Today's Toby

Taking a break from vacation photos to celebrate Toby reaching Level 8. There was singing, there were games, there was a donut "cake, there was mini-golf, there was even Rita's Italian Ice. We love you tremendously, goofball. You are kind. You are inquisitive. You are always tapping your feet and bounding through the air. May the next trip around the sun be rich with love and joy.   

Toronto Island has a small amusement park. The one thing Toby and Spencer could agree that they wanted to do was ride the swan boats.   

Unexpected beach time on Lake Ontario in Toronto!    

Lookout, Toronto Island! We're ready to have some fun.  

The good thing about a kaleidoscope is it really helps accentuate your stinky face.  

The competition at this table seems intense, but it's pretty easy to tell when they are bluffing.  

It's entirely possible we shrunk the kids. Or maybe Dad's a giant.  

Here is your Toby Tartar. Bon Appétit!   

Toby has learned how to float! (Pay no attention to the sign behind him that reads "Museum of Illusions".)   

Proof that we were in Toronto. And goofing off in front of the Toronto sign.  

The fish at this aquarium are certainly very personable.  

Toby may or may not have been eaten by a very large reptile on our trip to Canada. (The reptile seemed to be mostly toothless, so it's possible he escaped. Plus, the reptile was Canadian, so he was very polite. Tune in tomorrow for more updates.)  

Toby was excited to crawl through this tube at the aquarium. He and the shark seem to have missed each other at the end.  

Outside our hotel in Toronto was this sculpture with giant woodpeckers, so Toby decided to join in the fun.  

Our last night at the falls we saw this rainbow. This time Toby was the one cooperating for a nice photo.  

Taking the advice of our local bus driver, Gerry, we did the night-time visit to the (now-retired) hydro Power Station. Among other things, it included being able to go down one of the outlet pipes/tunnels for a close-up view of the falls. It was terrific!  

The thing about a Toby cameo...  Is that you never know... Exactly when... He'll join the party. But it's worth the wait. Also, the frequent rainbows at the falls are delightful.

Things got a little topsy-turvy in Niagara.  

Toby insisted on having his photo taken through this FIFA thing while we were in Niagara. To be fair, it is the sort of thing that screams "photo op"...and no one else was paying much attention to it (given the magnificent waterfall directly beside it).  

Moosing around. Pretty sure you're required to make antlers when you see one of these.  

Two cuties and a waterfall.  

Getting up close and personal with the falls on the first fill day of vacation.