More Niagra Falls Pictures

Is that your final answer?

No. I would like to change it to ...

Two

and a half

with an assortment of branches

We are really blessed there is no damage. The heavy portion of the tree missed the garage because it snapped higher up on the trunk. Any lower and we would have had damage. I am glad tree number two fell into our yard and not across the road and on the neighbor's trailer. At least the third tree split on that side away from the house. We did lose a patio chair. The leg was broken when it was thrown off the porch. At least we will have plenty of firewood. Clint might not think that a good thing when he has to cut it in the heavy humidity we have been having.

Thunderstorm

Thunderstorms are fairly common here in the midwest. A really good one sends us scurrying to the basement pretty quick. We had another one last night. The wind is what woke me up. My first thought and question was how many trees would go down. Then I heard the older two girls whose room is upstairs haul their pillows and blankets downstairs once the thunder and lightning started.

When checking the news this morning, I found we were on the outskirts of the storm that moved through central Illinois. Some areas received penny-sized hail, 60 mph winds and lost power. We just had this to deal with ...

The answer is one, by the way.

Bumper Cars

Bumper cars are hard to take pictures of especially if they are moving everywhere which they usually are. They are fun to drive though. It is more fun to watch the kiddie ones though. Nothing like putting a bunch of 3-4 foot kids who have no clue how to drive in some cars. The ensuing chaos leaves you laughing. You shout too especially if your child is tired of being bumped and tries to climb out and leave the ride. Thankfully it wasn't my child that pulled that stunt.

I don't have any pictures of the kiddie bumper cars since my camera batteries died by then, but I do have some of the bigger ones. Joanna hated the big ones though. Charissa thought it was time to take out some hormonal frustrations on her dad, siblings and strangers.

Clint with his passenger, Joanna, are in the middle of all the cars for the first picture. Oren is in the second one. Perhaps he was looking over his shoulder to get away from his sister.

Okay, now a video. Watch close as you will see Charissa who was driving Cara around. She leaves stage right. Clint and Joanna then come into the picture (green car). Catching a video is almost as hard as taking pictures. It is really just complete chaos. Maybe that is why my kids like it. They are used to the chaos.

Summer Vacation Pictures - Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio)

While at Cedar Point we let the older three kiddos (who were all tall enough to ride any ride) take off with a cell phone and orders to stay together. Hubby and I handled the other four kiddos. After lunch we stuck together or at least tried so hubby & I could get a chance to ride some rides. Cara went on the big Ferris Wheel with Oren and Jonathan. The boys didn't think being so high up was too cool after looking down. Cara loved it and even swayed the car enough to freak out her older brothers, laughing the whole time.

This ride was the coolest as long as I didn't have to ride it. Cara wanted to though. Thank goodness she was too little. Who woulda thought my li'l whiny tattle-tale wimp adores roller coasters. She went on every one she was able too and still was asking for more. The roller coaster was called Top Thrill Dragster. It started from a dead stop and hit 120 mph within seconds. Up it went and came down spiralling. uh, no thanks!

Joanna's favorite ride

Oren

Charissa (trying not to smile)

Kalynne looking just thrilled

Eric rode in style too

Mom and Joanna one of of the many whirling rides

Cara accompanied Jonathan on one of the smaller roller coasters

An Excuse for a Party

We like to have parties. Actually, we just like to eat ice cream. Which is why we have a fun family tradition of Sundaes on Sunday. We eat sundaes for dinner. I could rationalize that with the ice cream (dairy), strawberry topping (fruit) and nuts (protein), we almost have a balanced meal.

I find that making memories and laughing together doesn't have to cost a lot of money. We have fun at home without spending lots of money. We have restaurant nights. We have movie marathons with movies checked out from the library. Another fun way we can create memories is through bizarre monthly holidays. I posted all about it in my other blog.

We are also planning on having un-birthday celebrations each month since only 5 months out of the year don't have birthdays for us. We will have weird themes like cowboy, frog, yellow and whatever our brains can think up.

Vacation Pictures

or at least a couple of Niagra Falls. I have a ton more pictures and stories to post later.


Gorgeous, isn't it? Pictures do not give justice to this amazing site ...er... sight (spend too much time on the computer, I guess). The Falls are simply breath-taking to behold in person.

Okay one story now ... This is how it really is for a dozen shots or so when you want a family picture taken. Our vacations are not spent sight-seeing. They are spent trying to get 7 kiddos to take a decent picture to remember all those happy memories (hopefully forgetting how many trys it took to preserve those memories).