A weekend in Ithaca

Two weekends ago we spent a beautiful few days in Ithaca. We were able to go out on Dad's boat and relax together as a family, Jay included!

We headed out to the gorgeous Cayuga Lake around 10 a.m. We took the boat out at Taughannock Falls State Park and enjoyed a picnic lunch and the lake.  Poppy took Raphael out on the boat, Jacob refused to go (he's going through a little phase where he is scared of lakes).  Jay and I went tubing, which was loads of fun!

  

Jay, Poppy and Raphael out on the boat!

The playground at Taughannock was great!

Theo spent the morning and afternoon sleeping and smiling!

We hung out by the shore. The boys enjoyed skipping rocks and looking at the other boaters.

Relaxing on a beautiful afternoon!

I absolutely love this picture of Raphael wearing Poppy's glasses. It looks like he's on the boat all alone, do not worry he's not!

Back at the house Gianna and Aunt Laura came over for dinner.

Aunt Laura and Theo bonding.

The beautiful little Gianna!

Thanks Poppy for taking us all out on the boat. We would certainly like to make a tradition out of it!

The cottage

 I decided to make the five hour trip to the cottage with the boys even though Jay was busy with work (thanks for letting us go hon).   I met up with Rebecca and Jim in Syracuse (the half way point) and then we headed over the Thousand Island bridge and onto the cottage.  Luckily we had no troubles at the border.  We had an absolutely perfect week!

 The boys loved trying on these goggles. Raphael went swimming a couple of times. Jacob, unfortunately, would not go swimming since he said there were sharks and whales in the water! I'm hoping this is just a phase.

 Here's Theo and Poppa sitting in the shade. 

 Rebecca looks great for being six months pregnant!

 Jacob is sitting on the bench overlooking Bass Lake.

 Uncle Jim and Raphael have a special bond.

 All three boys together.

 Since the boys got antsy we went into Smith Falls and spent some time at the playground and the wading pool.  Smith Falls, also has a couple of locks that are part of the Canadian Rideau Canal system. 

 The boys enjoyed watching the boats go up and down through the locks.  We also watched a bridge move so that the  boats could get through, they had to hand crank it in order for the bridge to move.  It is amazing that this system of canals is still in working order.  There were many house boats and regular boats that go through the canal all summer long. 

 Mom made us dinners every night and was great at helping us keep the busy boys entertained. Jacob and Grandma had quite the game of war together.

 Aunt Rebecca and Raphael swimming together. The water was perfect.  Everyday the clouds were amazing and the sunsets were gorgeous.

 Uncle Jim was very patient with the boys.  Jacob enjoyed watching Jim fish and go boating.  The boys also woke everyone else up earlier then they probably would have liked, although the boys are great about not waking up in the night and still slept in until 8 a.m. every day!

Theo was a perfect baby.  He slept well (he never work anyone up) and was very easy going.  We are very blest since both Jacob and Raphael keep us on our toes all day long. We are all looking forward to going to the cottage again next year and we're hoping that Jay will make the trip with us next year.

A visit from family

 Aunt Laura, Uncle Chad and Gianna made the trip up to Buffalo, for the weekend.

 Gianna is almost six months old.  She is super cute.  She is constantly smiling and is overall very happy.

 It was a rainy weekend, but we went outside when we could.  The boys went swimming in the pool.

I love the colors in this picture.

 More garden pictures!

 Flowers that I brought back from the cottage.

 On Sunday evening we went down to the waterfront,  It was super windy.

 The babies.

 Ordering ice cream.

 Chad was patient enough to sit with Raphael while he ate his ice cream.

 Jacob was enjoying the view and the ice cream.

All the cousins, so precious.

A weekend in Ithaca

 I decided to brave it and I made the 2 1/2 hour trip to Ithaca by myself with the three boys.  Jay had to work on Saturday and I wanted to see family so I did it. The boys did great in the car and we all had a wonderful long weekend.

 Theo is already 6 weeks old. He's smiling and becoming more alert everyday!

 The days were gorgeous. One evening we headed out to Meyer's Park in Lansing.  We told the boys all about lighthouses.  They were entranced.

 It was windy.

 They have a new plaground at Meyers that was awesome!!

 Mom and Gianna.  On Sunday we all got together for a picnic at my parents house.

 Aunt Laura, Gianna and Raphael.

 The grill masters.

 Eating watermelon in the garage since it was raining,

 On Monday we played outside all day with Grandma A and Uncle Dean. 

Poppy and Theo.

Look at him holding up his head.