Summer is here.

We have arrived at the final destination of this year's road trip... the lovely hamlet of East Quogue on the east end of Long Island. So now we have ventured out of the Honda and will spend lazy days on the beach, frolicking in Poppy & Gheghe's soft grass at their charming bayside cottage, and waiting ever patiently for our little cousin Joshua to make his way into the world. (Enough already, kid, let's go.)
**Thanks to Gheghe and Heath, who contributed their excellent photography skills to this photo montage!**

Toronto...

We spent the day wandering the city - eating lunch at a popular Canadian eatery, ice cream down at the Harbor, and navigating Toronto's pretty neat PATH system.













And we found the World's Biggest Bookstore!

Oh, Canada!

We left Pittsburgh this morning and drove through western Pennsylvania (motto: "Home of the Really Large and Sort of Interesting Roadkill") and made our way through Buffalo and into Niagara Falls. We ate lunch with the Italian Basketball Team at Hard Rock Cafe before taking in the awesome power of both the American Falls and Horseshoe Falls. We walked out on the observation deck and down through the lower grotto (where we donned charming plastic ponchos, but still got quite wet).


After we left the Falls, we drove over the Rainbow Bridge and into Ontario, Canada. We arrived in Toronto last night, and will be exploring the city today before heading out tomorrow morning.

Again with Pittsburgh!

Today we hit the Duquesne Incline, a cable car that took us to the top of Mt. Washington for a panoramic view of Pittsburgh and its three rivers.
































Later in the afternoon, we cheered on the Pittsburgh Pirates as they took on the Toronto Blue Jays at PNC Park.



































It was a great day! Tomorrow we head out and up to Toronto!

On the road again!

After two days on the road, we have arrived in the surprisingly cute city of Pittsburgh!



























Best line of the trip so far: in a Burger King, somewhere in Georgia...

me (to the cashier): what's the difference between the "tendercrisp" chicken sandwich and the "original" chicken sandwich?
cashier: the tendercrisp is more tender.
me: is it better?
her: i don't know! I don't eat this stuff!

School's out!

Last day today! But before we go, we must pause for a brief PBA (Public Brag Announcement)!

Leah & Jack received many awards at today's festivities - both received High Honor Roll for this quarter, along with the President's Education Outstanding Academic Achievement Award. They also received several academic awards, and received recognition for service, athletics, citizenship, scholarship, and spirit.

Last month every student wrote an essay detailing their choice for "Most Influential American" in the last 50 years. The essays were then judged by the top administration at all six schools. The finalists and winner were announced at the ceremony today. The top three finalists were... Jack, Leah, and some other kid. And the award-winning essay was written by... Leah! She was completely surprised and had to read her essay aloud after they called her name. It was excellently and effortlessly written. Yes, I am biased, but I speak the truth.


















Way to go, guys! We are so proud of you both. And believe it or not, a year from now Leah will be wearing the cap and gown...

Talent Show!

Carolyn gets the prize... Jack and some friends performed a dance routine to Hannah Montana's See You Again (or is it Miley Cyrus?). He certainly does have a certain talent for entertaining people! Too bad he's so shy, though.

Tired of hearing about our trip yet?

One of my favorite magazines is Budget Travel. I also enjoy their website, budgettravel.com. Readers of the magazine can keep travel journals which are available for all to read on the website. After our trip to London & Paris last month, I posted a journal of the trip along with some photos. Shortly thereafter I was contacted by one of the magazine's editors, who told me that they were interested in featuring my journal on their website! So it was pretty cool this morning to see our photos and story on the Budget Travel main page, and as a post on their blog.


















The journal is basically a cut and paste job from my blog posts while we were away, and most of you have probably been forced to look at all our photos from the trip already... but I just wanted to share!

**Also, the kids' school held their annual talent show last night... Jack performed in a dance number dressed like a famous rock star. Any guesses as to which one? Pictures later!**

K.N.O. (Kids Night Out)

Tonight Leah & Jack attended their final school dance of the year - a formal affair, of course!

They had a great time, and now we all are looking forward to summer vacation!