Marineland

Yesterday we went to Marineland and had a great time! Here are the kids on a ride, I think they just dropped, which it looks like Kat enjoyed.




And, for reasons I can't begin to fathom, they have huge numbers of animals- there must have been at least 20 black bears in the water pit. And you can feed the animals!! They sell feed, but there are no signs, no restrictions and no one who gives a crap what you're feeding the animals. Mom brought carrots & celery & dogfood, which they seemed to like. The bears made me think of a John Irving book....now I have no idea which one, but one about a retired and pathetic circus bear. I guess it's time to re-read some of those. Despite the animal issue, it was really, really cool for the kids to feed the bears. How often does one get to intentionally feed them. they were practically performing for the food.
They also have an enormous herd of elk.....most were piled up in teh shade, but some were hungry. Kat also enjoyed feeding them. At one point, I looked over and one of these guys had her forearm in its mouth. Apparently it wasn't what they wanted and they let go. She had no idea how she should feel about this....stood there looking at her arm for a while, then almost cried, until I pointed out that yet another one looked hungry.
And bison.....tons of those too! And it's quite nervewracking to see the big guys right there and have to assume that that steel bar there is well constructed. They can't get their humps under it. I think if they really stretch, they can reach under for some food. But the babies can fit underneath and come over for some food.
And there are also deer, some of which apparently needed food STAT!!!



Gummed by an elk and nosed by a baby bison within minutes of one another- who else can say that?
This apparently is the only rule about feeding the animals....
Watching the dolphin show. One of the 3 of them is quite tired.

In addition to being fed, the deer must also be petted!

Mom & Dad's Surprise 50th

In somewhat random order, here are a bunch of pics from the anniversary party.

playing the fiddle

The well dressed munchkin always wears her dress and swim goggles when watering the garden!

The Supermodels... in the bathroom?

How can 3 medium to little girls in a bathroom with a camera go badly? I may have had to delete some pics, but there are also some awesome pics!
Kat is quite the photog....This pic of Charlie is awesome!

These girls can vogue!!
And cry, which Kat, as a budding photojournalist, documented (excepting the 'why' of the crying....she MAY have played a role!!).

not a lot to report

We went to the Toronto Zoo. Awesome place, especially now that they have added the splash park- a great way to rinse off after a super sweaty day walking around and hauling her highness in the wagon up and down the hills to the Canadian section. Kat had never seen a bird so big.


Bryan & Wendy were in TO, so we met up with them after the Zoo and went to dinner at The Keg, our favorite Canadian restaurant. We only had a few hours, but made the most of it.
Today we toured the fire hall. Kat was not feeling up for posing, so we got contemplative Kat on the truck.

Amusement Park

We have been to our local amusement park a few times lately. It's always a good time.We took Mom & Dad.
Last night we took Cheyenne and they all had a great time.
She was really concentrating...no smile.
Last night all of the girls had a great time. Eli, not so much. The three little ones loved playing with their big cousin Cheyenne. The hissing goose and me telling it to 'knock it off' made a huge impression on Kat. And the goose listened as well as some other people I live with......

She's getting bigger

Though she looks pretty small in the twin bed. She can't wait to turn 5 so she can sleep in the top bunk.

Boo & the blue jays

I was trying to figure out what the blue jays had against the boys. And then Boo showed me.....

Dresses and blue jays

We went dress shopping with Cheryl to find a flower girl dress for Kat. And Cheryl & Jessica tried some dresses on also.....


Kat must have been in the pool for 4 hours on Saturday!!

Pool

This is where we will be spending our summer. I think Kat would have voted to come back to Buffalo, even if the place wasn't crawling with her cousins, friends and family, if she could only play here all summer!!

Blue jays vs Ben

Apparently, and for reasons we do not understand, Ben appears to be enemy number one for a pair of blue jays who must now share our yard.... As always, super Ben is blissfully unaware of any malice or plots toward him.

Face painting

We painted each other's faces today.... I think i was supposed be a tiger. It's an interesting interpretation, I must say... She is a lion, btw, but we didn't have anything for yellow/gold.

Moving up and an amusement park

Kat as a lion
Kat and her best friend Alayah, covered in blue frosting.
The moving up ceremony
The dads take one for their little girls.....in the tilt a whirl. Dan was feeling that all evening!
We had some of Kat's little friends from the Y (and their folks) over for a cookout. Here they are at the kids' table. So cute!

I LOVE the smile after she successfully completes her climb and slide. I'm just sorry I cut off part of her happy dance!

Today's strawberry crop