ZOOZ

Another action packed summer day as we headed to Zooz. This is Niagara's own little zoo complete with lots of animals, a play ark and splash pad and this year they added some carnival type rides (which we skipped as they cost extra). This year we headed out to Stevensville with some new friends who we have been introduced to through mutual acquaintances. The kids had a blast together and we rounded out the day with some Pizza and wings on out patio. It really has been a great summer so far.

Shrine Circus

Yesterday we went to the Shrine Circus. It has become an annual trip since my sister's husband's grandfather started giving us the tickets. He is a Shriner and loves to see his Granddaughter come out and enjoy the show. We always enjoy the evening fill with acrobats, clowns and various other performers. There is always a few animal shows this year they included horses, dogs and the Elephants.

I would like to say that I was not completely aware of the animal rights violations that the Circus has always been accused of. The truth is that I am not only aware but I studied a course in Animal Rights in University and I am more than fully aware of what may be happening to these animals. I just choose to believe that although it is unnatural for an Elephant to sit on a stool on command that these animals much like a pet dog are loved by their trainers. I would hope that they are well taken care of and are trained with love. There are certainly standards that the Circus must follow when keeping animals captive and training them. I know there are some who would say that by turning a blind eye I am supporting abuse. However I truly believe that these animals are much better off where they are then some other animals. Have you ever seen how they treat the cows that you eat each day.  So I feel that supporting the Shriner's who do such good work by attending the Circus which my children love is okay as long as I teach my children about the natural habitat of these animals and explain why there are some people who do not agree with our decision to go.

So I take the pamphlets that are given to me each year as I enter the parking lot at the Circus. I read the sign that says I should be ashamed that I am supporting them and I respect the rights of protesters and their point of view. I make sure to explain to my children that some people believe it is not nice to make elephants live in the sort of captivity that the Circus subjects them too, and that those people would like the Circus to not be allowed to have animals. I also explain my own point of view. I just wish that the protesters could appreciate my point of view and that we could agree to disagree without them feeling the need to harass me.

The Wonder of it All!

CANADA'S WONDERLAND

We spent the day yesterday at Canada's Wonderland. We purchased the tickets at the end of the school year as a reward for a good year and ended up missing our allotted day because Colin was sick.
After examining our schedules and the weather forecast we decided to take the chance that a 50% chance of thundershowers would not ruin our day and off we went.
We ended up having a good time despite the multiple thundershowers and downpours that forced us inside away from the rained and temporarily closed rides.
Both the kids got to ride lots of rides in the allotted kid zones. The both tried out a roller coaster called the Ghoster Coaster. Madison loved it so much she rode it twice and also rode another coaster. Colin was undecided but told us a dinner the next night he would go again. We are hoping he will try out the coasters at Disney when we go in August.
We saw two great shows with acrobats, had ice-cream and met some Charlie Brown characters. Overall it was a good day.
We left the park around 7pm when the sky's opened up for the 3rd time. It rained so hard we were soaked to the core and we decided our day was done.
We ended up at Chuck E. Cheese for dinner and games before heading home.
It made for great memories for our family.

Exciting Mail

Today our Disney Magical Express baggage tags came in the mail for our trip in August. Exciting that it is getting so close!

The making of a DOG CAKE!

 I don't pretend to be a professional Cake maker. I make cakes because I enjoy the challenge of trying to figure out how to create something unique out of something edible and have people enjoy it.
I rarely make cakes for other people on a for sale basis. However in 2009 a former co-worker of mine approached me to create a tree stump cake for her godson. They used the cake as a grooms cake at his wedding shower. So when his brother decided to get married this

year my friend returned to me with a request for a Golden Retriever cake I was extremely unsure of my ability to create a Golden Retriever cake but agreed because I love a challenge.  After doing a little research online here is what I created.

Instructions

Following box recipe, prepare 1 batch Rice Krispie treats. Mold the
                                                      treats into head shape. I also make the front legs out of Krispie treats I should have made the back too but I was too lazy to make another batch.
 
 Bake two layer cake in pan size of your choice. I actually put a half of a third layer for a bum but it sunk.

Cover head and body with butter cream icing and cover with Fondant. (I dyed the fondant Golden Yellow and brushed with Wilton Cake Dust for colour) I textured the whole dog with a shell tool)

 Decorate face and body with fondant.

 Seems simple right... I ran into a few difficulties.

One it is July and everything was melting and sinking.

Two I would have liked to have airbrushed this guy for better colour. Working with food powder was difficult.

Three I should have made a better support system for the tail the            whole back-end of the dog sank from weight.
 So he no longer has his bum in the air.
         

Four I should have baked and      
stacked my cakes a day early and froze them or at least refrigerated them for stability of carving.

Five I did not make my original board big enough so had to add another board for size but also for support this cake is really heavy.

Fun in the sun= Upset Mom...

It is probably close to the hottest July on record fro Niagara falls this year. The humidity put us at nearly 41 yesterday. It made it a great day for the kids to spend at a local watering hole. My M.I.L.  packed up her 5 grandchildren and took them for a picnic and swimming which would have been a great treat for them except that she forgot to put on any suntan lotion or hats. Now I have warned her before that the kids need to have sun protection on when they are outside. That sun can be so damaging to their soft skin. Alas, she thought that by them wearing a tee-shirt over there bathing suits they would be protected. Needless to say my daughter was passed out on the couch at 6pm with a mild case of sunstroke. I was not a happy Mom. I had a not so nice conversation with grandma and I am now going to tell my children that they have to remind Grandma of Mommy's suntan lotion rule as I am not usually there when these outings occur. Grandma always has the kids best interests at heart. She would give her life to protect them she just forgets that today's sun is different then the sun of her day or even the days of her children. I am sure that she will remember next time. 

Happy Canada Day

HAPPY CANADA DAY 2012!

We have made it a tradition to put on our red and whites and head down to the Canada Day parade every year and take in all the festivities of Canada's big day. This year we took along my niece and nephew and met up with a couple friends. We enjoyed the parade, went to the carnival, had a backyard BBQ with lots of friends and family and took in the wonderful fireworks display above the Niagara Falls. So much fun can't wait for next year.