Niagara Falls 2009

We got an amazing room and rate at the Fallsview Plaza Hotel, which is directly across the street from the new Fallsview Casino.
The view from our room on the top (18th) floor.

Bedtime on the first night. Hannah lied down right away and said "night-night". Caitlyn isn't as easy when it comes to her bedtime and is usually up with Mommy or Daddy in the rocking chair while watching TV. Caitlyn typically falls alseep in our arms after about 10 minutes.

The "new" (6 years old) Fallsview Casino Resort Hotel at night.

The girls ready the next morning at Marineland.

Hannah is probably saying "Daddy, whedy?"

Sea lions.

The Beluga Whale

Friendship Cove and the Killer Whales.

"Daddy got all wet!"

Marineland is spread out quite a bit so there is lots of walking if you want to see everything. We were very surprised that Caitlyn actually wanted to walk with Mommy & Daddy and didn't seem to get tired until we got back to the car.

Caitlyn was in charge of the map- she did an amazing job of telling us what was coming up for us to see.

Brown Bears

Daddy was the only one brave enough and probably tall enough (laugh out loud!) to brave the SkyScreamer. You sit on a chair which shoots you to the "sky" and you feel 4 Gs. Apparantly on the space shuttle, astronauts feel 9 Gs- WOW! You sit at the top of the tower for about 20 seconds to enjoy the view and then the chair "falls" all the way back down. Considering that there wasn't a line-up, the 45 second ride was worth it and fun!

There is a deer park, but there isn't any food available for people to feed the deer, so they don't really have any reason to get too close to visitors. Caitlyn was a little scared of them and stayed very close to Mommy and the stroller.

Hannah with her new 'feeshy'

Caitlyn with her new Sealion. Of course it HAS TO be in a bag, everything HAS TO be in a bag!

After four hours of walking Marineland, the girls got tired!

"Mommy I love you!"

One of the greatest things of taking holidays and going to Niagara Falls during the week- there was hardly anybody there!!

Look at these smiles!

Situated right on Clifton Hill is the newest attraction- The Niagara Skywheel.

The Skyscreamer from the Skywheel.

Someone is really excited!

Our hotel is the first tower to the right of the Skylon Tower (centre)

Maid of the Mist

Hannahs raincoat was a little big on her!

Caitlyn did not want to get wet!

The American Falls

None of the girls wanted to get wet, so they stayed in the middle of the boat.

Our last stop was the Niagara Aviary

Sorry, our last stop was the Hershey Chocolate Shop. A little bit of advice, if you want your kids to sleep on the way home- DO NOT take them to the Hershey Chocolate Shop and let them eat fudge and candy. They will be awake for the entire ride home!

What an amazing hotel room (thanks Amanda!), what an amazing week (thanks girls!). The weather was great all week, +25C and there wern't too many crowds since it was the middle of the week after a long weekend. The girls saw "feeshies", lots of "wadder", we went to "I-op" twice for pancakes, and "my Daddy got all wet!" (Hannah actually said that right out of the blue to the ferris wheel attendant- a 5 word phrase before she turns 2- WOW!) Too bad we haven't mastered the potty like her younger cousin has!!

Now, unfortunately, we're back to work on Monday. Hopefully, it won't seem that long until our next vacation!

Easter with the cousins

Going for a walk to the park. It was a cool day (by South-Western Ontario standards) and a little bit windy so the girls and boy had a wear their warmer coats to the park.

"Mommy that fruit kabob is staring directly at me!"

A Bunny Cake

Fruit Kabobs courtesy of a very tatented aunt

Loving cousins

Finding what the Easter Bunny left the girls.

The Tundra Swan- Only 10 minutes from home!

AYLMER WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

The lands that make up the Ontario Police College and Aylmer WMA were used as a Royal Canadian Air Force training base during World War II. In 1964, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources acquired 338 acres as a provincial hunting area for upland game. In 1972, the focus changed to managing for waterfowl. In the years that followed, an inner sanctuary of 80 acres was enclosed with a chain link fence for the protection of the wildlife using the site and 50 acres of ponds and sloughs were created to attract migrant and breeding waterfowl. Over the years, facilities have been added and upgraded on a regular basis to enhance widlife viewing and access for all types of visitors. Currently there are trails, 4 wildlife-viewing stands with parking, interpretive signs and brochures, pit washrooms, and 3 hunting blinds with parking.

Inside one of the 4 viewing stands.

From wintering grounds in the states bordering Chesapeake Bay, the eastern population of the Tundra Swan begins its annual spring migration northward to breeding grounds in the high Arctic

Tundra Swans and Canada Geese

Looking out one of the other viewing stands.

Tundra Swans in flight.