I know what you did last summer!

Its been a while since I last blogged, but man what a summer we had! It was busy, busy, busy! There was no time to be writing posts. I've decided to write this post as a review of a few things we did and places we visited.

1) Canada's Wonderland
I always thought Wonderland was a place for older kids, but we have been twice now and my kids love it! They are 4 and 7 now, but we also went last year and had a blast. The kids zone is filled with rides they can both do alone and with a parent. The other bonus is no line ups! This year we also hit the splash zone, which is also super fun. I recommend going to the water park area first thing in the morning because by the afternoon (when its hottest) the slides and wave pool are packed!!
The other bonus for me was gluten free items to eat at a few locations. I found some great tips on this blog:
http://www.kingglutenfree.com/blog-post/canadas-wonderland-does-gluten-free/

Here are some pics of our super fun day:

Another thing is that you can know rent cabanas at the splash park where you can dup your stuff for the day. They are equipped with fridges and a TV under a shady tent. This area is also guarded. Super handy and great to share with a group.

 

2) Marineland

While I know there is much controversy over marine type aquariums and zoos, the boys really wanted to go. I have to say that Marineland in Niagara Falls is quite the dump. It is so run down, but it was actually perfect for our kids and their ages. The rides were carnival or fair like, so they were able to ride most of them (the ones that were working anyways). There were no crowds or line ups. We had great views of the animals also.

Lunch was very expensive, but they had rotisserie chicken (which was delicious) and it was gluten free!!

Overall, the boys loved the adventure there. It was a TON of walking as the attractions are very far apart, but it was a great day. Here are some pics:

 

Feeding the belugas was a highlight, but cost us an additional $20

 

3) Outdoor Movies

This summer we also played a couple movies outside in the backyard with some neighbours and friends. Beautiful summer nights in August are perfect for watching an outdoor movie. It gets dark earlier, the nights are cooler and perfect for snuggling up. We borrowed my dad's equipment, but you would need a screen, projector, DVD player or laptop, and speakers. Popcorn and treats definitely make the movie atmosphere. We served adult bevvies and apps for the moms and dads. Kids had hot chocolate, powdered donuts on skewers, 4 flavours of popcorn to choose from, and licorice. Check out the pics from our event:

 

The kids drove up in their motorized vehicles (like a Drive-In movie) and snuggled under blankets and sleeping bags. Most came in PJ's too and brought along stuffies! What a fun night!

 

4) Beach

 

My parents own a trailer at the beach, so we spent many days there enjoying the sun and sand. They have quite the set up there, with beach BBQs, tents, and tunes cranked. Fun times!

 



 

 4) Nashville

Every year, my husband and I like to get away sans children.  This year we headed to Nashville with friends. It was a great city to walk around in, taste a few different beers and a variety of food. Most of all, it is great to getaway and reconnect.  Spend some quality time together. Here are some pics from our getaway:

 

We rode this Pedal Tavern (a bar on a bike) ... we had to pedal for it to move, all while drinking beer!! It was a great way to see the city and have fun!

Magnolias are my favourite flower!!They grow all over Nashville!! Beautiful!



We spent a day by the pool lounging.

 

 Our summer flew by! Between these adventures, the kids did swimming lessons, we camped out with friends; J started guitar lessons, Engineering-Science camp, and dealt with some dental work; we celebrated our birthdays, and managed to catch up a little with family and friends. 

 

Not everyday was filled with smiles and laughter, but most days were. The summer seemed crazy and packed, but we want to create some wonderful memories for our kids. They have no idea just how lucky they are to have a family full of love for them and such great friends. We are blessed to be able to do these things together.

 

I hope you had a crazy fun summer too!