SLUMBER PARTY!

HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY RACHEL!  HOPE YOU HAD A FUN SLUMBER PARTY!


"I'm difficult" with "Most difficult."  Only a matter of time before the apprentice becomes the master...


MEER MEER ME MEER!  You mean we're going to eat pizza and play board games!  Beeker is excited

Bonfire means one thing, Aunt Megan has S'more supplies!


Rachel ponders the deer and two fawn she just saw.  Wonders if the fawn would be willing to join the slumber party and snuggle.




Nothing like a little Palace, Garbage, and Go Fish card games before going to bed.


CHOCOLATE JELLY WAFFLES!  Some little girl really loves her Aunt Meg



Aunt Meg and Rachel working on their arts and crafts project


A skeleton vase!


Even the garbage is art!  We hope you had a lot of fun with us Rachel.  We hope you had fun on your really belated b-day slumber party!


On another note, when did Megan and I buy a boat?

The gang's all here.  Nothing like walking along the Erie Canal in Fairport and finding a fun pontoon boat.  I'd like to take this ship from Buffalo to NYC.  


Cap'n of da ship! 



YEAH!  FRIED TURKEY!  Or, someone is starting a meth lab...  This is you start thinking when you watch Breaking Bad.  

Marriage Bliss

HAPPY 3RD ANNIVERSARY MEGAN!  What better way to celebrate than a Chicago Omelette at the New Yorker Restaurant (165 W. Commercial St. E. Rochester, NY)?


Not to be outdone, got myself the Banana Nut Rum French Toast.  We'll need the energy for the days next activity


KAYAKING DOWN THE ERIE CANAL!



Picked up a kayak at the Erie Canal Boat Company (http://www.eriecanalboatcompany.com/)


Don't know about the Erie Canal and why it's important?  Don't worry, there's a wikipedia page for that: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal


Luckily, this was the only sunny weather we've had in the last three weeks




Paddling back to Fairport from Macedon.  


A Turtle.  Saw quite a bit of wildlife: heron, hawks, fish and all sorts of stuff I wasn't quick enough to take pictures of...


We're back.  Oddly enough, when we pulled up to the dock there was a lady with a still and video camera that wanted to interview us.  There's a guy by the name of John Robinson that is biking the Erie Canal and making a documentary about it.  Interesting story and I'm sure we'll end up on the cutting room floor.  But, I suggest checking it out at Our Ability (http://www.ourability.com/)


Now to the serious business of getting ice cream


If you know Megan, you know she takes ice cream very seriously...


I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream (before being committed).  Moonlight Creamery (http://www.moonlightcreamery.com/) is one of the best and most interesting ice cream places I've ever been to.  They're all about the environment.  And, it's the first time I've ever had Kenyan Mango something or another and whatever the second scoop was.  Highly recommended.


And, what better way can you end a day than dinner on the patio at Richardson's (http://www.richardsonscanalhouse.net/)?





Tree stump art along the canal at Richardson's.  There's a lot to look at while having a few drinks along the canal: the lighthouse, log cabins, pine trees, and all sorts of little details.  I will have to do some research on this.

GREAT ANNIVERSARY AND I LOVE YOU MEGAN!!!


Other pressing business: Penfield 4th of July fireworks on June 29th (what can I say, they don't procrastinate).  Pretty impressive display and I have to wait until next year to experience the parade that passes my house.

  
Whoa man!


It seems this firework was about to attack my face...


Embers of my long dormant fire pit.  When will it finally stop raining so we can have S'mores?


Our pet deer.  They are not scared of us.  They don't care about us.  They may actually have the deed to our house.


This part is for Dee, the flower expert: What are these?  This one is from our yard.


These are from our yard too (and not photoshopped either)


Not from our yard, but Megan would like them to be.


Glad Megan didn't see this guy floating past us in the Erie Canal...



Yotini's yogurt about to open up on July 10(ish).  I guess this will be a new stop on our walk to the library and back.


Poor Athena can't get this monkey off her back...

LEAPIN' LEMURS!!!

For my birthday, my beautiful wife brought me to the Seneca Park Zoo!  http://www.senecaparkzoo.org/


I should have known that we were going since there was a theme to my breakfast...


Spoonbill


Sloth!


This rhino is in lockdown.  Look at those bars






It's a good thing I can't get a Meerkat as a pet.


Bald Eagle just chillin' in the park


Who will win in snake vs. Hulk.  Also, I should note that it is an awesome time to go to the zoo because it is the Zoo Boo.  Kids get to trick or treat with the animals.


A hyena getting a pumpkin for a halloween treat


And now to hide it somewhere good


Tiger


His name is Justin Verlander and he will be taking the game tonight against the Yankees in game 3.

 
I <3 bugs="">


Totem poll from the old Midtown Plaza Mall.


PENGUINS!


Seal


These guys really ham it up for the camera





Most awkward Polar Bear ever...




The Step Into Africa just opened!  I've been wanting to go to the zoo since we moved to Rochester, but we've been waiting until this opened.  Then, we just got busy since it's been open for a while.  YEAH!


Masai huts.


LOOK AT ME GOAT!  LOOK!!!


I'll have to ask Dick and Marianne about these items in the Masai hut.  Especially the chair and digital screen in a weird wood frame...


The lions really liked watching all the kids in costumes.  










Mr. Baboon did not like his magazine




Elephant.  I really like the kid in yellow because he's The Man in the Yellow Hat from Curious George.  


For some reason, this elephant spent a lot of time eating a chain.


MORE AWKWARD POLAR BEAR!


Bird


Rachel's favorite animals at the zoo, which are Raccoons.  


This rhino did not like one of the zookeepers.  


Meerkat Me


Megan in her Wonder Woman pose showing off her fried chicken dinner at Trata Restaurant at the Armory http://www.tratarochester.com/


Mmmmmm...  Giant American Cheeseburger.  So good and so much that there was no birthday cake necessary afterwards.  Highly suggested


Mmmmmm...  Fries too!  The red pepper and artichoke dip was really good too.  Great place for people watching.  

First, thanks to all my friends and family for the birthday wishes.  I really appreciate it.  Especially to Megan for showering me with attention for a full day.  And, to Derek Jeter for breaking his leg so the Detroit Tigers can have a fair shot at going to the World Series...