Tornado Tuesday - Handcuffs!

So, Tornado Tuesday requests a post about Handcuffs. I guess I'll get all figurative today and talk about the kids. It's not really a stretch, because as much as I would give my life for my children (and I mean THAT literally), there are times when they just tie my hands and stifle that spontaneity I used to cherish so much. There are so many things about life that change when you have kids, and one of those things is the lack of being able to do absolutely whatever you want, whenever you want. Don't get me wrong, there's a different type of spontaneous that happens with kids; stopping and seeing what they see can be thrilling and perspective-changing as well, but it still doesn't come without its compromises.

This weekend, we went to Niagara Falls. It's a trip I've made countless times, since my mom grew up so close to them, but it was the first time we've taken either of the kids. If you've never been there, they are truly a wonder to behold. Absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful and awe-inspiring. Of course, it's a giant tourist draw, which means there are several attractions that come along with simply viewing the falls. One of those attractions is the Maid of the Mist, which is a boat that takes you very, very near the falls themselves. I've never been on it.

Obviously, we couldn't take Abbey and Dylan on the Maid of the Mist. So Ryan and I didn't go on the Maid of the Mist either. I wish I could say that the trip was magical enough that I never thought about the boat ride again. However, the whole day was a bit of a comedy of errors, beginning with several "detours" on the way to the falls and continuing with a trolley ride that lasted about thirteen hours (well, it felt like thirteen hours). Abbey enjoyed the falls for about five minutes, and then said, "I want to do something else now." And such are the handcuffs that come with children.

Yet, for all of the forsaken Maid of the Mist boat rides and the harried moments of folding up a giant double stroller to lug it onto the trolley, there are the indescribable moments of love and joy. Dylan snuggling up to go to sleep in the Ergo, Abbey sitting on "her own special seat" on the trolley, convinced she was on a bus, like in a favorite tune: The Wheels on the Bus. Those are the moments that will remain etched in my heart, when the false starts and annoyances of the day have long faded from memory.

nature at its finest

the previously mentioned Maid of the Mist

my cousin Jessica (and a ferris wheel that Abbey wanted to go on - maybe next time)

Abbey and Grandma

Dylan was not impressed

the biggest hit of the day - a little seat for Abbey

we all could've used that nap!!