Back from Castaway Bay

Molly and Kate love people in BIG costumes
Molly in front of the ZIPCPOASTER
Kat, relaxing for a brief moment

The girls are home from Cedar Point's Castaway Bay with Grandma and Grandpa. Cast away bay is a hotel-water park that is similar to "Great Bear Lodge" or "Kalahari". My parents took them there for a mini vacation, and upon their return, my Mother commented (in a rather surprised tone) "this was the best place for a grandparent to take their grandchildren" and the girls behavior was excellent the entire time. Mom was quite the "Brave heart", going on the zip-coaster with Molly at least twice. (For those who don't know, a "zip-coaster" is like a roller coaster water slide.) Kate best enjoyed the wave pool and the baby pool. So you get the idea of what this place is like, I am attaching photos of MY trip to Castaway bay with the girls, since I do not have any from yesterdays trip.

Kate has taught me...

Efforts to prevent the unauthorized consumption of ice cream are pointless. I confidently placed the Ben and Jerry's 'Phish Food' Ice Cream on top shelf of the freezer, clear in the back. Kate taught me: she CAN in fact get ice cream off of the top shelf in the freezer! I have also learned to never underestimate Kate's love for Ben and Jerry's.

A large diet coke spilled on the floor is ALWAYS hilarious.... but only after you have established the fact you are not in trouble. Kate taught me: Never leave diet coke unattended near her - but if you're going to, just make sure it's on an easily cleaned surface. In Kate's effort of be sneaky, I have learned she will never remove the diet coke from the place you originally left it!

Kate has taught me, a lollipop is a wonderful treat, and every effort should be made to stick the entire thing in your mouth at once! Kate also taught me to ALWAYS make sure I have a camera on hand when she is eating a lollipop. The 10 pictures I took yesterday are priceless.

Pictures from Niagara

An amazing falls view

Molly and her best friend "A". The first thing we did was play in the fountains. It was SO HOT they really needed to cool off.

Molly, "A" and Kate, inside the gift shop at the Niagara's fury attraction. It is a 4D circular theater that has a river running through it, and is like a virtual "ride over the falls" experience. The large rodent in the background is the virtual tour guide. Kate loved him!

Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum. All six kids fit easily in Robert Wadlow's chair. *Robert Wadlow was the worlds tallest man, measuring almost 8 ft. Take note of the 'tween' in the background who is unwilling to make a funny face. She appeased me by rolling her eyes though.... at least I think that's why she was rolling them. Hmmmmmm.....

Molly acts like a sorcerer at "Galaxy Golf". She was "creating fire" with her bare hands, and we were all astonished at her "mad skills" - as Kate would say.

Niagara Falls.....

We are home from the falls, and I jokingly say "no one went over" but with 2 adults, and 6 kids that is really kind of a feat! We had an amazing time, and Molly with her friend "A" seemed to have the best time of all. In 24 hours, our list of items accomplished include:

• Walking down by the falls for about 3 hours


• Playing in the fountains


• visiting "Table Rock"


• "Niagara's Fury" 4D experience (Molly's favorite)


• Eating at Rainforest Cafe (Volcano treat and all)


• Ripley's Believe it or not Museum


• Swimming in the pool and hot tub


• pillow fighting


• Glow in the dark "Galaxy Golf"


• Flirting with the border patrolman on BOTH sides. (That was Molly, not me.)

Favorite pictures

Katarina and Me. I'm such a sucker for brown eyes!

Kat, on any given day. Dress up is her favorite activity.

Molly lighting a candle for Emily's 4th ~Angel Day~

My Sweet Emily Hope

August 25th 2003

Ronda, Spain

I did LOTS of hiking and rock climbing in this gorge, which is over a mile deep! The bridge is over 1,000 years old and you can hike underneath it to better view the waterfalls on the other side. It's amazing! My soul just loves this village.

New Tricks

Yesterday was a day of much anticipation for me. I was told by Molly yesterday morning, she had a new trick to show me when I got off work. Kate also had a trick for me and I was instructed to meet them at a neighbor's house, where there is a 4 ft swimming pool. Upon arrival, I found both of my daughters flipping around like little dolphins as if they had been swimming like this their whole lives. I should note, Molly has been deathly afraid of water her whole life and was actually a polliwog swim class drop out at the age of 3! She refused to "bob" under water and could not be promoted to the next class until she did. Rather than force the issue we decided to "take a break" for a while. I learned yesterday, Molly has not only learned how to BOB but she can also do the backstroke! She was VERY confident in the water, and I was absolutely elated for her. My Mother has taught her this trick in only three days! Kate (sweet little Kate) has NO FEAR and just goes right in. She is learning the crawl stroke, and was as cute as can be splashing around like a little minnow. She was also very proud of herself, which I find just delightful.

Creativity at it's best...

Yesterday, when I went to pick up my little gems from their grandmother's home, I was greeted at the door with the most amazing gift! Molly and Kat had spent the day being incredibly creative - making the most beautiful flower pot cakes. That's right..... these are CAKES! My girls were so proud of their creations, and rightfully so.... they're awesome! They even had little gummy worms in the "dirt"! How creative is THAT?!?!? Thank goodness my little sweethearts are learning the valuable skill I never learned.... how to cook!

Molly has become quite the little chef in the kitchen these days, and is actually more of a help than I am comfortable admitting. She even owns her own cookbook, which she bought from the school library this year. I believe she checked it out during the first week of school and then spent the entire year renewing it - because she was copying down each recipe by hand! During the last week of school, the librarian advised her she either had to bring the book back or pay $10.00 to keep it. It was $10.00 well spent!!! I may learn a thing or two from this book myself.... you never can tell!