Our summer

This has been a very busy summer. It's been a very fun summer, too. It started with us taking a vacation to the northeast. My youngest son and his baseball team went to Cooperstown, NY to play in the Little League Baseball Hall of Fame. We didn't want to rush to NY for the baseball tournament, so we took our time and enjoyed getting there. We drove about 4 or 5 hours and would stop to see different attractions. I really like doing that. Who wants to be in the car with 3 kids for hours on end with no ending in sight? Not me. And not the kids.

We left a week prior to the tournament to take in a Reds game and to go to Canada to see Niagra Falls for a few days. I LOVED the Falls. What a beautiful area. Canada was much different than our expectations, in a wonderful way. We've talked about going back to visit for longer.

On the Canadian side, looking to the American Falls.

My husband and I have a goal of seeing a game in every baseball stadium. We wanted to check a few off of our list with this trip. On our way to Canada we went through Ohio and saw the Reds play. THAT is one gorgeous stadium. Most definitely in my top 5 faves.

The Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, OH.

After a week of taking a baseball game and enjoying Canada (night time is even more beautiful), we drove on to NY for the baseball tournament.

Cooperstown is a whole post in itself. I could write for hours about the week. I'm thankful for the opportunity to spend a week with these kids & coaches and their families.

After a very hard, tiring week at Cooperstown we went up to New Jersey to have some sweets!! What better place than the Cake Boss' bakery!!!! I can still taste the fruit tart. Mmmmmm!!!!

They don't look thrilled do they? They were. Really. They just hate mom taking a hundred pictures for everything we do.



The infamous Chocolate Chip Cannolis. They were AMAZING!

 Everyone needs a cupcake to try, of course! Kaitlyn tried a pretty yellow cake with a purple flower. Braylin tried the Chocolate cake with Chocolate Sprinkles, Ethan tried the Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese icing, Adam and I tried the Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese icing. When I saw the fruit tart, I had to try it. It was the best I have ever tasted. Seriously amazing.

Next up- NYC!!!!!!!!! What a busy place! Holy cow. Whatever you have heard, or seen on TV does not do the city justice. That place is PACKED! We loved it. Not the busyness of it, but the uniquiness, the charm, the people, the culture. It works so well together and it's a place everyone needs to visit. And night time is a whole other story. NYC at night is simply cool. The lights, the stores, the food, the party is non stop. I could see us all going back and staying there for a while. With all that said, it is nice to get back to the quiet country. It makes you appreciate the beauty of where we live all that more.

Look at all the people!

We were able to do so much in New York: Times Square at night, The M&M Factory, The 9/11 Memorial (such a solem, yet beautiful memorial), The Statue of Liberty, The Hudson River, Yankee Stadium (THE coliseum of baseball stadiums!!!!), The Mets Stadium (Citi Field- check that baseball field off the list!), ate REAL NYC pizza...I had a Chicken Parmigiana Pizza. No, I did not eat it all...not even half.

I have so many pictures of our vacation...a few of my favorites....

Ending ceremonies.

At The Hudson River with NY in the background...on the Jersey side. Stretching is important.

Watching the ships pass in The Hudson River.

Me...ready for the Mets game.

I swear I can never get a serious picture of these two. Braylin is ecstatic that he's almost as tall as his bigger brother, Ethan. Ethan just thinks he's goofy.

Daddy & Kaitlyn at the Mets game.

Us *love*

Dancing with the Statue of Liberty.

The North Side 9/11 Memorial

Lego land!!!

NYC at night!!! Times Square.

Adam successfully navigated his way through the Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel & NYC traffic. That IS an accomplishment!!  

 
Citi Field (Mets)


After NY we headed to PA. We saw were those dreaded Phillies play. The Liberty Bell, Ben Franklin's grave, and we ate at the legendary Geno's Steaks...




Then on to Washington DC. We toured The White House, The Lincoln Memorial, The Capitol, Smithsonian Historical, Space & Flight and Science Museums..

And then we headed to Myrtle Beach for a few days in the sun before heading home.

It was an amazing, unforgettable vacation. These pictures are just the tip of the iceberg. I need to get on to scrapbooking them all!

Fun family times.

Just this last 2 weeks we have had the pleasure of having family visit us. Adam's step mom and step sister visited for a few days. Of course they have to see the World's Largest Aquarium!!!

And of course, you have to have a smores night during the summer!!

You have to have Apple Pie when you're coming from Mexico to the USA, right??

And then a day after they left we had Adam's brother, sister-in-law, and nephew visit. This kid is absolutely adorable. And such a sweet boy!!!! I am in love with him.

So, needless to say, it has been a packed summer....we finished up baseball with districts, we have officially started football & cheerleading season, we got in a few White Water trips, finally finished the painting, and Adam has walls up in his warehouse! I would say this has been a very productive summer. Now for some rest....school starts August 20th, but maybe September!!!!!!!

Until next time,
Reb