Saturday - July 21

Oh wow...…………..another big day!    Left Utica around 8:10 and off to Cooperstown (45 minutes).    GPS routed us thru lots of curvy roads but beautiful countryside and Lake Otsego.

 

I LOVE Cooperstown and all its charm, beautiful old homes and buildings, gorgeous flowers and baseball, baseball and more baseball.    This town is all about baseball and we were just one week away (July 27-30) from the Class of 2018 being inducted.    The town will totally be nuts so good thing we are missing that.   With only a population of 1,000+, summertime in Cooperstown swells big time.     So many families out and about on this gorgeous day....

 

We started with breakfast at the Stagecoach Café - neat coffee shop with great food (cinnamon rolls for the boys and me - sandwich for Mark).    Then off to the museum a block away.  

 

Entrance to museum

 

  The boys went absolutely crazy looking at all the exhibits and Mark and I loved listening to them and their  BIG-time enthusiasm.  

 

In front of Ryne Sandberg (their Mom's huge fan) in the Hall of Fame

 

Jordan gave us a tour and was very interesting describing several things along with some of the Hall of Famers.    We hit the streets and the many shops (all related to baseball).   

 

All the lampposts have 2 of these huge hanging baskets up and down Main Street

 

Lunch in the basement of Mickey's (for Mickey Mantle) at "Hey Getcha Hot Dog" - gotta have a hot dog in Cooperstown and with all the toppings - yum!!!

 

The boys scouted out so many shops.....but in the end, along with some special souvenirs, they each had a new jersey....

 

Happy with their purchases while waiting for food at  AJ's

 

Liam (Ryne Sandberg) and Connor (Ernie Banks).    We left for Tonowanda around 2:30 and a 4-hour trip.     Had supper at AJ's here in the marina - love their food

(ribs, quesadillas and pulled pork nachos).    The boys have done their packing and tomorrow, they are flying back to IL...…just won't be the same....

 

Nighty night...

 

 

Friday - July 20

H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y

 

MAEVE !!!

Maeve is 2.....

here she is loving her Daddy's Cabbage Patch Kid - Les Jacky 

 

Our last day of having the 3 boys together started with Grandpa, Connor and Brady off for a donut fix (Liam was sleeping in).    They brought Liam and Grandma some treats.   I did the boys laundry and the guys had one more dinghy ride   We got the boys bags all packed along with souvenirs and off to the Rochester airport (80 miles).

 

One last ride 

Leaving Catrina

 

Had lunch at Applebees and then a very nice lady checked us in and allowed the boys and I to go thru security with Mark and Brady.    The flight to Charlotte was delayed about 45 minutes.   We played cards and then said our good byes and Brady was off...

 

Playing new card game (kemps)

 

What a very fun time we've had with these grandsons - they are quite the trio of laughter, giggles, sports talk, singing (they entertained us frequently with "New York, New York"!!!!) , etc.   They were a true joy to be with - great manners and nice mature young men!!!

 

Soon as Brady was up, up and away, we 4 left, drove 2 hours and tonight are in Utica

 (1 hour from the Baseball Hall of Fame).   Had dinner at Moose River and all ready for a good night's sleep.    Michael picked Brady at airport and they are home!

 

 Liam and Connor are so looking forward to tomorrow!

Luke and the birthday girl!

 

Have a great weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Thursday - July 19

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BLAIR 

 Our Sweet Princess / Sweet Pea is FIVE today!

 

We all slept in today and then off to Tim Horton's for breakfast and then to Six Flags at Darien Lake (45 minutes southeast).     We facetimed with Blair along the way...

 

What a big day the boys had.....Grandpa, too.     This place is huge with so many amusement rides, water rides, souvenir shops, game booths, restaurants, etc., etc.      Mark and I had not been to one of these theme parks in a very long time.   We are so not into roller coasters and my tummy was churning just watching them roll over and over upside down and all around.....ugh!!!

 I found a nice shady spot, grabbed a chaise lounge and enjoyed reading my good book and people watching.    Amazing the various bods in bathing suits - some - nice, others, not so pretty!    Obesity and tattoos were in great abundance!!!    Brady had pointed out that yesterday was "National Tattoo Day"!    Yikes....just don't get what that is all about as there is definitely a huge craze going on!

 

We left the park around 5:30 - very big day in the sun and everyone tired.    Back to Catrina and walked (boys rode bikes) to AJ's Snack Shack - another good supper and a beautiful evening to sit outdoors.   Brady wanted another lunch there tomorrow, but they don't open till 12, so.....not going to work as we head to Rochester and his flight back to Charlotte.

 

It's been such a fun week, and will be sad to say good-bye to Brady tomorrow.     After he has boarded the plane and taken off, we will take Liam and Connor onto Cooperstown and tour the Baseball Hall of Fame (Saturday) in that neat little town!

 

Highlights from today.....

 

Breakfast at Tim Hortons (Brady said - "best apple fritter ever"!)

A favorite ride - "Tantrum"

Lunch - nachos and slushies 

Riding the old cars with Grandma and Grandpa close behind!

Afternoon snack - Dippin' Dots 

Shipwreck Falls (got wet)

Taking a break in the BIG chair

 Nighty night from a tired, happy Catrina Crew

 

Wednesday - July 18

H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y

BROOKE

Celebrating with family

The birthday girl with Blair and Maeve

 

Another very fun day....left the boat at 8:15 and a nice short drive of 9 miles to Niagara Falls.     We got a prime parking spot, checked out the info for Maid of the Mist boat tour and Cave of the Winds.    Walked to the Canadian side, a quick walk-thru in customs and tah dah....the falls just blew the boys away!

 

It was fun for us to see their reaction and hear them chatter away so excited.    The crowds were not too bad, weather was perfect (75) and after doing a bunch of touristy stuff and walking around, and the boys and Grandma riding the Sky Wheel, Connor treated us to lunch followed by a big shared funnel cake!    They bought some souvenirs and then we walked back to American side, another easy trip thru customs went on the Maid of the Mist boat trip.    Fun  and breathtakingly beautiful so up close and personal to this national treasure.    More shopping, too.

 

We had a 4:00 time to do the Cave of the Winds.   Once again, put on rain ponchos (blue for boat tour - yellow for cave tour).    This was absolutely crazy walking thru a long tunnel and then climbing many steps getting soaked from the falls and strong winds.    At the top, it is hurricane force and oh my...………..just unbelievable.    No one stays up there very long - overwhelming!!!  The boys loved it but despite the ponchos, we were all wet!!!

 

Back to the truck and on to Tonawanda arriving around 6.  The boys wanted to eat at Mississippi Mudds again (real food tonight after last night's "show boat" monstrosity!)    Then onto Catrina where the boys put on their swim trunks and Grandpa took them to Memorial Pool for some swimming    I decided to have some down time - work on the blog and just chill.    It's been a very big day and I have over 17,000 steps and tummies are full of hot dogs, burgers, pizza, funnel cakes, ice cream, Dippin' Dots, smoothies, slushies, iced coffees, etc.

 

Off to Canada we go...

parked on the American side and walked across the bridge.    Definitely recommend this!

The bridge we walked across

Sign is dividing line...

Liam and Brady are in US and Connor and Grandpa in Canada!  

 

View from sky wheel 
3 awesome boys riding high (falls in background)

  

Riding high in the sky - 42 cars in the Sky Wheel (we were #26) 

American and Bridal Falls from Maid of the Mist

Horseshoe Falls from Maid of the Mist 

Canadian side wear red ponchos

Heading back to the good ole USA

Grandma and 3 WET little rats after Cave of the Winds!

 

Mark enjoyed the pool - reminded him of growing up in Dixon, IL and the same type rounded concrete pool with seating for spectators, etc.    He wonders if the same architect designed both pools?

 

Tomorrow....Darien Lake and 6 Flags!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday - July 17

We had such a fun day...….Mark went to the store first thing to get milk and Tim Bits (assorted mini donuts from Tim Hortons).    We exercised (I'm back lifting weights).   The boys rode bikes and Connor swabbed the decks!

 

Around 11ish we left on Catrina and had a great ride to Buffalo stopping at Blue Water Marina for a pump out and diesel.   Went thru a lock.... some new experiences for the boys!

 

Off we go to Buffalo

 

Grandpa and helpers doing a pump out and getting diesel

 

and then coming into the lock

Liam helping grab the rope with boat hook

Holding onto the ropes in Black Rock Lock

 

Buffalo skyline

 

 Tied up at Canalside - very pretty area with walkways, flowers, restaurants in a park-like setting.

Canalside

 

Had a very good lunch at the Liberty House (compliments of Liam - thank you)!!!   We left this pretty place and off to anchor at Seaway Piers - the boys enjoyed dinghy rides and then swam.

 

Dinghy rides

Refreshing swim - water temp was 80

 

Brady at the helm - he enlightened us with his boat knowledge as he just got his new license.

 

It was such a beautiful day although very windy.    Back to Smith Boys and then off for ice cream at Mississippi Muds (the boys and I shared a "show boat" (5 different flavors of ice cream, brownies, sprinkles and other goodies).    Grandpa had a root beer float

Show Boat - deeeelish!

And now watching the All-Star game...

 

Tomorrow we are off to Niagara Falls...