The Law Family: June/July

Our summer has been full of travels and fun times. It certainly will be hard to go back to a full work schedule in September.

One of the first things that we did after getting back from Nags Head was to visit our little beach on Grand Island. We caught some minnows and enjoyed the sun while we reminisced about our trip down south.

We met up with a few friends at a local strawberry festival. One of the professors at work was playing in a band there. They had some bounce houses for the kids and of course, strawberries and ice cream.

Grace was so brave to go down the big slide by herself. Grant didn't want to do it and Grace just marched right up to the top all by herself.

Grant had his first dentist appointment! With all of our traveling (Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York), we hadn't ever taken Grant to the dentist. We decided he was due and picked a local pediatric dentist. In the waiting room they had a movie theater, a video game room, and toys. He didn't want anything to do with any of it. When we were called to the room he was being a little grumpy and said that he did not want to watch a video about a dinosaur getting his teeth cleaned. The hygienist said he didn't have to and so she went to show him the instruments that she was going to use to clean his teeth. He wouldn't look. Given all that, Lara and I thought the actual cleaning may be pretty rough. He laid down and opened his mouth but was tearing up. The hygienist asked a few times if she should stop and Lara and I told her to keep going. By the time the dentist came over, he was perfect and let her finish up cleaning his teeth (the picture below) without any fuss. He got a couple little prizes and balloon. Gracie also got a balloon and can't wait to go to the dentist.

We've been to the Buffalo zoo a few times. The last time we went was an evening that was only open to zoo members. While all the other families looked to take advantage of the free train and carousel rides, we rushed to our favorite exhibit, the tropical rainforest. We were about the only people in the building and enjoyed getting great views of all the animals.

The polar bears were especially active. If you look close you can see that this bear is pouncing on another one under the water.

Then, towards the end of June we were off to Penn State. I got an offer to attend a conference there and so we all decided to go and enjoy some time at our old stomping grounds. We stopped along the way at Lara's parents and while there, Gracie got to ride her first horse! She certainly is a brave little girl.

Grant borrowed my camera to take some pictures while we were there. He loves taking photos and I think the 3 below are pretty darn good.

Most of my time in State College was at the conference but Lara and the kids had lots of fun doing the things that we used to do.

Feeding the fish at "Paradise"

Playing on the playground, feeding the ducks, and looking at the trains in Bellefonte Park

Papa Jim made a visit and we took a trip to Whirlpool State Park which is just downstream from Niagara Falls. Grace now calls him Papa Jimmy. It is a beautiful park and we have been there a few times this summer.

Dad, Grant, Grace and I also went kayaking while he was here. These are a few pics from some other kayak trips that Lara, the kids, and I have taken this summer. It is easy to find a place to kayak when you live on an island.

Find the turtle!

This is Gracie and Lara on the mighty Niagara.

Dad also brought with him a battery powered car that Jason and Heather passed along to us. The kids absolutely love it. Given that Grant had never driven anything but his bicycle, I was surprised at how good he was at driving it.

Here Gracie is dancing to the radio in the car. The girl loves to dance.

After Dad's visit came the 4th of July. I ran in a 4k on the island that was followed by a parade. We then went to a local amusement park (Martin's Fantasy Island) where residents got free admission and we watched the fireworks there. It was a pretty perfect day.