Thanks Nonna & Papa

This blog tonight is for my mom and dad. This week has been filled with amazing opportunities and experiences for my children and these things would not be possible had my parents not opened up their home to us (ok, and their pocket books!). We are so grateful! My parents were worried about us all fitting in the little 950 square foot condo but we all adjusted just fine. We did have one problem arise. Carmen went to the hospital this week (umm hello....can we get an urgent care in western NY?) Her antibiotics for Strep throat, which she tested positive for on the day we left were not working. She was put on some really strong stuff that seems to be doing the trick. Unfortunately, my parents opened up their home to us but also took the chance of exposing themselves to my germ filled kids...so guess what...the Nonna is sick. Really sick! Despite all of the illnesses with Carmen and Nonna (and Daddy and Mommy a little bit) and Gianni being a little homesick missing his friends, we are having a blast. Take a look at all the amazing things we have experienced this week!

One of our days consisted of a trip to an indoor water park in Canada. This place was cool. Mommy and Gianni rode the water slides in a double tube. One of the slides was a big toilet bowl! You go round and round until it sucks you down the drain. We were there for six hours when this day came to an end because Gianni slipped and got a bloody nose that wouldn't stop. I will be waiting for the first aid department to send me a bill for

the towels they used to stop the mega-bleed.

A trip home would not be a trip home if we didn't do the typical tourist thing and visit Niagara Falls. We took a walk down by the falls and rode on the Maid of the Mist. Gianni thought it was so cool that we could get so close to the falls while on the boat. Carmen just wore the rain jacket and hung on to Daddy. She did ok though!

One evening we went to the country club for dinner. The food there is absolutely delicious and the kids got to ride in Papa's golf cart which they thought was super FUN!

African Lion Safari was worth the hour and a half drive to Hamilton Ontario in Canada. The kids got to see all kinds of wild animals, they played in the water park, and they rode an elephant whose name just happened to be Jenny. Abel told me I had to put it on the blog so that we could say we rode Jenni!!!

One of the highlights for me is the Brown's Berry Patch. This place is small but loaded with things to do. First the kids picked fresh blueberries, raspberries and cherries. I think they ate more fruit right off the vine than they actually picked! They also have a barnyard with animals, climbers, water play, bikes, big tires, and this cool bounce thing. It is kind of like a balloon attached to the ground. We stayed for at least 4 hours and the kids could have stayed longer.

They like the farm life!

Our longest little day trip was down to Corning, NY about 3 hours away to see my dear old friend Jamie (Gianni's Godmother) and her son Brandon. I had been looking forward to this trip because Jamie had never met Carmen and I had never met Brandon. Plus, it was just good to connect with my friend again. It was so worth the drive and I am so glad we got a chance to hang out. Brandon is beautiful, intelligent, and man does he love the camera! He and Gianni got along great. Gianni has been missing his friends at home lately so this was perfect.

Jamie, it was so great to see you and Brandon. I love you!

Thank you to Nonna and Papa for helping make this trip so wonderful.

We are so lucky to have you in our lives.

To our AZ friends: Gianni is having a blast all day, but at night he misses his bed, his room, and most of all his friends. Hope to see you all (Sydney, Kyan, Lola, Steven, and Daniel)

later next week.