When the Americans and Lithuanians crashed Canada's Niagara Falls

Yesterday's post shared the work picnic that we conquered on our way out of New York.  Well, before leaving the city completely, we had one more stop--JFK airport to pick up our Lithuanian friends.  We were so excited to see Kes and Lina and meet their adorable girls!  Thanks to e-mails, blogs, and Christmas letters, it felt as if we already knew each other.  We were thrilled to put a real world face on the virtual friendship our children had formed.

I must confess, I was a bit nervous meeting up with Kes and Lina as well.  Let's just say that our family is generally better behaved online than in real life.  While it's never been my intention to create false impressions through this blog, this family history intentionally highlights the positive.  Someday when I'm old and gray, I plan to sit in a rocking chair and read--smiling and chuckling over happy memories, not wincing over painful ones.

Kes and Lina happened to catch our family at a particularly challenging time.  Not only were we worn out from traveling so much, but our family was still separated.  Add to that the stress of a job search, and we weren't at the top of our game.  Fortunately, we have marvelous friends. Kes and Lina were nonjudgmental and understanding.  The kids got along splendidly, and we played.

You've seen the pictures of us playing in Vermont, but here we are playing at Niagara Falls on the way home.

The Vedeckis family from Vilnius, Lithuania.  Here we have Kestutis, Egle, Lina, and Liepa.

In case you couldn't place the blue ponchos, we're standing on board the "Maid of the Mist."

Annika seems excited for the trip.

If wet is a measure of success, the Falls did not disappoint.

I've always thought of Talia as my blue-eyed gal, but those eyes have definitely turned green.

A really scary picture of Brooklyn.  (I have a prettier one, but this one's more interesting.  Plus, it's blackmail.)

Eli seemed a bit overwhelmed by the sea of blue.

You thought we were all matchy-matchy in our ponchos, but check this out!

NomiAnn sewed adorable summer outfits for all of the girls.  Too cute!  (And no, you may not make any snide remarks about the Von Trapp family singers.)

Five girls and a guy.

Egle's adorable and she knows it too.

There's something so universal about the relationship between a mother and her children.  We're parenting our kids an ocean apart, and yet the experience is much the same.  I learned so much watching Lina interact with her beautiful daughters.

Talia's not the only one who can be silly in a photo shoot, right Egle?

Kes with his girls.

I love the fish face, Liepa!

The whole crew!  (Minus NomiAnn who was taking the picture.) 

Okay, enough pictures of us, here's a photo of the real star.  It's true--the Falls are much more impressive from the Canadian side.

Whoosh!

And the movie star herself.  Callie gave up a huge chunk of her summer vacation to be with us.  She missed Adam and Zoe (as did we all), but we were so glad she was there.

I think Egle's aspiring to be an actress herself.

And here are our happy six year-olds, Talia and Liepa.

Callie, Eli, and Annika playing at the park at Niagara on the Lake.

Life is lovely when you can swing.

Twelve years ago, Kes tried to visit the Canadian Falls but got turned away when he forgot his passport.  Imagine the smile if he could have seen this future photo then.

Kestutis and crew, thank you so much for accepting our family, faults and all.  We miss you already and dream of the day when we can visit you in beautiful Lithuania.