New little cousin

This evening, we took the boys to Uncle Stephen and Aunt Evelyn's house to see their new little girl, Faith Anna Wesco. She is so precious and the first Wesco girl to be born in 20 years!

On the way home, we stopped by the

South Bend Chocolate Cafe.

We all shared a turtle Sundae! Good to the last lick!This was our first time at the Chocolate Cafe.

What a fun place, with lots to see and do.

Niagara Falls

After dinner in Toronto last night, we made the 90-minute drive over to Niagara Falls. Jonathan and I went to The Falls in October after we were married, when I was pregnant with Lil J. My memory was morning sickness, cold weather and rain. So taking the boys to see The Falls when it was warm outside was awesome! The boys loved the changing colors of the lights.

"I Spy" a sleeping boy! My little man helping Daddy with the luggage.

Swimming at the hotel

After swimming and checking out of the hotel, we went downstream from The Falls where the river makes a 90-degree bend and forms a whirlpool.

Then back upstream to The Falls.

The boys thought The Falls were "okay" and didn't understand where all the lights were today.

Walking...

Before we left for Canada, weather.com was forecasting rain the entire week. The Lord blessed us so much, we didn't run into rain until we were getting in our car to head home! We weren't in the car long before the boys were out like a light!

The end of a wonderful trip...

Hippo Tour

This morning we enjoyed a "Hippo Tour" through Toronto!

The Hippo tour is supposedly "the hippest way to see Toronto"! It is a large custom-made bus which takes you on a narrated tour of the city and then concludes by driving right into the water and becomes a boat for a narrated tour of the lakeshore. The boys loved it...especially the big splash as we entered the water. It was the best of both worlds with the bus tour and a boat tour combined.

Our bus driver/skipper.

City skyline aboard the hippo

Notice the seaweed we picked up on our lake tour

After we finished our tour, we retraced the city tour on foot. Including a visit to one of the largest malls in Canada: Toronto Eaton Centre. Of course, Daddy couldn't pass up the opportunity to go into the Apple Store. Here are Lil J and Michael playing a Dr. Seuss Alphabet game.

The boys couldn't pass up the opportunity to go into The Disney Store (or Disney World as they call it).

After lunch and shopping, we continued up Yonge Street, the world's longest street, for more sightseeing. The boys fell asleep just before we arrived in Chinatown.

Michael wakened crying so Daddy picked him up and he promptly went back to sleep as we headed for Little Italy.

After walking through Little Italy, we didn't see the cute, quaint little Italian Ristorantes we were expecting. (I think we're spoiled by Boston's Little Italy) So we taxied back downtown and ate at Eastside Mario's again! They have the best Orecchiette Genovese Alfredo...I ordered it both nights. Incredible! The same waitress waited on us both nights. Lil J slept through our entire meal, but Michael was awake for this picture with Miss Caroline.

The Canadian National Exhibition

When the boys and I were at the McDonald's Playplace (again) yesterday, I was talking with another mom. She was giving me ideas on things to do in Toronto on Friday. She suggested "The Ex", which was opening on Friday. The Canadian National Exhibition is like Canada's national Fair. So, this morning Jonathan and I drove downtown with the boys to "The Ex". Upon arriving we realized that in celebration of Toronto's 175th anniversary, the entry fee on opening day was only $1.75/person vs. $45 for the whole family! Very cool!

All I can say is WOW! The Ex was huge and we only saw a fraction of it. Here are the highlights of our whirlwind day:

First stop was the Superdog Show, featuring dogs who have been rescued from shelters. The dogs did amazing feats and truly were Superdogs! The boys loved it.

Then we walked through a large livestock barn.

There was a special farming exhibit for kids that the boys participated in:

Planting seeds.

Gathering eggs

Milking a "cow"

Picking apples in the orchard.

Aquaculture

Driving their harvest to Market on their John Deere tricycles

After we left the "Farm" we came across a company giving away free samples of Hummus (ground garbanzo beans). Michael's reaction to his first taste of hummus, pretty well reflected the feelings of all of us...

In the Science Building Michael tried counting all of the Michael-Mans in the mirror.

Dr. Jonathan putting the innards back into the human being.

Daddy teaching Michael how weights and scales work.

Magnet fishing

Making music

The boys made lego cars and then raced them on the ramp tracks.

We were told that we could find great deals on lunch at the Food Building. We had no idea what we were about to see. There were 100+ vendors with food from all over the world. It was unlike anything we've ever seen before.

Our favorite part of the day was "Olympic Park" which highlighted the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

TEAM WESCO on the Bobsled...with as long as it took us all to "jump" in I don't think we'd stand a chance in Vancouver.

The official Olympic Torch

Lil J trying the shooting portion of the biathlon

Look out Wayne Gretsky!

The boys trying their Speed Skating techniques.

Lean!!!

Sandcastles!

After leaving the Ex we walked downtown through Harbor Centre.

Dinner at Eastside Mario's (Italian).

I think Michael was trying to make his own "Cream-Castle".