Good-Bye March Break 2013

March Break is over - Back to School - Back to Work . . . oh how we miss March Break!!!

We ended our March Break heading down to Niagara Falls, Ontario!  The kids have never been there and we thought what better place to go for just a few days - so that's what we did.  We found a place for Izzy to hang out - which she seemed to love.  It was a cage-free kennel, where she got to play with 14 other dogs.  I sure couldn't do it, but I'm glad that she was able to have fun while we were gone.

Izzy at the Dog Kennel playing with her friends

Braden took a couple days off of work so we were able to leave on Thursday by 8:30am - and if you know us that is amazing!!!  We decided to take the American route down to avoid a bit of traffic and made it there by 3pm!  Even with all the stops that we took!

We checked into Sheraton on the Falls - with a great view of the American Falls - and right away Brade took the kids to the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark while I waited for our room and them we all went swimming until supper time.

Navia looking out our bedroom balcony.

In the middle of the chaos is Braden, Emma, Kaleb and Navia.

Now you can see them!

Too many kids!!!

Navia and Daddy after the huge bucket of water rained down on them.

We went to the Hard Rock Cafe for a late supper and then we all went to bed exhausted, just to wake up in the morning to head back to the pool and spend until 3:00 pm swimming.  The kids loved the wave-pool and water-slides although Daddy did get a pretty nice bump on his nose when Navia's head said hello to his nose.  Can't believe that it split open, gave him a bit of a bruise and it kept bleeding as long as it was wet (which was the entire time swimming!)

Once swimming was over we changed hotels to the Hilton and were upgraded to a great room that had a hallway with the kids' room on the left (with 2 queen beds, tv, etc) and on the right our bedroom with a King size bed.  It was so perfect!  We headed out to supper, walked around the Falls and then back to the room for the kids to enjoy.  We put a movie on for them and while Emma babysat her brother and sister Braden and I were able to go on a date.  We kinda love this stage of life!!!

Our date view from the 33rd floor lounge.

The next day we went to the Journey Behind the Falls, which the kids loved, even if a couple of the openings to the Falls were frozen over.  

a frozen opening to the Falls 

Cheesy green screen photo - but at least it shows that all 5 of us were there :)

We then headed to St. Catherine's to visit with Grampa and Gramma Ralph at their new place.  We spent the afternoon visiting with family - which our kids thought was so cool.  Uncle Phil, Aunt Janny, Uncle Dan, Jon, Hollie and the kids had fun playing with Mason and Liam.  We haven't seen anyone for about 3 years so it was great catching up with everyone.  

We came back to swim at the hotel in the evening and pack so that we could leave bright and early in the morning.  We planned on heading back to Ottawa through New York again so that we could do a bit of shopping at the Waterloo Premium Outlet - which was definitely worth it!  I wish that we had outlet shopping closer to us!  Oh well . . . 

On the drive home the kids kept talking about how they had so much fun and they can't wait to go back and do it all over again - everything they did they want the exact same - hotels, activities and visiting with family.  So, looks like we just might be repeating this again!  A great March Break - and only 2 weeks until the next 4 day weekend - which the kids are already on countdown!!!

January 2013 - Birthdays, Visitors and Relaxing...

January is the second of the Bailey Family birthdays - 1 in December, 2 in January, 2 in February.  For Daddy's birthday he didn't want a cake so pie it was.  The kids and I made, from scratch (first time ever!!!) a coconut cream pie and a banana cream pie for Daddy's cake - and they turned out perfect!  This just might be a tradition . . . 

January 15th was a good day for Emma - it was her birthday and Gramma and Grampa McGifford arrived in the afternoon while the kids were at school and Emma helped Gramma design and made her own birthday cake.  It's the first time fondant has been used in our house and now I'm thinking that the kids had so much fun that it will happen a few more times!

The kids LOVE playing board games with Gramma and Grampa

The kids had Friday off of school, so Braden took it off of work too and we drove a few hours into Quebec to Saint-Agathe-de-Monts.  We rented a place there that was actually a converted boys school - so cool!  There was a ton of snow and the kids could just jump on their sleds and go sledding outside the house.

We brought the crockpot and had great meals every night!

The basement had a ping-pong table, which was put to good use!

One of the afternoons we decided to check out the local cross-country ski facility.  The kids had never gone cross-country skiing before so we thought we'd give it a try and they really enjoyed themselves.  We did the 3 km trail and the kids didn't even complain until they saw the end of the trail and decided that they were done.  Oh, and Gramma and Grampa did well too - lol!

Gramma and Grampa

Daddy and Navia

Navia, Kaleb and Emma - waiting for the 'old' skiers

Navia, Carrie, Gramma and Grampa

Don't we look professions - hehehe!

The grandkids with Gramma and Grampa

There was a local winter festival going on so the kids did a few snow slides - enjoying them with Daddy.

On the way home we stopped at Mont Tremblant, Quebec and it was FREEZING!!!  So very, very, very, very cold!  We had lunch there and then BeaverTails for dessert.

Mom and Dad met up with her aunts that live in Ottawa for lunch while the kids were is school one day.

When we got back from our little mini-vacation Braden and I actually took off again - to the Wakefield Mill and stayed overnight there while Gramma and Grampa looked after the kids.  The next day - Monday - Gramma and Grampa got the kids off to school, went shopping and out for lunch with the Aunts, while Braden and I relaxed.  We spend the day at Le Nordik - a spa and outdoor Nordic baths.  We started the morning off with very relaxing massages and then the rest of the day outside in the baths.  I stayed in the warm and hot baths and steam rooms, while Brade did try the freezing cold waterfall - looked like he was going to die and showed me why I was sticking to the hot ones!!!  We had a great time and really appreciate Mom and Dad taking the kids so that we could do this.

Gramma helping Navia with her Grade 1 homework.

Because Kaleb's birthday was coming up Gramma and the kids made a special birthday cake for him and he loved it with all the Pokemon on it!  

While Grampa was down we thought we'd take advantage of the extra muscle to move a few things into the basement - sooooo glad he was there and I wasn't having to help Braden!!!

We had to say good-bye to Gramma and Grampa though - although it was a bit different than usual.  Poor Gramma got sick on the day of the flight so Grampa left by himself and Gramma flew back 3 days later.  It was great to have them around though as we really enjoy having family out here - hint, hint, hint to all our amazing family!!!