a farm that was organic and sustainable - the animals were free-range and ate almost entirely from the land and their natural habitats.
As we arrived the cows were being moved from across the street to another part of the land. Every few days the cows move from place to place so they don't strip one area of grass and can get the more nutrient-rich grass. It was quite a feat to move these cows. The man in the front was clapping and the herd of cows followed him slowly.

A few of the cows stared right at us and mooed loudly as they walked by. It was cool to see. They then ended up on the side of the mountain and walked around grazing there, where they'd be for the next few days. One baby got a little away from the herd and we watched as the farmers slowly tried to get him back to where his mom was.

Inside the barn were lots of hens. Some are egg layers and once they reach a certain age and are ready to start laying, they get moved outside to the Eggmobile. Others, like this picture, are the meat chickens. They get moved to other pens in the yard and will eventually be processed for fresh meat. They do all the work right there on the farm - fortunately it was scheduled for the day after we were there! You'' notice some chickens that look different - they are guinea hens whose sole purpose is to eat ticks.

This was the ceiling of the barn. There were tarps everywhere to help protect us from the peacocks that sat up there and the bats.

Downstairs in the barn were some pigs. There were about 5 piglets, who weren't old enough to be out in the field yet, and 2 full-grown (HUGE) pigs. There was also a domesticated goose named Frederick.

The pink pig became a surrogate mother for the piglets after their mother died.

Aren't they so cute?

It was a rainy day but we were prepared for it, so we got ready to take a walk around the farm, joined by the dog, Basil.

As we walked down the driveway, we saw the cows again. They wee constantly on the move as they ate.

We had to walk down and across the street to go see the Eggmobile. The field where it was located is a field where the cows had been a few days before. The chickens eat bugs from the cow manure and help restore the grass that the cows ate. The animals all work together to keep the fields usable.

The chickens are free to wander around the field by day or hang out in the Eggmobile.

The panels on the sides are where they lay their eggs, which are collected several times a day.

There is one rooster among the chickens. He is a leader for the group and also a protector. If there is a predator flying around, the rooster will crow to warn the chickens and they will all go back to the Eggmobile until it leaves. At night the chickens go inside the Eggmobile and are closed in to protect them from predators.

A view of the chickens and the cows.

These small boxes are for the meat chickens. They are moved around the field every few days so they can have fresh grass. You can see how good it is for the grass to have the chickens there - there is a green path showing where the boxes are moved from day to day.

After walking back to the chickens, Tyler was the only kid who was still walking - most likely because there was no one who would carry him!

Our next stop on the farm was to go up the mountain to see the pigs. We could have walked but we decided the kids wouldn't make it. So we rode in the pick up truck. Not my favorite way to have the kids in a car, but we were barely on the road - just riding up a path into the woods - so we did it.

The boys, of course, thought it was the coolest thing - for a while it was higher on the list that the train ride!

And then we made it up to the pigs. They, like the other animals, are moved regularly, although not as frequently as the cows and chickens. They have a great area that includes trees and branches, some shade (did you know pigs are very susceptible to sunburn?), and mud.

The farmer demonstrated to us how curious the pigs are. As soon as he entered the enclosure, they all swarmed around him sniffing and nibbling his pants and boots. Pigs really have a lot of personality.

We had a great time at the farm and really wish we had a farm like this closer to us. After our tour we spent A LOT of money on meat to grill the next day.

We then headed to Knoebel's - an amusement park. The kids did a great job at the farm but we knew they were ready for something more their speed. The park is great - no admissions fee- you buy tickets for the rides, like you do at the boardwalk.

Sean on the boats.

Rudy and Tyler on the planes. Rudy really enjoyed playing with Tyler this week. And Tyler seemed very amused, and often confused, by the things Rudy did!

I have a great video of the three boys on this ride - the Frog Hopper. They are laughing and having such a great time!

At the park, there was an area with a small museum and a woodcarver and a blacksmith. Doesn't Rudy look amazed by this bear?

Everyone, except me, went on the teacups.

These bears were in the museum. I think they used to be art of a show. Rudy had to have his picture taken with each one. The poses are all his own!

The log flume. I am not one for roller coasters, or very many rides because I tend to get motion sick, but I LOVE the flume. All of us except Vincie and Sean went on it.

Our last group ride of the day - we took a train ride.

Although the idea of riding them scares me, I loved the thought of this ski lift ride. The view up there must be incredible! Unfortunately, right after I took this picture it started to rain and I felt very bad for anyone on the ride who was getting soaked.

Tyler on the last ride of the day. It started to rain while the kids were on this ride.

But, as you can see, a little rain does not deter the boys from having fun.

The rainstorm was brief and after it, we got some ice cream, did some souvenir shopping, and headed back to our cabins. After Rudy was asleep, I tried out our new camera by taking some self-timer pictures of me and Paul.

It was a very full day but we'd all had a lot of fun.