Back it up: Final Day of Vacation'10

I'm so glad we were able to fit Niagara Falls into the trip home. It's always nice to have something to do because the prospect of "going home" can kind of be a let down. This national spectacle was definitely worth the trip!

That morning we woke up, packed and headed to IHOP. The kids really enjoyed the all options and the variety of syrup and, on top of all that, behaved really well considering the long car ride the day before, a rough night of sleep and the prospect of doing it all again that day.

We found a parking spot and began looking around. I didn't realize that it is an actual state park, and I was also surprised how built up it was all around the falls. From a distance there was all this "smoke" (that really turned out to be the mist from the falls), but I had a hard time believing that it was the falls with so many hotels, restaurants and businesses by it.

My parents went here for their honeymoon. They got married in December and I feel sorry that they didn't get to experience Niagara in all its splendor. It was absolutely gorgeous.

It was difficult to take a picture with only our family in it because of the crowds and crowds of people everywhere. A good portion of those visiting Niagara that day were visiting from other countries, which was kind of neat to see. I suppose this is on the list of "American Things To See," along with the Empire State Building, Grand Canyon and Disney World.

We didn't have passports or birth certificates on us, so we couldn't go to the Canadian side of the Falls. That was a shame because I think it would be neat to see the Falls from head on, as opposed to at an angle. Regardless, I could have sat there all day and watched the water.

The boys had a great time chasing birds under the trees, alongside the water.

I can't remember what they were doing here, but it looks like they were having fun!

This is from the other end of the US side of the park.

On the far end, there would be times when you could barely see for all the water spitting in your eyes. This, the heat and the fact that we were climbing back in the van for the last leg of our journey all added up to this fine family portrait.

We got home, went straight to bed, then up to Great-Grandma and Grandpa's anniversary party. These are all the great-grandchildren.

And these three--all born within the same year--are with their proud grandmas.

Afterward, we went home and crashed. The kids and I rested for the next week. Poor Kev had to go to work the next day!