Summer Road Trip Part II- More of New York

These pictures show some more of the major highlights of our New York trip. We were thrilled when we found out that Fort Niagara was hosting a re-enactment of the French and Indian War, but this was no regular re-enactment. It just so happened that it was the 250th anniversary of this war and it was the biggest reenactment in the US this year with over 2500 re-en actors. We were able to watch a boat battle and a field battle. However, it was not only a reenactment it was an encampment as well, so we were able to see what life was like beyond the battlefield. We saw how they slept, what they ate, how they dressed, how they made weapons etc. And to my mother's great dismay, we bought some guns for the boys. The funniest part was that there was a park close by and we let the kids take a break and play there for a while. It was completely filled with little boys with toy guns and they divided themselves up and staged their own battle.
The next day we took the kids to a great little children's museum in East Aurora, which is about 30 minutes from my grandpa's house. Somehow we took a wrong turn and ended up taking the most beautiful detour ever through miles and miles of dairy and wheat farms. It is funny because when most people think of New York they think of the city, but there are some of the most beautiful farmlands I have ever seen in upstate New York and all across PA. I forgot to bring my camera into the children's museum, but I did get a few pictures of the farms. And if anyone is ever in East Aurora you must eat at a great restaurant that we found called Sorrentino's.
The day after that Grandma Joanie took us to Herschell's Carousel Museum in Tonawanda. The Allan Herschell Company, the most prolific maker of carousels, specialized in producing portable machines which could be used by traveling carnival operators. The Company produced over 3,000 hand carved wooden carousels and out-produced all of its rivals in the carousel industry. (info. taken from www.carouselmuseum.org) Who knew this all started in the little town of Tonawanda? The kids had so much fun riding the old carousels, which go much faster than the newer ones. The most interesting part of the museum to me was the organ and drums that provided the carousel music. We are used to music just coming out of a speaker, but these were real instruments designed to play themselves.
I had to sneak a few pictures in of Caleb playing in the rain. After we went to the carousel museum we ate ice cream on my grandpa's back porch and it started to rain. Caleb asked if he could play in the rain and of course we said yes. So he started off splashing around in the puddles, but by the end of it he was swimming in them.
Our last day in New York was fabulous. It was the Fourth of July. My Uncle Bill plays the bagpipes, so we got up early to watch him play in the Parade on Grand Island. Then we went over to my Uncle Bill and Aunt Deb's house for a delicious 4th of July picnic and were able to swim in their pool. Then we ended the day watching the fireworks go off over the Niagara Falls River just 2 blocks from my Grandpa's house. It was a truly perfect way to spend the 4th of July.
I ended the slide show with a picture of the kids with Great Pop and Mama Joanie because they were the highlight of our trip. My grandpa made a ramp in his living room for the toy cars and they played there every day. He even got down on the floor with Elijah and played pirates. Joan has a great laugh that fills the room and hugs that make you feel really loved. The memories of our time with them are the ones that will last forever.