Day Trippin' in Ontario

I'm very lucky that my kids are usually great when we are "on the go."  When we make a trip to Ontario we are on the go all the time.  We've got people to see and places to go and our time is usually slotted into morning, lunch, during nap, after nap, dinner and after dinner time frames.  We pretty much fill our agenda, but for the most part its always full of fun things to see and do!  This recent trip to Ontario in early July was no different.  Here is a recap of our fabulous on-the-go day trips and what we got up to.

Canada Day Celebrations!

We were in Ontario last Canada Day as well and so the cousins were very familiar with the routine of doing something fun during the day and then seeing the fireworks at night.

Last year on Canada Day we made our best attempt to try to get an "all cousin" photo of our kids in their Canada t-shirts.  This year we attempted the same with the exact same results - Cordelia was pissed,  Karis was indifferent, Kingsley was the first to bail and the two bigs girls sat there laughing as I snapped away.  Its comical really!

As a group, Jill's family and us K-girls headed on over to the Optimist Park to watch the fireworks.  

But first there were faces to be painted.....

Kamille cracks me up in this photo. 

posted to facebook - zing!!  

And then we waited for the sun to go down.....

Jill's family

I might come to regret this decision, but I let Kamille use my camera (and omg, was it ever cute to see how big it was in her hand and against her face!) and she captured us....

The sillies started to set in...

Once the boom began Karis appeared curious and entertained....until Kingsley started freaking.  Poor Karis figured there was something to fear so she started wailing and trying to run away.  Poor girl.  After some tight snuggles and lots of cheering to show her that it was ok, she settled in my arms and watched with interest.  Kingsley, not so much!  Poor dude!  By the end of the display she was clapping.  The big girls loooooooved it!  

Finally enjoying the show.....

Bowling!

The next day we had plans to get together with some of my high school girlfriends and their kids.  Sadly a large thunderstorm washed out our plans for an outdoor splash pad and picnic lunch and so with few interested in back up plans, I had the chance to really connect with one of my closest friends Erin and her three kids Alex, Julia and Lauren.   Erin had the brilliant idea of going bowling!  Seriously!  Bowling has been one of those "rainy day" activities that I had written down on a "to do"list in my kitchen.  At home we'd have to drive to Vancouver for such an event but in Ontario we could drive two minutes to the nearest alley to enjoy a fantastic morning and lunch with friends.

thanks for taking these photos erin!  

Bowling is hilarious!  And alleys are certainly not like they used to be.  All the glow in the dark lighting was fascinating for the girls.  And when I asked the staff member to place the blow-up bumper thingys in the gutters, we were directed to the touchscreen monitor/scorekeeping board and with the touch of a button, up popped little side rails to keep the ball from gettin' in the gutter.  Like I said, all things bowling have come a long way......

What I was surprised to hear is that they no longer have the mini 5 pin bowling balls...Just the biggies, but in a much lighter weight.
Kam's style was slow and steady to begin with.....

And I am sure the alley would have been on a downward grade because there is no way that sucker would have rolled all the way with the gentle push that Kamille was able to give it.  Waiting, waiting, waiting.....SPARE!  

So with much bigger balls to manage in little hands, it made for quite the comical event of watching little kids throw bowling balls down the alley.  Eventually Kamille got it down.
This is pretty much what it looked like each and every time......

Oh, and there she drops it.....

I'm sure both Erin and I were amazed that there weren't hole in the alley by the time we left.  Good grief!
However, by the time we were done Karis and Lauren did manage to leave evidence of the fun that they were having while they played with the plastic cups and water jug that we were offered.  They made soup, soup and more soup and the floor was soaked....but hey, we had bowling to attend to...they were happy!  ; )

Springbank Park

When the sun came out we had the chance to meet up with Kevin's dad.  He's a gentle and soft spoken man with a heart of gold, though not overly sure about kids.  However, what he does do is love up my girls by spoiling them with treats in the mail for all those yearly occasions like Valentine's Day, Easter, Birthdays, Halloween and Christmas.  When we meet him face to face he always treats us to lunch and some kind of fun activity.

Springbank Park is the park to experience back home.  Its a place full of memories from my childhood through to being with Kevin.  I have spent a lot of time rollerblading and running there.  And now that I have kids, the Merry-Go-Round was begging to entertain us.

Karis wasn't sure what to think about the fact that her horsey was going up and down and round and round...

I was super excited to have this experience with my girls, but for them, well....They don't look so enthused in the photos now do they?  Not sure what was up with them, but maybe they just needed some more time to warm up to Grandpa because eventually their smiles came out.

So then we headed to the Mini Train!  Again, something that I experienced as a child and here I was with my girls...Love that kinda stuff!

 Glad to see their smiles come out.  

Port Stanley

Last year when we went to Ontario we were there for a longer time and we had rented a cottage within steps of the Port Stanley beach.  It is an incredible place for people of all ages.  I certainly have lots of memories of being there as a child.   Jill and I decided to spend one day at Port Stanley with our girls.  Nana was able to stay home with Kingsley and so it was a girls day out.

Beach Bum!

Jill lookin' fab while she has a pee oops, I mean cools off.  Tee hee!  ; )  

Me and my Kare Bear, who was either winking sunscreen out of her eye or this was her "cheeeeee" face!   

And would you believe that the droaning sounds of the beach, heat waves, gulls flying above and the conversations of people all around made for the perfect mix of getting Karis to drift off into a lovely afternoon siesta.  Nigh, nighs my love!  

And no trip to Port Stanley is ever complete without a stop into Mackies.  I've mentioned Mackies before when we were here last year.  Everything about that place is awesome.  From the hum of the air conditioner, to the chiming of the video game machines, to the signs that are used to display their menu,  but most of all.... the food.  There is something mmm, mmm, good about Mackie's fries - and their delish fry sauce, which I believe is ketchup and sweet and sour sauce mixed together.  So good!
Of course we had to stop in for fries!

Reflection in the window.  Right on the beach!  

Storybook Gardens

Within Springbank Park is Storybook Gardens.  Again, a place that has been around for years (actually since 1958 to be exact) and I have photos of me as young as Kamille standing in front of many of the same storybook attractions.....

...like Humpty Dumpty.  His wall has changed looks and location, but he's the same ol' fun dude just barely hangin' on that wall.

 And the old lady who lived in a shoe.....

And the Storybook Garden's mascot, Slippery the Seal was there too!  Always a good visit when Slippery is around to see!

Storybook Gardens is in the same location as its always been but the look of the garden has changed quite a bit.  Quite a few new attractions and things to do....

The biggest sandbox ever.  I think we spent a good chunk of time here.  Its a ginormous sandbox and the kids even have access to running water that they can use however they please.  MUD PIES PLEASE!  And the best part about this is that there is a Storybook Garden's staff member who plays in the sand with your kids.  So basically you just sit on the sidelines watching your kids get soaked and dirty while they are entertained by someone.  All that I was missing was a coffee and a celebrity gossip magazine to make it even more perfect!  ; )

Our kids and the staff member who is keeping them happy! 

 See this pig pen.......

 Well, she's just in heaven with all this water and mud!

 Cousins helping cousins!  Love it!

I could take a bite out of Cordelia's "getting slim, but still kinda chunky" legs.  I love them!    

 Oh and there is even a splash pad there too!

 And frogs to ride....

 How cute are these girls!!!!!!

I can't help but start singing "Let's get physical" by Olivia Newton John when I see this photo!

This barn has been there for the entire time that I've known Storybook Gardens!  Funny how it and the hill that was just off to the side of it that used to have the Jack and Jill slides on it don't seem as big as they used to.

And can you believe this?  (This picture is for you Jill!)  Would someone please milk this poor goat!!!!  The poor goaty could barely walk normally and she was constantly kicking up her feet to push her sac o'milk out of the way.  I wonder if its as painful as an engorged boob?  It was painful to watch.

"Storybook Gardens....Where storybook dreams come true!"  (I think that was what the radio commercial sang to me!)

African Lion Safari

And finally I come to our last big day trip - African Lion Safari - another place that I am sure that I went to when I was a kid, but I have more recollections of the TV and radio commercials than I do of me ever being there.  Kevin's mom and step-dad took us.   I was super super super excited for this trip.

African Lion Safari opened in 1969.  Its essentially an outdoor zoo that you drive through.  A large space of rural land that has a 9 km driving trail through seven large Game Reserves.  Its pretty amazing how close you can get to the animals.

Lions and Tigers and Bears...Oh My!

I love her face in this photo! 

If I was thinking ahead of time, I would have cleaned our car windows so that my photos would be more "clean."

Yikes!  Some of these guys were pacing around and the African Lion Safari trucks were driving all around them trying to show them who was boss and to contain them to one place against the fence.

 There was no containing these guys though....

African Lion Safari is known as that place where the monkey climb all over your car.
Because they do......

Unfortunately, or fortunately kinda too, they no longer have the small monkeys that jump on your car by the hundreds (exaggerated!).  Hence the above warning posted about you taking the risk of having damage done to your car.  Perhaps one too many cars were damaged.

Remember how I mentioned before how I love that the sky seems to go on forever.....

 Have you ever seen an ostrich poop (or was it pee? I'm not sure?)  Well, have a look.  Now you have.

This guy was literally right outside my window for this photo!  Say Cheese!  

And speaking of private matters....

Um?.....YUCK! 

Seriously!  

I just love the zebras!  They seemed so gentle and chill.  

And I loved the whole, "Excuse me, um, pardon me, I'd like to cross the road" type thing here!  

" Oh pardon me, I'm just crossing....."

 "Oh and my friends are coming with me"

Watching these guys was neat.  It was like the two of them were fighting and the wise ol' guy on the far left came in to break it up.  

Look!!!!!

Someone who perhaps enjoys the slower pace of things.....

The girls were great, but after a slow 9 km drive, they were ready for a change of scenery and some lunch.  So after giving Karis her soother and feeding Kamille all the snacks we had just to finish off the Safari ride, we decided it was time for some lunch.   Those plans were quickly put off by an incredible display of awesomeness - the Elephant dip!
From a distance we could see them getting closer to the water for their daily swim!

Hello Baby Elephant!

I skipped out of lunch to catch a couple more photos of the elephants walking back to where they stay after a nice cool dip!  LOVED watching them walk through the crowd.

I love how they are truck to tail like little kids holding hands as they walk down the street.  

Dude, there were elephants just walking though the parking lot!  Love it!
Ha!  This was funny....
You know you're ready for a Gift Shop make-over when this is your sign......

 Seriously?  I should have went over and asked for a roll of KODAK 24 just for kicks!

After lunch Kamille stopped whining and was finally re-energized for part II of our African Lion Safari adventure.  The petting zoo and the splash pad!
While I was taking photos of this little monkey I was thinking that he was so cute.....

until he turned around....

Yikes....What kinda monkey is that!!!!????  

this monkey stayed cute from all angles!  ; )

i love how big their bodies were on their tiny little legs and feet!

And then finally the SPLASH PAD!

This was such a great day for me!
The girls were zonked after it all and had a great sleep on the way home...excellent!

So I'm not gonna lie to ya, but I am so glad this post is over.  Its soooooo long, but I wanted to capture it all.
We love day trips!

P.S.  Just so I don't get slandered in her blog, Jill really wasn't peeing in that picture. ; )