Canada trip with G&G

In front of the Palmyra Temple

First log home of Joseph Smith

Grandma and Grandpa were kind enough to invite us on their vacation to Canada.  We met them on Saturday in Palmyra, New York to see the church history sites.  We saw the Printing museum, then went to the Joseph Smith homes and the Sacred Grove.  Unfortunately, it started pouring and lightning while we were walking through the Sacred Grove so we had to make a mad dash back to the car.   We stayed the night in Palmyra then drove to Niagara Falls.  

Overlooking Niagara Falls from New York

Looking across to the Canadian side

 We stayed there for about 30/40 minutes then headed into Canada.  The resort was about 3 hours north of Niagara Falls and we didn't want to get there too late.  The plan was too come back down and spend more time at Niagara falls later.  Our family was there a year ago and we did the Maid of the Midst and looked around for a while then also.  The resort we stayed at was at the Southern end of the Georgian Bay of Lake Huron.  It is a ski area and plenty chilly for the middle of June.  Having left 90 degree humid weather in Virginia though the cooler weather was nice for a change.  Luckily the pool was heated and they also had a hot tub so we were still able to go swimming.  Swimming in the lake though was a different story. 

Throwing rocks into the lake

Daddy teaching him how to skip rocks across the water

Brave enough to get his feet wet. 

Caitlyn playing with the rocks also

Backwards throw

I couldn't get that close and not say I put my feet into Lake Huron, it was COLD though

View of the shoreline

We had to take a walk around all the sailboats waiting to be used on the Lake. 

The kiddies were fighting over holding Grandpa and Grandma's hands.  Also riding in the car with them and sitting by them at dinner. 

After that beach we drove around to a more populated beach where there was actual sand.  The water was a little warmer though really dirty due to a very shallow shoreline.  People were walking out 50 feet and it was only waist high.  Still a little too cold for much swimming though.  The kids played in the sand for a few minutes. 

We had a fun time and were very thankful for being able to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa.  We have been missing them the last couple of months. 

Soccer trophy

Liam was so excited to get a trophy for soccer.  Both him and Caitlyn had so much fun playing and were sad to see it all end.  They both slept with their trophies the first few nights.   His fun little team that he was playing with.  They called themselves the "Fire Trucks."

Summer Buzz

When Liam saw some of his friends with their head buzzed for the summer we decided to do his also.  At first he wasn't quite sure when he saw all his hair flying off his head but now he likes it and it is a lot cooler on the head with our hot weather.  I was busy with the clippers so didn't get pictures of me actually doing the haircut but here is what he looks like after. 

I like that you can really see his face and eyes better.  He is my handsome boy even with a buzzed head!

Myrtle Beach, golf and the aquarium

One of the few pictures I was able to take.  A very fast golfer like another Nielsen I know.

She needed a lot of help.  It's amazing how coordinated one child can be compared to another. 

 As much as I wanted too we didn't spend all our time on the beach.  We took the kiddies to play mini golf by our hotel which they loved.  Seriously though there are probably 40 different mini golf courses in myrtle beach, who knew it was the mini golf capital of the world.

Making it in the hole.

We couldn't decide if she was left handed or right handed so we

Finally we let her do her own thing

We also went to the aquarium which was fun.  They have a long slow moving walkway where you can really see their sharks, turtle, fishes in the main deep pool.  Then they have a large ray pool and can touch the stingrays.  Unfortunately the aquarium was dark and I didn't want to use flash with the glass and I didn't have the right lens, so not the best pictures. 

Beach photography

My favorite, I love his jump and the waves crashing down behind him

 I could have taken pictures all day of Liam playing in the water at the beach.  It was a perfect day with some amazing lighting, add his personality and it makes for some awesome shots.  These were my favorites so I played around with them in photoshop. 

This was a very unique move I was happy I caught

Running away from the water, love the reflection and his feet off the ground

I just like all the movement with his arms in this shot

His focus on his face, you can just tell he is pondering his next move

My favorite with this is seeing both the reflection and his shadow

My favorite part about photography is being able to capture moments like this that you can look at and treasure forever.  You can look at a picture and it automatically takes you back to those times and the feelings and emotions you had at those very moments.  Photos like this of my children playing and enjoying life will always be one of my greatest treasures. 

Myrtle Beach, playing at the beach

 Craig had a conference in Myrtle beach for a few days and we decided to all go as a family.  We drove down to my brother's house the night before and stayed with them.  I haven't seen him or his family for about 10 months so we really enjoyed visiting and the kids had a lot of fun playing with the cousins. It was nice being able to break up the drive a bit also.  When we arrived at Myrtle beach, the kids and I mostly played on the beach and we had a lot of fun.  Liam really started to enjoy playing in the water and the waves, Caitlyn mostly liked playing in the sand and sitting on her towel.  Her daddy doesn't like sand and it appears that she may have the same attitude towards it. 

 They loved building a sand castle though it took mommy a few times before we figured out the right moisture of the sand for the pillars to really stay put. 

 At first Liam would just get his feet in and then run away when the big waves came.  It wasn't long though before he was really letting the waves come crash into him. 

The water was so warm, it's true what they say about the Atlantic being warmer than the Pacific.

 Picking up the seashells on the shore.  He was pretty mad at me when I told him we couldn't keep them. 

 Here he was really starting to get his hands and more of his body in the water.

 This was her favorite spot.  On the towel, far from the water and near the sand where she could dig but not have to touch it.

 Waiting for the waves so he could run away from them.

 Here he was being brave and staying even though the waves were crashing behind him.

 Pouring water in the middle of our sand castle.

 I know, my sand castle building skills need some serious help.

Burying him in the sand.  I actually did this to him when he was about 6 months old and am happy to say that he didn't experience too much trauma from it.  He was still willing to let me bury him though closed his eyes so the sand wouldn't get in them. 

 Day 2 at the beach.  I invested in a hat and she found her sunglasses.  Looking like a first class movie star here. 

 We went to the beach a little closer to daddy's conference and the waves were quite a bit bigger, he still loved them though.

 Our little set up.  I did bring treats and some water and she definitely found them to munch on while brother and I were playing.

I could have stayed all day, though was concerned about getting too much sun and keeping the sunblock on the kiddies.  Needless to say they did not get sunburned however I did on my back where I couldn't reach to put the sun block on.  We are home and already looking forward to another beach adventure!