Niagara

Our big holiday this year in August was going to a friend's wedding in Toronto, which was spectacular.  In total we spent a couple of weeks in Ontario and had a wonderful time.  We missed the rainy July weather they had, and were lucky to have really warm temps.  

The kids are super travelers.  Here is Emily looking so grown up on the plane ride there.  Thanks to the airplane television and Treehouse, Bruce was even able to read the paper.  

For our first night in Niagara Falls we enjoyed Guinness on the patio, while Emily delighted in playing games on the Blackberry.

Here we are looking at the American Falls.

And of course the Canadian Falls.

Matthew and I did the "Maid of the Mist".  It was a little too loud and wet for Emily and Andrew.

The guys loved all the attractions around town.  Here is Matthew with his new Guinness Book of World Records book.   He is very into records and is scheming how he can make his claim to fame with a record of his own. 

Emily is a really coffee shop gal.  I am guilty of introducing her to that bad habit.  Here we are in Niagara Falls at what I think is the most expensive Starbucks in Canada.  The kids drinks were about $2.50, way more than anywhere else I've been in this country.

We went to the Niagara Parks' incredible butterfly conservatory.

The variety and quantity of butterflies is amazing.

Butterfly detectives taking a rest break.

Baby butterflies in the nursery.

At Niagara on the Lake the boys found their first real Maple tree and Maple Leaf.  It started to make more sense why it is found on our flag, and Andrew's shirt.  Not too many Maples in Calgary!

Lake Ontario from Niagara on the Lake.  It is a Great Lake indeed.

Perfect time to practice skipping rocks thought Matthew.  

Look at the brown and blue faces after our Cow's ice cream stop.  

The Niagara Park's botanical gardens are not to be missed.  Matthew is laying down by the fountain.  Due to fatigue after a packed day we only could only cover part of the expansive grounds. 

The gardens are part of the "classroom" for the school of horticulture.  What a learning environment it is!

The students designed planters which were so beautiful and unique.

The students were exploring a colour theme.   This area by the building was all done in different shades of red.  

We could see how they were shaping the plants as they grew to make incredible designs.  

As nice as the student vegetable garden's were, it was more fun to play "hopscotch" on the stepping stones.