Dad's Post

What a great trip - spending time with my great kids (sorry Sarah, I mean "Children") and great wife. God provided for us throughout the trip - safety, provisions and fellowship (AKA family fun).

The tail end of the trip was most memorable. As we were approaching Chicago from the East on the 90 tollway, there were three highway patrol cars escorting a wide load ahead, blocking all lanes as we travelled at 25MPH. We followed for at least a half-hour until we were losing our patience. I suggested that we pass the squads on the right shoulder. An officer would then chase us, opening a hole for those thousands of cars behind us to flow past the other two officers. I figured we would be a "sacrifice" so that others could be free. It was easy for me to suggest since Janet was driving at the time, but Alas, she did not obey and we just plodded along. We finally found a road that headed south (we were headed north) and took it, hoping to find a bathroom. We stopped at a gas station - no bathroom! Then we stopped at a White Castle - no bathroom, etc., etc. Finally, after getting  back on the highway, we found another exit, and everyone was happy! or at least happier...

We can't wait to get back to see you all. We appreciate pastor's preaching (!) and miss you guys more than ever.

Videos from Kalahari

I had to post some videos so you all would see what a fun time we all had at Kalahari! Pictures could never do it justice...plus, we didn't get too many in the first place because we were having too much fun sliding and getting soaked! Here's Dad going down "the toilet," of as Mom prefers, "the vortex." :)

Next, yours truly (Amy :) going down the toilet! I was a little scared at first, but it was so worth it,

I had to do it twice. :)

And the tube vortex, which definately was a family favorite! You went MUCH faster with 4 big people. :)

Niagara Falls and Kalahari Resort

We went to Niagara Falls on Monday--the weather was beautiful. They were so amazing!! We went on a boat tour that went right next to the falls. Good thing we all got ponchos, otherwise we would've gotten terribly soaked! (We did get  wet, though.)

Perfect shot of the falls

Rainbow in the mist

Our family in front of the Maid of the Mist boarding station. How do you like our beautiful uniforms? 

The bridge crossing from Canada to the United States

Gotta get some funny pictures!!

     Mom seems like she's looking way far away

 

See the rainbow in that one?

Saw the camera and smiled!!

Just like her to always be smiling!

Betsy again, waiting for her picture

Poor kid looked so miserable...

Horseshoe Falls with a little mist

Mom thinks I'm cuter than the rainbow!!

The Maid of the Mist boat

Our family--always together

Just being silly again

6 beautiful children--mom loves us

Danny and I taking a rest

That's waaaayyy down there!!!!

Next stop: The Kalahari Waterpark!! We got there on Monday night and stayed until Wednesday morning. We got to swim and go down water slides and coasters all day Tuesday!

Only 2 of the waterslides (out of a ton)

That is the little kids water park. Those are the only slides Betsy would go on, though! 

That is the zip-line tower. Isn't that high?? Dad says he thinks that's how tall Haman's gallows were!

A very small part of the HUGE waterpark!

Amy playing with MY disco ball on MY sword

Danny and Angela chillin' out

That is the end of my first post and near to the end of our amazing vacation! 

Plimoth Plantation and the Maine Beach

Thursday night (9-22)

There were three on the bed and the little one said, "Roll over..." :)

Ditto

Friday 

The replica of the Mayflower sailed over from England in 1957. They called it Mayflower II. How original :)

The beds in the ship did not look too comfortable, plus it had to sleep probably 3 people! Danny must have thought it was OK :)

Betsy looking adorable as always

The re-enacting sailor sang a song for us with his instrument made of 2 bones. It was very interesting. :) He looked like the perfect sailor, sitting on the coiled ropes!

Betsy and Sarah made a new friend--and she wears skirts too! (I remember asking a re-enactor many many years back if she wore skirts all the time--"cause we do too"!)

Imagine having all your food made in this...

...and eating this all the time!

Next we went to Plymouth rock. It was much smaller than I thought it would be! (Angela says, "...and much more over-rated than the Liberty Bell!") (She's right.)

Next was Plimoth Plantation (sic), where they had a Wompanoag homesite and an English village. We watched a video first--and were the ONLY ones in the theater! (That was a first :)

Dad and Danny were able to get front row seats (that was a miracle considering how many people crowded that theater!)

When we were at Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts, we talked with a couple of re-enactors in a little hut in the English fort (from 1627). The man had a few pieces of armor that he had “brought over from England.” He let Dad try them on, and Dad asked for a picture with him.
“Oh, a pitcher?” He said. “The only pitcher I have is this one, here.”He slid his clay pitcher across the table to Dad. (These re-enactors act so stupid about modern things. Man, really?)
Dad said, “No, a picture.”
“Dad, just stand by him and smile,” I said. He did, and I took the picture. The man didn’t do anything, just kept sitting in his chair. “Yea, you can stand next to me. I don’t see any harm in that, nay.”
Dad started teasing him. “He doesn’t know what a camera is, either.” “Aye,” he said. “It is Latin for a dark room.”
“That’s interesting. Do you know what a cell phone is?” Dad said. “Nay. But we could go both ways. Do you know what [____] is?” (He rattled off this super huge Old English word.) Dad laughed.“We could go on all day,” the man said. 

They also mentioned that the Lord would probably return soon, with all the fighting going on between nations. I wanted so bad to say something like, “Sorry, but He won’t for four hundred more years at least.” Probably would have ruined their day—or week.  Another funny thing… every time they would say “know” or “unknown” the ‘K’ wouldn’t be silent! I tried not to giggle too loud.  Also, they would say ‘ed’ words like ‘sail-ed’ and ‘cook-ed.’ And they never messed up on any of it. And their accents? Out of this world. Makes you wonder if they talk Old English at home too, so they stay in the habit. It was perfect!

Next stop: Old Orchard Beach in Maine! (Saturday)

It's summer again! ..?

Betsy was unbelievably excited--her first time in the ocean.

Angela finds the true child's spirit in her as she bravely steps out into the ocean.

Angela found this...thing, and what does she do with it? Fling it at me, of course. She almost scared me half to death. Dad wanted to dry it to put in one of his smoothies!

I had to.

The sun finally peeked out!!!!

The pier was adorable. Not to mention the kids standing in front of it! ;)

Dad bought these huge jawbreakers to keep the littles happy and quiet on the road. Two days later, they're still working on them!

Vermont was gorgeous! We drove through at the perfect time--all the leaves were changing colors. I tried to get pictures of everyone... 

But when I tried to take one of Kelly, this was all I got from her: 

WOW. What can I say?

I guess she felt bad later, though, and consented to have her picture taken with Dad. What a good girl! Gotta love her to pieces. I guess that wraps up my post! Can't wait to see everyone again!