Part 3

DAY 4 - Friday

Today we had planned to go to Jungle Jam. Jungle Jam is an indoor playground. Huge slides, climbing stuff, etc. We were excited and were meeting Jen and Rich there at 9:30am. But when we pulled out we saw the employees from Jungle Jam standing outside and they informed us that the entire area had no power and that the latest word was that power wouldn`t be back on for at least a couple of hours! Darn! So we went to Plan B, changed directions and went to Froottogo Orchards! This is a really cool place that is only 15 minutes from Jen and Rich`s place. First of all they have a HUGE field that had hundreds of outdoor kids toys. A huge sandbox with tons of trucks. Dozens of riding toys. A broken tractor to play on. Slides. Swings. Huge piles of hay to jump off of. A giant corn maze. The boys had tons of fun playing with all of the toys.

Riding in the wagon

Anderson checking things out

Joel playing in the giant sand box (check out all of the toys in the background)

Jen trying out the Ergo with Tait

The hay piles for jumping off of

Joel loved the tractor

Jen pulling 3 of the 4 kids!

After that we checked on the animals they had there. They had chickens and goats and an funny goose. The goose honked a crazy loud honk at Joel and he just about jumped out of his pants. It took us a while to calm him down. He was not a fan of that goose after that.

Joel looking at the chickents

Anderson  and the 'scary' goose!

Then we went and picked some yummy delicious Royal Gala apples. Anderson and Joel rode in wagons and really enjoyed eating the apples!

Yummy apples!

One cute kid!

Anderson picking apples

Joel picking apples

All of the delicous apples!

Before we left, we had some samples of the fresh pies and baked goods they have there, and we decided to buy a pumpkin pie to have with lunch. I also bought some fresh dill pickles and homemade jams which I can`t wait to try!

We went back to Jen and Rich`s house and they made us a nice lunch of super duper delicious corn on the cob and homemade burgers. After lunch the boys went for naps. All four boys napped at the same time! It was Joel`s first nap of the trip! I think he was glad to have it! While the boys were napping, Jen and I went to Once Upon a Child which is one of my favourite stores to visit while in Southern Ontario. As usual, I got some great bargains and got both boys some Christmas presents! I was also very proud of myself because I drove there. I was nervous but I managed to drive through town and on the highway without having a heart attack!

When we got back, Joel and Anderson had just woke up and spent a few hours tormenting each other and stealing each other`s toys. They also played together nicely sometimes and enjoyed chasing each other around the house screaming at the top of their lungs! It was sort of funny because Anderson is a rough and tumble sort of boy and Joel isn’t. Anderson is used to roughhousing so he would go up to Joel and tackle him and try to wrestle with him. Joel did not like this at all! He would curl up like a turtle and cry! This happened quite a bit! But Joel did enjoy playing with Anderson`s toys! The tool set and the Car Transporter were big hits!

Taiten back at the house

Playing the piano

Me and Owen!

Anderson and Joel wrestling

Lauren playing with Anderson

Before supper, Lauren and Chris joined us! We visited for a bit, then had a delicious dinner of homemade lasagne, salad and garlic bread. The boys went to bed shortly after supper and we spent a nice evening visiting! We woke up Joel and we went back to the hotel where we all went straight to bed!

Homemade lasagna for supper

Lauren and Trev at supper



Enjoying some kid free time after all of the boys were in bed

DAY 5 – Saturday

Our last morning at the hotel. We woke up and we had time to head out to Mountain Equipment Co-op (the new one in Burlington) before we met Jon and Kate for lunch. We browsed around. We really didn`t need anything so we just browsed around and didn`t end up buying anything. Then we headed to Ancaster to meet Jon and Kate for breakfast. We met at a great restaurant called Coras and had a nice breakfast. Joel opened one last birthday gift! A Thomas backpack (had to have some Thomas in there), 2 books (Little Critters and Beranstain Bears) and Mr. Potato Head!

Uncle Jonnie with his nephews

Kate and Trev

We wanted to time driving with Joel`s nap and it was a bit too early to leave so we went to Toys R Us to waste some time. We picked up a few things we needed and Joel has Trev wrapped around his finger enough to get a new McQueen toy which apparently he just `needed` since the McQueen he has doesn`t fit on the car track we got him for his birthday!

Thankfully when we left, Joel fell right asleep and slept most of the way to Andrew and Cindy`s place. When we got there, we set up playpens and unpacked the car, got dressed in our nice clothes and headed to Cindy`s parents place for a Barbeque. At 7pm, we headed to their second wedding reception (a lot larger than their first which was basically just immediate family and very close friends). Day 5 of almost no naps at all and I was really scared to see how Joel would do here when it didn`t even start until his bedtime. Joel was hyper and crazy, but he had a ton of fun. From 7pm until 8:30pm he danced and danced and danced. He was the only person on the dance floor and he just danced like a madman. It was so fun to watch! He was beside himself with tiredness, but somehow he stayed fairly happy. A few tears when it was time to get PJs on and head home and he collapsed into bed just after 9pm.

My boys all dressed up!

Andrew and Cindy with Nancy and Dave

Aunt Marj excited to finally meet Owen

Joel with Andrew and Cindy

The 'second' first dance

Grandpa fed him cheesies to add to the overtired nuttiness

Let the dancing begin!

He danced with some girls

He danced with Grandma

He danced with Owen

All that dancing sure makes a kid tired (he's not sleeping, just taking a rest)!

The next morning was breakfast at Cindy`s parents house and then finally the drive home.  Both boys slept the whole way home!

Through all 5 days, Owen slept through a lot of it and smiled through the rest!

Cutie Pie Owen

 
All in all in 5 days we did:

- Allergist appointment
- Dinner with Andrew and Cindy
- Elmvale Jungle Zoo
- Ikea
- Marineland
- Froottogo Orchard
- Tiger Direct
- Once Upon a Child
- Dinner with friends
- MEC
- Breakfast with Jon and Kate
- Toys R US
- Family BBQ
- Wedding Reception

And you know what, we somehow did it in a way that didn’t seem overwhelming or too exhausting. It was a lot of fun and most importantly I think Joel had an absolute blast! I`m sad it`s over!

I hope you enjoyed all of that because it sure took me a long time to recount our trip!