Family Vacation Time At Great Wolf Lodge December 2015

We all vacationed recently at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio just before Christmas for the first time.  We were all impressed with the outside and inside of the Lodge and couldn't wait to try out the huge indoor waterpark.

The boys suited up and had an amazing time trying out all the bells and whistles of the waterpark's offerings.  Needless to say, aquatic nirvana was reached by all, including Andrew and I.  We tried out their water rollercoaster, the Hydro Plunge, and were thrilled yet soaked within seconds from the start.  The boys are already talking about when we'll be back!

This is the boys' "kids' kamp" where they got their very own bunk beds and got into the "bear spirit". 

On our last night, Edward and Aaron gathered with other kids in the Great Hall for story time.  How magnificent it is at night, all lit up with Christmas decorations.  Just magical!  Really special time of year to visit the Lodge.  Very glad we booked ahead and spent some family time there.  

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Aaron's 6th Birthday

Aaron celebrated his sixth birthday at the local Chuck E Cheese this past weekend, the ultra North American kid party place.  We finally caved in with Aaron but Edward never did have a party there.  Fourteen kids in all with lots of pizza, cake and game time.  Really quite overwhelming but apparently loads of fun for the kids.  Happy Birthday Aaron!

Aaron's First Basketball Game

The whole family went out to a Purdue Men's basketball game at our nearby Mackey Arena on Saturday and had a great time.  We were right beside the famous Paint Crew who made our attendance quite memorable.  Their unique cheering routines helped bring the home team a win of 95 to 64.  Go Purdue!

Thanksgiving 2015

The boys' grandmother Lee, Agnes, visited recently from Thornhill, Canada and shared in our Thanksgiving dinner this year.  We're all grateful to have her visit, especially since it has been a very busy year for all of us, travel wise.  We had a great time putting up the Christmas tree and Christmas lights during the weekend following Thanksgiving.  Wonderful to have my mom to share in this tradition.  Still have those Christmas decorations from when I was very young.  

Will post the Christmas pics soon!

Edward's 5K Run in the Purdue 5K/Half Marathon Event

Edward participated this past Saturday in the Purdue 5K/Half Marathon Event.  Early morning start times meant cooler temperatures so he bundled up and ended up 68th out 883 participants.  He actually came third for the 12 and under boys group.  And he seemed like he wasn't even winded at the finish.  So inspiring Andrew and I agreed to run it with him next year.  Looks like it's spring training for us.

West Side Homecoming Parade September 2015

Edward and Aaron at the West Side Homecoming Parade.  Go Red Devils!

Norweigian Cruise during the Able Symposium August 2015

We made a one day stopover in Oslo and had a lovely time taking a leisurely walking tour through the nation's capital.  Just beautiful.  Here we are pictured in front of the Royal Palace.

A picture of us on board the MS Finnmarken cruise ship.  Our first voyage on such a boat.  Very impressive vessel and lovely views during our five day trip through the fjords and northward past the Arctic Circle.  Andrew was able to steal a moment to take a picture with me in between his math talks.

Geiranger Fjord Waterfall

At sunset later in our cruise closer to the Arctic Circle.

Interesting Nordic motif I discovered at the bow of the boat on a gate 

sealing off the very front of the vessel.

Walt Disney World July 2015

Our family finally made the long awaited pilgrimage to Disney World this past summer.  Albeit a very warm time to visit, it was incredibly sunny with very memorable experiences for all.  Especially watching the magnificent fireworks at Magic Kingdom at the end of the day by a real Blue Moon.  Great way to finish things off.

At Hollywood Studios with Jake the Neverland Pirate.

Made it to Epcot and maxed out our two day Park Hopper passes.

The family after our Safari tour at Animal Kingdom.

Camp Buffalo July 2015

Here is Edward with dad on his way to his first week long overnight Boy Scout camping trip to Camp Buffalo in July 2015.  He had a memorable time filled with awesome activities like shooting a 12 gauge shot gun and riding in an ATV.  Pretty exciting stuff!

Summer Travels 2015: Thornhill and Waterloo June 2015

Climbing at the playground near cousin Audrey's North York home in Toronto.  Amazing park space with lots of new amenities, including a neighbourhood pizza oven for community gatherings.

The next day, Baby Lee was born, a brother for Audrey, at Mount Sinai hospital.  He decided to arrive so fast that he was almost born in Stan and Margaret's BMW.

.  Luckily, Stan's speedy driving got them to the hospital just in time, with twenty minutes to spare!  Welcome to the family!

That following week, Grandpa Lee took up the driving duties of taking Edward to his tennis camp at the local Thornhill Tennis club.  Thank you Grandpa!

Mom and Dad were in Waterloo for Andrew's COSY conference.  We brought the boys up for a night to enjoy the hotel's pool and to have dinner with us.

Andrew's talk at the conference was well received and later that week, there was a banquet held to honour Andrew's PhD supervisor, Dr. George Elliott's 70th birthday.  Memorable toasting and roasting took place as well as the awarding of the Israel Halperin award.  Lovely evening.

On our last weekend in Ontario, Canada, we found the time to visit Cousin Lydia in her new home in Oakville.  Her twins, Paul and Theresa, are now one years old.  It was great to see Justin and Chelsea there and celebrate Justin's recent fourteenth birthday with some cheesecake.  Audrey is sitting beside Chelsea in the top right, now three years old.  Very happy to spend some time with the Lee family.

Fortunate enough to be at the Lee residence for Father's Day this year, we celebrated it with a family dinner and remembering it by taking this family portrait, blessed with the latest addition, Baby Lee.

The next day we made one last family outing, driving to Niagara Falls for the afternoon.  We walked by the Falls on the Canadian side and took this family picture.  Then we bought tickets to the Tour Behind the Falls to take the tour's elevator down below underground.  What an awesome view and sensational feeling to be right beside the cascading water.  Incredible.  The next day we headed back home to West Lafayette, Indiana.

Summer Travels 2015: Visiting Prince Edward Island June 2015

During the first couple of weeks in June, we flew to Charlottetown so that Andrew could give a CMS (Canadian Mathematical Society) plenary talk at UPEI and to visit with the Toms' of Charlottetown. After the conference, we took in some beach time at the Island's national parks where the boys enjoyed catching and releasing local jellyfish providing loads of fun.

At a neighbouring park to Nana and Grandad Toms' Charlottetown condo, Edward enjoyed some good old tree climbing, with the setting sun's light shedding a lovely hue.

It was actually Valerie and Dave's 45th anniversary this past D Day.  We were lucky the timing was just right so we could be there to celebrate with a family BBQ dinner at Ian and Jannah's home.  This is all of us on their front steps.

We decided to take in the local sights by land and sea on the tourist vehicle called the Harbour Hippo which provided an animated announcer who informed us about all sorts of Charlottetown facts. It was somewhat choppy out there but the boys and girls were very brave (especially Julie), a great first for all of us, including Nana and Grandad and Andrew.

Saying goodbye at the airport.  We're actually going to be seeing them again this summer due to a Toms family trip to Disney World at the end of July.  See you all soon!

Edward's 5th Grade Boys 4 x 200 m Relay Race At The Happy Hollow School Track And Field Day May 2015

Last week at the Happy Hollow School Track and Field Day, Edward's 5th grade class came in first place in the 5th grade boys 4 x 200 m relay race, missing the school record by 0.4 seconds.  Brice (on the left) had an amazing finishing kick.  What a winning team effort.  Congratulations to all!  

Left to right:  Brice, Andrew, Edward, and Henry.

Montessori School of Greater Lafayette (M.S.G.L.) 5K/1K Family Fun Run Event April 2015

It was a chilly start to the day, just above zero degrees Celsius, but it soon warmed up and so did we when Aaron started running quickly on our 1K path.  We thought we would be walking it but not Aaron.  Zoom he went, weaving through the crowd of parents and preschoolers, racing for the finish line.  He had us panting by the end of it.  I was barely able to take this shot of him running with Andrew.

Here's Edward at the start of the 5K race with his running buddy, Aidan, ready to go.

Edward and Aidan ended up coming in second and first, respectively, for the boys group with new personal best times and seventh and sixth, respectively, overall amongst all the participants, including the adults.  Not bad, considering Edward hasn't run since last fall.  Very happy for him and Aidan.

Here are Andrew, Aaron and I after Aaron received his Participation ribbon.  

Aaron was pretty proud he beat Mom and Dad.

While waiting for brother Edward to finish his race, Aaron played in the bouncy house that was provided for and did some chalk drawings with Aidan's younger brother, Kai.

Indianapolis Museum of Art Family Day Visit April 2015

Here are the boys at the start of our visit to the Indianapolis Museum of Art last weekend.  It was Family Day and because the NCAA championship games were being held that coming week in the city, the theme was Museum Madness with all sorts of activities, including basketball courts for the kids.

There was an art display by the artist Robert Indiana of Numbers that the boys had fun climbing.  Really gorgeous day for our visit.  So much sunlight.

Edward and Aaron even tried their own hand at being an art display themselves.  

Finally, we got a goodbye picture with Robert Indiana's most famous art piece.  There were a throng of people about so we were lucky to squeeze in a family picture.

March Break 2015

We didn't go far during the March Break, but we did get lucky!  A sunny table overlooking the best stretch of the Magnificent Mile (a.k.a. Michigan Ave) in Chicago at the Grand Lux Cafe.  Great way to rest our feet and tempt our tastebuds during our busy travels.

Cub Scout Derby Car Race 2015

Today Edward participated in his last Cub Scout Derby car race with his troop with Aaron added along as the extra car needed to balance out the races.  He finished with his best showing ever at 14th out of 46 cars with the Stair Master.  Aaron did not too badly either, finishing 27th with his hand painted Race Car.  Pretty good considering he's not even a Cub Scout since he's only five years old.   It'll be two years till he can join.  Today's race was the best turnout ever with 

Andrew as Master of Ceremonies.  Fun had by all!