Orlando Vacation 2012

OFF WE GO

After a long delay in New York, our flights finally brought us to Orlando late Wednesday night. Debra and I both got a day of work in (Debra with her usualy craziness and I got a chance to have my weekly meeting with the principal and teach the 5th grade the lemonade stand project). We were too late to even shop but we arrived at the apt we rented (a beautiful 2 bedroom right across from seaworld) and went stright to sleep. I realize that no one should get a hotel here as the apts are so much nicer and cheaper. Thank G-d for the mp3s and the books that kept the boys busy on the flight

Niagra Falls vacation- day 5 8/25

We woke early and went back to the falls on Canada side and then finished up with going to Guiness book and Yehuda and I went to maze while Debra took the others to fun house. Neither was much good. We went back to the US side to the Aquarium and off to syracuse.

Niagra Falls vacation- day 4 8/24

Woke up early and went to minyan with Eli. When we came back the boys went swimming. We decided to do the Rodgers Center tour (where the BlueJays play) however once we got there they did not allow us on the field or in the dugout so instead we bought tix to the game and went to the Hockey Hall of Fame. That place is amazing. For the record, I stopped 5 for5 in shots against Wayne Gretsky on the all star ( the highest setting). The boys also learned all about the Stanly cup ( which we got a pic with) and learned of the history of hockey. We announced games, shot against a virtual golie and played hockey trivia.
We got to the game early for batting practice. I should have had 2 balls but the kid stole them and I am too nice. The boys met a bunch of players and got autographs. They have a kosher booth which became our dinner. It was very expensive but tis is life at the ball game these days. The dome is really nice but humid. It is the biggest retractable dome every made ( acc to Guiness book). The blue jays won.

Niagra Falls vacation- day 3 8/22

After early minyan in bingimton we packed up and headed to the falls. We bought a full day pass for the US side, which was not worth doing online. It was $2 extra a tix and I could have bought it on the spot. Now here is a tiny gripe, when you say US side, everyone automatically says the Canadian side is so much better. It is like a matra that must be blurted out to show that you were at the place. I hear people who never where there or only on one side say the same manta with such certainty. Now I have been there 4x ( ok once as a baby) and I can honestly say they are both awsome. Behind the falls on the Canadian side is ok (a rip off big time) but the real cool part is the lower lookout which makes the cost bareable. I loved the Cave of the Wind on the US side equal, so I don't think the matra is valid. The Maid of the Midst is the same on both sides and well worth the whole cost of the trip. The IMAX movie (which I saw 3x in my life) is a bit stupid. There were people dressed up as characters from the movie who gave us the whole shpiel before the boys saw it ( for some reason these people always find us- always) it is probably Eli who is really cute and attracts them. After lunch we met up with David, Daphne and kids. We went to brick city ( it is a one room Lego land, we got ripped off on the 3 event tix). We went out to dinner with everyone to the 4 seasons Sheridan( which became my minyan home the next few days). We went to the travel lodge which was a very nice motel with indoor pool.

Niagra Falls vacation- day 2 8/21

Woke up early and went to minyan in bingimton. The minyan was packed. We spent the day in the buffalo science museum. The had an amazing exhibit on devinchi. He was truly an amazing inventor. He might have invented the bicycle but defiantly invented the tank, movable bridge,parasoot and tons of other things. We spent pretty much the whole day there. We were going to go to Teddy Roosevelts inaguration home but it was by tour only and we did not want to wait. Instead Debra took the boys to the JCC swimmming. On monday night we ate out at the deli at Tops. It was much more aggravation then it was worth and it was a fortune. Back to motel 6.

Niagra Falls vacation- day 1 8/20

We left early in the morning, listening to the book the invention of Hugo Cabrae and headed off to Magan Av. Yitzi Meyer is the camp director. We ate breakfast and got a tour of the camp by Nina. We left and headed towards the Corning Museum. On the way we finished the book and began the Spiderwick Chroicles. Corning was very interesting. We learned how to make and break glass. Why it breaks in certain ways and how fiber optics send information. The boys made Projects and we left for motel 6 in buffalo. We got there late and everyone went to sleep early except marc who went shopping for food for the next few days.

Florida 2011- The Way Home

SNOW STORM!!! We knew there was supposed to be a snow storm when we woke up in the morning. Our flight was scheduled for 5:15pm but it was already snowing in NYC before that time. We woke up and spent the morning at the pool. It was cold outside and no one else was there so we really had a great time. From there we went to the library for some reading waiting until our flight was to go and constantly checking the internet. The internet delayed our flight to 6:46pm but it was to go. Off to the airport. When we got there we were told that all flights to NY were being cancelled. So instead of returning the car, I went into the office to extend and when I got there Debra told me to forget it and return the car. We were on a flight to Atlantic City and Ari will be meeting us.

While sitting in the airport forever, Yehuda and I decieded to get a maariv minyan for all those just waiting around at the airport. At the minyan we met the Zweiback family who would come to be our heroes. The plane got off the ground at around midnight and we got to Atlantic city around 1:30pm and Ari could not make it. The Zweiback family offered to drive us to Lakewood, take us in for the night and help get us a ride back. It was totally Hashgacha pratis. They were amazing. We got to their home and slept a couple of hours, went to minyan and got a lift back on the livingston kollel shuttle. It could not have worked better.