Summer Vaca { Part II }

We had such a great time in Saratoga... we could have stayed for days!  We only stayed for 3, but they were jam packed with fun and relaxation so it was wonderful!  But next time we'll stay longer. 

Breakfast with Tori.  Tori was just 6 when I started watching them and now she's going to be 18... oh how the time flies!

Ella loved playing on the amazing staircase that was in the house!  Like OMG...  a decorators dream!  Can you imagine this beauty at Christmas? 

Instead, I just imagine it with princesses lined up around it...

But seriously, this and the front door would have sold the house for me!

Quick Couple Shot.  You know... we have to document the good times!

Then it was off to Peerless Pool.  It was a neat pool.  It was almost in middle of a park, well it was... It was in the middle of Saratoga Spa State Park.. but it had no seats.  It was all grass and you just brought lawn chairs and towels and such.  There were a few picnic tables, but it was rather peaceful.  It was like a wave pool without the waves but it had a nice area where you could just walk in.  They also had a splash park area and a water slide, but it was closed for maintenance at the time.  

This pool was perfect for Ella.  She had the best time. 

We walked most places.  One night we walked for ice cream.  The whole lot of us -- 9 of us!  Like woah... we took up the entire sidewalk.  Ella mostly rode on the shoulders of the girls which was a nice break for me!  Somehow I was able to get all of us girls into one shot below! 

While walking all the girls were singing frozen with Ella...

They all sang Do You Want to Build a Snowman to the city of Saratoga about 12x.

It was so cute... Loved seeing my girls interact with my girl! 

Then it was off to the races.  We packed up the wagon and were on our way. 

The coolest thing about the races is that you can bring in anything but glass! 

So we were ready for a tailgate!  haha.

Remember that door I was talking about?  Here she is. 

We took this as we walked by on our way to the track. 

Apparently the movers when they moved in were like OMG Thank the Lord! 

I mean where do you see a door that is 2x the size of a normal one?

And then we passed this guy...

Which crept me out from the other side of the street...

And we walked...

And finally made it to the track. 

People come in very early to the track and lay claim by putting down a table cloth or some chairs around it. Then you leave for a few hours and go back to bed if you got up really early and head back over before post time!  Your table is waiting for you. One of the cool things about Saratoga is that once a table is staked out, it stays that way.

So there's Saratoga in a nutshell and all the fun we had!

Can't wait to head back next year! 

Maybe we'll catch some skiing next time or visit their house they have in Deer Isle Maine or drive into  New York City!  There's just so many things that are so close! 

Better start planning now! 

Summer Vacation { Part I }

I'm so glad that we decided, really on a whim, to take the late summer vacation to Saratoga Springs... All my nanny kids were getting ready to leave the nest... well this is the last year they are all going to be there so we decided it was now or never.  I used to nanny for them family in Fort Wayne, then Zionsville and they ended up moving to Saratoga Springs after I graduated from College.  They are such an amazingly cool family and I was super lucky to meet them and tag along with them on so many different trips and such.

So... onward with the 14 hour drive we went...

On our way there, it wasn't so bad...
We drove through Canada...

They did not have one billboard on their highway! 

It was amazing... super calm drive actually and so nice! 

We decided to go that way since we were going to hop off to see the Canadian side of Niagara falls... and on the way we passed a sign for Wayne Gretzsky Parkway (which was a highlight for my husband).

The falls were absolutely amazing.  I've been to the US side, but the Canada side is just utterly unbelievable.  It really is a sight to see from the other side!  Plus, it's like a complete tourist attraction... there are wax museums, Ferris wheels, and you'll hear every different language imaginable while there!  And we decided to take Ells on the Voyage of the Mist boat ride to really get the most out of it... which was just crazy.

After our 2 hour break, we finally made it to Saratoga around 10:30pm... after starting the trip at 7:00am... from Fort Wayne.  That was a long day.


Day 2 : Saratoga...

We all woke up a little late...
Afterall we didn't go to bed until about 1230.  Ella was wound up like no other...

We enjoyed our coffee on the gorgeously huge front porch and then headed off to a late breakfast at Sweet Mimi's where I had these Roman Eggs which were absolutely delicious.  If you go to Saratoga, you must try Sweet Mimi's! 

After that we enjoyed a short walk through downtown and checked out a couple of stores...

As well as the natural springs...Something Saratoga is known for and one of the reasons that in the old days people would come from NYC to Saratoga Springs to drink the natural healing waters...

They were gross and tasted like well water.  Enough said.  But we did as the visitors do and tried it...

Then the girls watched Ella for a bit to let us walk around the city by ourselves....
I snapped a few pictures of some favorite homes, doors, architecture...

We got lost... and ended up walking about 4 miles to try to find the Saratoga Race Track that is literally 3 blocks from the house we were staying at.  I let my husband take the lead and he has no sense of direction. 

I've been traveling a bit these last couple of weeks so sorry but I'll be sharing my trips!
I'll wrap up Saratoga tomorrow :)

Then there's wedding fun and Denver trips!