Grandpa's Girls

Annaliese loves her Papa.  She loves her Nana too but Kev makes her laugh and she tries to do whatever he does.  

And then there's Santanah, she doesn't know what to think of him.  

She doesn't really cry when she sees him, but she was having a rough day.  

They are both getting so big and I do know if we had moved  we would have missed them both so much.

Huge Disappointment

I never made a post about us moving and I guess there was a reason for it.   I am a big believer in everything happens for a reason, so we are trying to keep that in the back of our minds.

Kev has been saying for years how he has wanted to move, he is so sick of carrying mail in hell....I mean the heat.  And around December he started to check into really seeing where we could go, should we go etc.  Then in January I finally said, if we're going to do this you need to do it cause you keep talking about it and I need to know if we are or we aren't.  So we made plans to start with going to Flagstaff and posting a letter to see if anyone would be interested in trading with him.  (trading is better then transferring because you still keep your status as a full time employee and are guaranteed 40 hours per week)  We checked out the Postal Record to see what we had to do to get something posted in the national magazine.  It seemed like we were finally starting to make a plan.  Then Kev goes into work 2 days later and sees a sign on the bulletin board (a board he never checks) and there is a letter on there from a guy from Flag who wants to transfer with someone from the east valley.  WHAT???  Hello.....this is meant to be.  So he called the guy he talked to him and they were in agreement that this is what they were going to do and both were going to get the ball rolling.   Now Kev doesn't call and tell me this.   I am literally talking to Janet about what we are going to do, how we are going to come up to Flag in a couple weeks and post a letter, etc etc and I walk in the house and on the counter is this letter that Kev found on the bulletin board.  I start freaking out.  Jan and I are like OMG OMG this is meant to be.  So weird.

Well Kev was at Applebee's so I go pick him up and he get's in the truck and says....We're moving baby.  It's a done deal!!!!  He said he didn't tell me cause he wanted me to be surprised.  He said, you were surprised when you saw the paper right?  Anyway, he goes on and on how he's already talked to the guy a few times that day and how excited he is and how awesome it's going to be to live up in Flag and be out of hell....I mean the heat.   So this is how the next few days went, he was excited and asking me if I was sure I wanted to do this and what we would do etc. The guy said he had little kids and wanted to know if we could wait til the end of the school year so Kev agreed to that so we were figuring around June 1st we would be living up in Flagstaff.   He sat down and wrote a letter to each Postmaster requesting the transfer and asking for approval.  He got a phone call from the Postmaster in Flag within a couple of days and he said he was looking forward to meeting him and that everything was approved on his end.  

We did go to Flag the weekend we were going to go anyway and talked to Janet about moving in with her and living up there and all that.  It was all coming together.  We started to tell people we were moving.  I told my job that I would be leaving at the end of May.  Our plans were to have Alicia move in the house and get a roommate and then we could decide at a later date if we wanted to sell the house or keep it.  Plus if we came down to visit we would have a place to stay.  

Kev finally got a visit from the Mesa Postmaster.  She came to see him in person and told him his trade was approved.  She said she just needed the date that they would be swapping.  We wanted a date as well.  Kev had been talking to the guy here and there, but still no specific date.  Our plan was till about June 1st.

About a month later, he gets another visit from the Postmaster and she proceeds to tell Kev that there's a problem.  That the guy from Flag has accidents on his record.   He tells her, it's not his problem and that she already approved his trade.  He doesn't hesitate to call the guy and tell him off.  WTF....you didn't tell me you had accidents.  What's the deal?  And on top of that I need a date, my wife is quitting her job, my daughter is giving up her lease when are we doing this?  He finally pins him down to a date in June.  Yea!!!! We have a date, the plans are still coming together.

NOT!!! The dreaded phone call happened.  Mesa has decided they do not want the guy from Flag.  Really????  you approve the trade before checking into his records?  You personally say it's approved and then decide you've changed your mind?  

Yes, really.   It fell through.  We aren't moving.   Kev tells me this and I right away am like, ok we'll fight it, we'll find someone else, we'll go somewhere else.  And Kev said no it's over, we're not going.  And that was the end of the subject.  He said I'm so pissed I don't even want to talk about it.  And we didn't.  I called Jan right away and she said give him a couple days, maybe he'll want to once he cools down.   So I waited and we talked about it and he still said it's over.  Here's the thing, yes he could try to find someone else or could fight it, but it would still take about 3 months and that means he works through the summer and that was the whole purpose of this whole thing.  He was trying to get out of hell....I mean the heat.  So other then the kids, we didn't tell anyone.  He still couldn't tell people or talk about it cause he was so disappointed.  Finally he did, and I did.  I told work I would stay on.  Alicia is staying in her apartment.  Janet is not getting roommates.  And Kev has another year of hell ahead of him.

Everything happens for a reason.

Year Anniversary

I can't believe it's been a year since we were going through all of the stuff with Alicia and Bee.  It's still so sad to think how he died at such a young age and that Alicia had to deal with all of that at her age.  I really felt like she struggled so much when it  happened and I just ached to know she was hurting so bad.  I would ask her how she was doing and she'd say fine, and I'd say are you getting any sleep and she'd say no.  But she never wanted to talk about how she was feeling or anything about Bee and the hospital or his death.  Nothing.  And I never pushed it.  I knew as well as others do, you don't push Alicia.   As the year went on all I did was pray she was coping and actually doing ok.  She really seemed to be.  She started going to the gym and losing weight, she was staying busy but we still never talked.  I guess I figured she would when and if she needed to.

And here it is the year anniversary and once again I didn't know how to talk to her.  I asked Kev what do I?
I don't want her to think I don't realize it's been a year, I don't want her to think I have forgotten about him, I don't want to upset her.....what do I do?   I started the day off with texting her to see how she was and how her day was going.  She said she was ok, she didn't sleep the night before but was ok.  It was a sad day for her because people were texting her to let her know they were thinking about her.  I told her that people just want you to know they love you and are sad for you as well.  I am pretty sure she actually did like the acknowledgement that people remembered, but still it did make her sad.

I still wasn't sure what to do so I thought I would just pick up some flowers and go put them in her apartment so she would have something waiting for her when she got home.  Her friends Laura and Megan text me to say they too weren't sure what to do so they left her a present for when she got home as well.  I stopped after work to get flowers and of course as I got out of the car at her apartment she pulled up.  So much for her having a surprise when she walked in.  She asked me what I was doing there and I told her I just wanted  to let her know I was thinking of her and loved her.  We stopped right in the middle of the sidewalk and hugged.  I honestly wanted to burst out in tears, but surprisingly didn't.  When she opened the door she saw Laura & Megan's present.

They said it was a bag of sunshine on an otherwise yucky day.  The whole bag was filled with things that were yellow.  Cutest thing ever, and she loved opening it.  Everything inside was wrapped in yellow tissue paper.  A Butterfinger, Lays Potato Chips, Yellow Sun Glasses and so much more.  We sat on the couch for a while and I asked her if she was going to go to the cemetery and she said she had already gone cause she had to teach that night.  Then she proceeded to tell me she had gone during the night when she couldn't sleep.   I told her she shouldn't do that, but she said it was the only time she could go and she was awake anyway so she did.  I understood.

I think it was a tough couple of days for her as well as the whole year, but  she is so amazing and so strong it's unbelievable.

Same Knee Same Issues

If you know me, you know I have knee issues.  I've been having them since high school.  Had my first knee draining when I was a senior in high school, and stuff has been going on since.  It's always bothering me, always hurting, always swollen, it's just always having issues.  Actually they both are not great, but one (the left one) is definitely worse then the other.  I have asked on more then one occasion to get a knee replacement but my Dr always says no, I'm too young and they supposedly only last about 10 years.  But to me I think it would be great to not have to put up with it for 10 years, and then get another new one.  I mean that makes sense to me, doesn't it make sense to you?  Yeah but not the Dr.  I told him years ago, that I was getting a new knee before my husband retired and we didn't have the good insurance we have now.  Well, Kev is really on his way out the door.  He has two years or even a little less to do, so now is my time to get this taken care of.  

I've been trying to reach the Dr to make an appointment to talk about this and get it checked out.  It is so hard to reach him and then it usually takes weeks, or even months to get in to see him.  In my mind, I am trying to get the ball rolling in case it actually does take that long.  Since I haven't been able to reach him I decided to drive by and just talk to them.   I went in to make the appointment and the girl gave me a couple days next week to choose from and in my mind I was thinking....Awesome no month long wait.  Then while I was standing there, I said could he see me today?  And the girl said well if you want to wait maybe 45 minutes he could.  Wait 45 minutes????  I have waited in the waiting room up to 2 hours to see this doctor and that's with an appointment.  Hell Yeah I'll wait only 45 minutes!!!!

It's my turn and he comes in and says, why are you here?  Really you're having problems again?  So I explain how it always hurts, blah blah blah.  Plus this appointment is just in time cause somehow Tuesday I did something and my knee has been hurting worse since.  In fact at the gym last night I couldn't do the boot camp class cause with all the running and impact it was just killing me.  Anyway, so we talk about a few different options but it really comes down to the fact that he wants a better look at what all is in there which means I have to go have an MRI done.  For today and to get me through for a while he gave me a cortisone shot.  Have you ever had a cortisone shot?  They hurt like a bitch, but usually within a day or two I can feel a difference so it's worth the pain for a little while.  

So that's where I am at for now until I get the MRI done, which I will do within the next week.  After that he will decide if we are going replacement or some other way.  He did try to throw out the whole knee replacement idea with the usual it only lasts 10 years etc etc and I said but I can't handle it like this for another 10 years.  So we compromised and said we'd talk about it once he sees the MRI.  

And if you're wondering why I would be doing some jogging and the runs I have done these last couple of months if my knee hurts you need to understand it hurts no matter what I do.  Sometimes it is just worse then others.  I'm sure, like I have said before that my weight is a contributor too but I haven't always been this heavy and still had knee problems. And at this point I am working to get that down so I do know that will help a little, but I'm sure only a little.  Hopefully I'll have some good news with good results soon.   

Kiss Me I'm Irish Run

Another run in the books.  It's pretty funny when I tell people about the runs I've been doing.  I say they are fun but I really don't like to run, I'm a good walker. LOL  But I'm trying to lose weight and I think this is a way that will help me to stay on track and drop some lbs.  At bootcamp when we run laps I have been able to run more of them then I use to.  In fact one of the girls in class said to me two weeks ago, "remember when you could only walk, you're doing awesome." It really made me feel good cause I'm trying to improve and that class as well as the pump class which I take before bootcamp totally kick my ass.

But I did another run....an 8K.  It was fun, there was a whole group of us.  

I kind of feel like I struggled a little bit but overall did pretty good I think.  

After the run there was free beer at one of the bars where the run was, so we hung out there for a little while.  I don't drink beer but you know, it's a great prop for photos.  

My friend Terri with a couple of other girls that we work with.  

After celebrating with some green beer we headed over to Dick & Kerry's who don't live too far from the run and had an awesome breakfast.  I had text Dick the day before and asked him what was around there where we could get something to eat when we finished running and he said "come here".  So Meredith, Dave, Terri, Deb, Alicia and I went and just loved all they made.  I think it's our tradition with these runs now.  We  go do them, then go eat.  It's a tradition I like!!! 

Another Run

I had signed up for 4 different runs (which means walk as well).  The first one was the Lost Dutchman and then the next one was the Giants Run on March 8th.  Meredith and Dave were signed up cause they loved how cute the medal was.

It was a 9K and the run wasn't real crowded and had a great route around the Giants Stadium and Hayden Park in Scottsdale.  Like the lost Dutchman I did a little jogging with my walking.  It was a fun morning with Meredith, Dave and Terri and I finished in 1:14.  So not too bad for a little over 5 miles.  

The best part of the run was that we went out to eat afterwards.  Haha Isn't that why people run?  To eat and drink?  

We went to a new place called Snooze.  OMG amazing pancakes.  They had all kinds of amazing flavors and to give you a variety you can order a plate with 3 different ones. 

So yummy!!! I got a peanut butter one, a cinnamon roll one and a sweet potato one. Then just because we were all curious we also tried the pineapple upside down pancake.  They were all really delicious.  We have plans to go back again and try some other flavors..,,,can't wait!!!! 

5 lbs Baby

Actually 5.8 lbs baby!!!!  I am back in the 100's.   I never thought I would be excited about being 198 lbs, but after being over 200 I am.  I weighed in this morning at 197.8, so that was 5.8 lbs since my weigh in last week.  I'm sure a big part of it was the Reset.  I don't really think you can only have shakes and bars for 5 days and not lose weight.  But that's what I was looking for.  I wanted to drop some weight and also give that reset or jump start into staying on the right path.  I know I only ended the reset yesterday, but right now I feel like I worked so hard at staying on that program that I really want to stay on track and work at eating better and exercise to lose more.

It's so weird too cause every night I went to bed hungry, but when I woke up in the morning I wasn't hungry. You would think it would be that going to bed hungry you'd wake up hungry and yet I didn't.  And right about Thursday I felt a difference in how I was actually feeling. I felt good.  Hard to explain, but I just felt good.  And by Friday I felt like I had lost some weight.  So between that feeling and being down over 5 lbs the big game I play in my head is saying......keep going.   Weight loss for me is totally a big head game, and it's definitely been one I haven't been winning.  But I did say that I needed to make changes so I'm working on it :)

Working on the Weight Issues

I re-joined Weight Watchers again at the end of 2013.  I'll just get it out there, I weighed in 12/27 at 212.  No it's not a type-o. Your read it right.  And didn't I tell you I've never weighed that much before?  I stood on that scale knowing it was over 200# but 212......I just wanted to cry.  It's tough to take.  I will admit that I am to blame but I do want to put some of the blame somewhere else.  I honestly think life happens in all areas of your life.  But enough of the excuses, now on to how to change it.  I'm going to regular Weight Watcher meetings still on Saturday morning.  Although I did gain this week .2 with the excuse that I celebrated my birthday all week.  And of course it was all about the food and dessert. I was thrilled it was only . 2 cause I deserved it to be more.  I currently weigh 203.4.

I am starting a 5 day Reset program with Meredith, Shoes, and Connie run by Tammy with a company she is working with.  Starting on Monday we will he having 3 shakes a day, two snack bars and then veggies and one piece of fruit. For 5 days!!   With those products we also get a supply of supplements to take in the morning and also at night.  Tammy turned us on to this because it is something she has been doing and we all want to support her.  There are other phases of the program that continue after the five days but my plan is to so the Reset, get my body and sugar levels and all that to come together, and then stay on track with WW.  There is a good possibility that I will be hungry but I said I wanted to to the program and I'm going to do my best for the whole 5 days.

We all decided that we would weigh on our home scales Monday morning and then again Saturday morning after we had done the plan for 5 days.  I'm not going to stick to this type of program to work on losing all my weight. I still think WW is a great program and for me it's something doable, when you work it, it works.

I'm trying to be on top of what I really want.  I can't just say anymore that I want to lose.  I have a lot of weight to lose and I am trying to make it somewhat fun. I made this fun weight loss chart that I hope to use to keep track of my weight loss and continue to move everything over to the other side of the board.  I only have 30 flowers on there and actually need 60.  But they'll be added on when there's more room.

I got motivated to do the board not only because of the Reset but also because I did a 10K this morning.  I didn't run it but did a little jogging here and there.  I wanted to finish within an hour and half and I finished at 1:27!!!! So not too bad.  There was a group of us that did the 10K and then Meredith and Dave did the 1/2 Marathon.

Alicia did it as well and she ran the whole thing.  So proud of her!!

Now with that run in the books I'm actually already signed up for 3 more.  Pretty funny I know but motivating as well to help get some weight off.  But first the Reset!!! 

Paul is Engaged

My little Patchey is getting married!!!! There's going to be another wedding in the family, isn't that exciting?   

Paul took Sarah to San Diego for an alone weekend.  Since he has two roommates they do this once in awhile.   Sarah thought that's really what was happening.  What she didn't know, and neither did I or anyone else for that matter, was that he had already made hotel reservations and dinner reservations and was also planning to ask her to marry him.  I got a call Friday night, well Saturday morning at 12:15 am.  I was of course sleeping so the phone woke me and he told me that they were engaged.  Funny thing is, I didn't remember until the next day.  I was sitting in my Weight Watchers meeting and all of a sudden I thought about him telling me he got engaged.  So I checked my phone real quick and saw that he did call me at 12:15 am.  As soon as the meeting was over, I went outside and called him and now it was my turn to wake him up.  I was saying how excited I was and OMG he was getting married, and congratulations etc.  I explained to him I didn't remember the conversation the night before....ooops!!!! Damn sleeping pills. 

He tells me the whole story of how he had it all planned and how they went to dinner over on Coronado Island where they had their first date in October of 2010.  After dinner they walked along the boardwalk and then he proposed.  Of course the full story coming from him is much better and more romantic.  I again tell him how excited I am for them and congratulations.  

Later that morning once he woke up and was functioning he text me and said, "FYI it's a good thing you called back this morning cause Sarah thought you weren't happy about us getting engaged."   Well, I was sleeping and completely out of it and I guess she got worried cause I really didn't say much and was like 

"oh that's nice."  And that was it.  LOL  

3 Day Fundraising

A few weeks ago Alicia called for a meeting to talk about the 3 Day and how we can raise some money.  It's required that every individual raise at least $2300 to participate.  I wish it wasn't so much, and I think that's what keeps some people away from participating.  I'm sure it's not the 60 miles you walk, you know 20 miles for 3 days in a row.  The first day is so exciting cause you have finally come to the day you've trained for.  But then comes the 2nd day of another 20 miles and you think, what the heck was I thinking?   And finally the 3rd day, a new excitement comes because it's over....I mean you've actually done it.  You've walked 60 miles, you walked 20 miles for 3 days in a row.   No, that's not what keeps people away, it's the $2300!!!  Everyone asks me what the hardest part of the 3 Day is and I tell them, it's raising the money.  It's hard to ask people for money year after year.  Some people expect it and love it and are so generous and others think, hey I gave you money last year.  

So we had a meeting.  Yes, in January we are talking how to raise money for a walk in November.  We are really trying to get a jump on it.  We have new people this year.  Yea...Virgin Walkers!!!!  It's so exciting that friends have decided to join our team.  Right now we have 9 people on our team with a possibility of more.  First timers will be my Sister Mary, my friends Kim, Meredith and Terri.   Then returning will be Alicia,  my sister Janet, my niece Nicole and Nicole's friend Cigi who walked with us years ago, and myself.  Rita's Ramblers is growing and along with the fact that we will be raising alot of money for the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, we will once again have a team that will be walking in honor of my mom, Rita.  Our team last year was only 2 of us, Alicia and I, so to have 9 people committed already is awesome!!!

Ok so the meeting....LOL.  We talked about different ways we could raise money throughout the year. Trying to do something at least once a month just to be bringing in some funds so we can all reach our goals easier and faster.  Here are some of our ideas:  A Garage Sale, the Brush Bar, Selling Salsa, Bunco for Boobies, Selling Butter Braids, Virtual 5K, Quarter Auction, another Garage Sale, Restaurant Fundraisers, Coins for Cancer and I can't remember if their were others.  But they are all great ideas and will hopefully generate a good amount of money.

First up was a Garage Sale which we normally do in the fall around Sept/Oct.  At the meeting I discussed the fact that my neighborhood was having one on MLK Saturday and since it was already being advertised we might as well put some stuff out and see how we do.   We did $800 good, is how we did!!!  Different people gave us items they were getting rid of and we took advantage of that.  We sold it and made money. It was a lot of work on Friday night putting it all out and sorting etc,  and we were busy pretty much all day Saturday, but we also made $800!!!!  We are off to a great start.

We had one small little lull in the day, and this is what you do....you play dress up.

Next we are going to the Brush Bar on Sunday.  The Brush Bar is a fun place that you basically get instructions on how do to a painting that is picked out for that day.  They are amazing people there, very fun and creative and so generous.  They will donate $15 per person that we have attend the painting day.  Plus they have always donated 2 free classes to us to raffle off to make extra money.

This is the picture we will be painting on Sunday.  I hope mine can come somewhat close.  LOL

I believe our next couple of events will be selling Butter Braids, which are amazing filled pastries that you keep frozen, defrost overnight and then bake....oh so yummy.  Then we will have our West Side Bunco for Boobies at Mary's house in April.

Looking forward to all we have tried to plan, but really looking forward to making a good amount of money for such a great cause and awesome group of women!!!

Losing Weight

It's a constant battle for me to be losing weight. It seems to go on and on.  I'd have to say that unfortunately  right now I am the heaviest I've ever been.  I'm admitting what is obvious but not proudly.  This has been a very emotional and depressing time for me these last 12-24 months.  So many changes that I feel all ran thru me.  And of course I am one of those people that takes it all in and that's where it stays.  Which I'm  sure had brought on my huge sleeping problems.  

I say I can sleep anywhere and that's pretty true cause I always seem to be tired.  There were nights that it would take me hours to fall asleep or I would wake up and be up for two or three hours.  I feel like this has gotten better but only cause I take a sleeping pill every night.  Sometimes I need it to help me fall asleep and sometimes I need it so that I'm not waking up every couple hours all night long.  

I started with the sleeping pills because being in full blown menopause is sucking the life out of me for the 4th year, but these last two have completely been the worst. Between massive hot flashes all day and then night sweats all night I couldn't get any sleep.  I tried so many different methods to try and get it all under control but no such luck.  

I don't want to blame anything or any reason or make excuses because I have gained a lot of weight but I do have to say with my body fighting me in every way it can between emotionally and physically and not sleeping it definitely wasn't helping.  And it definitely isn't easy either. 

What to do....what to do.....besides crying and praying and being sooo depressed about it, it's hard.  I know a few things about how things are right now, and I'm not happy about them.  I don't like that I am as heavy as I am, I don't like that being this heavy is very uncomfortable, nothing fits or looks good, I'm embarrassed for sure and that in turn makes me want to keep to myself.  I'm not trying to be a big whiner, I know it's all on me to take care of this , but I just have to voice how much it sucks.  How angry it makes me.  How sad I get.  Everything...all those feelings and thoughts that come with when your mind, body and life are not where you want them all to be at the same time.  Something needs to change so...... Changes are coming.  Changes are definitely coming.  

And Thank God!!! 

Wedding Photos

Here are a few of the amazing pictures from Heather & Peter's unforgettable wedding day.  Their wedding was at the Royal Palms in Scottsdale which is very pretty, but nowhere near as pretty as Heather was.

I absolutely love this picture of Kev and Heather, they both look so happy and he is just booming with pride

                                       
                                       
 I do have to say that this is one of the most amazing wedding pictures I have ever seen.

Heather was a beautiful bride and Peter was so handsome.  They make such a great couple and their day will be one to remember in so many ways.  

2014

After sharing this picture on my Facebook page for a few months,  I decided to make it the first picture of my first post of 2014.  It's a great motto to live by, don't you think?  And I have to say the past few years this is something that Kev and I have done.  

Last year we went to Niagara Falls and parts of Canada. 

The year before that we had lots of trips to Flag plus lots of camping including camping with friends.

The year before that we went to Seattle, Oregon and other parts of Canada.

No matter where we go whether it's up in Flag at Janet's or up north camping or even out of state we always seem to find a place that we have never been before.  Looking forward to see what's to come in this new year.  

December 1, 2013

I have a ton of updates to write about but for now I thought posting the most current pictures of the grand babies would be an easy post.  Plus you can see the comparison of the picture from October from my previous post.

Grandpa's Girls

Kev has this picture as his background on his phone and he'll open it and say to me...."look at my girls."  

Santanah Rose

Perfect post to update my blog with.  Our 2nd grand baby is here.  It's another girl and she was born on  August 26th at 8:34 am.  She weighed in at 8 lbs 1.4 oz and 20 inches long.   I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story, which is how cute she is, how she has a ton of hair and of course how proud grandpa is!!!

               

           

                     

                             

So what do you think? Do they look like sisters?  

Santanah has the dark hair and Annaliese has the lighter hair.  

Both look so different but of course both are so cute.   

July 20, 2013 Vaca Day 7

Our last day of vacation :(  We drove down from Toronto, but only after our free breakfast and a few more trips down the slide, to Niagra Falls.  At Niagra falls we were just going to spend the day wandering around all the tourist trap streets as well as around the Falls.  

I did find another stand for my new favorite snack but passed it up.  This one looks really authentic with the Beavers and everything.  

We found a place that totally appealed to Kev....you could get buckets of beer in there.  So we decided to sit for a little bit and grab something to eat.  I had this awesome bruschetta, and it tasted as good as it looks.  

Then the decision was made.  We were here in Niagra Falls so we needed to do Niagra Falls the right way.  The way just about every other tourist would do it.  We  got our tickets and headed for the boat.  We were going on the Maid of the Mist tour.  

I got some pictures going into the falls and coming out, but none while we were actually in them.  I was protecting my phone!! 

This is the bridge that joins the US side to the Canada side.  We were on the Canada side.  

It was really cool and we all agreed we were glad we did take the time to do it.  We had said the first night that we were ok with just checking it out in daylight and at night with the colors, but this was awesome!! You literally get soaked from the heavy mist that the Falls give off.  And we can say we were there, in the Falls.  So cool!!! 

Now that the night had come to an end it was time to head to our hotel.  We unfortunately had a really bad hotel.  The worst one of the trip, definitely one we'll never forget.  It happens and thank goodness it was only for a few hours.  We had to leave by 5:30 to try and catch a flight.  Last day of vacation has come to an end, we're heading home.