Back From the Cottage

We got back from the cottage this week and we certainly enjoyed the continued hot weather after missing it for most of July when we were out west. Grace enjoyed sliding down a small plastic slide into the water and the boys enjoyed exploring, swimming, fishing, watching wildlife and lazing around. One quiet Sunday afternoon we even had a bear come sniffing around looking for berries.
We had good visits with our cousins on Papa's side of the family with many big dinners with all the leaves in the table. This week we got our classrooms ready and Grace adjusted to her new caregiver, "Nanny Maria!"

New Years 2003 vs. New Years 2009

As I was writing the last post some pictures popped up on my screen from New Years at the cottage when Luke was a baby. He would be 8 months then, so a few months younger than Grace is now. He is huge! He was about 26 pounds! I remember making those party hats with Liam. He used to and still does, love making crafty things like that. Check out the rosy cheeks from staying out in the cold a little too long last week.

Outside pictures

We did manage to spend some time outside at the cottage. Here we have pictures of each of the kids with Buck Lake providing a scenic back drop. I've also included a picture of Liam from Thanksgiving 2002. My how he's changed in seven years.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So thankful for both our families, good health, delicious food, a cozy home, a wonderful husband and 3 beautiful children.

Bikini Girl

Grace has a few years of being able to wear a bikini without having to worry about the rolls of chubbiness. Of course, this isn't very practical as she has to wear her sun suit in the sun and the swim diaper just doesn't fit under the bikini bottoms. However, it makes an adorable photo!

Muskoka Chair

We are going to take a photo of Grace in this chair every summer and watch how she changes...(won't that make a great scrapbook page?) Of course, the boys wanted in on the photo action - they got in the chair with her but those shots didn't turn out - we will have to try again. It won't be long that all three kids will fit in one muskoka chair!

Sailing

If it's too cold to swim you can sail! Dan really loves the sailboat and has been taking the boys out in it this summer. Apparently Luke is a dare-devil when he is out there...but I'll let Dan fill you in on that. Check out how high the water level is from all the rain. The front corner of the dock is close to being under water.

6 Months!

Grace turned 6 months on August 3rd. We were having a lot of rainy weather at the cottage and the boys needed a little focus - so what better than a party? We planned a last minute half-birthday for Grace. I made a delicious vanilla cake from Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything (same cake we made for our Brazil party minus the coconut and made it into half a cake). The boys blew up some balloons, Luke wrote some trivia about Grace and instead of party hats we made Grace a headband and bow with my scrapbooking supplies. The boys got Grace a present of a pink bib from JOE and some baby food to celebrate her starting solid food.

Grace had her 6 month appointment and shots today.
Stats:
Height: 26 inches (50th percentile)
Weight: 17 pounds (75th percentile)

Cottage Pictures

Chilly Reunion

We had a great time at the cottage with the ever growing families of Dan's childhood friends. We had our family plus Malcolm and Lucy with Colin (2.5 yrs) and Jack (9 mths); Phil and Cynamin with Maxwell (2 yrs) and Emerson (4.5 mths) and Eamonn (unfortunately, Eamonn's wife Ulrike is in Germany until August).

The weather didn't cooperate (rainy, windy, cool and buggy), but the guys got caught up on life while the moms talked about all things babies. The bigger kids had fun meeting and playing with each other. We ate (and drank) well and enjoyed some delicious Southern and Italian fare. We also managed to squeeze in some boat rides and a couple of campfires.

The first photo is of me with the two February girls and the group photo is missing Liam (the photographer), baby Grace, baby Jack and Maxwell. The third photo is Grace checking out Jack and the bottom one is of the "big" kids enjoying their ice cream.

Pictures

We're heading back up to the cottage today for a reunion of Dan's St. Mike's friends, their wives and children. Hopefully the weather will cooperate more than last week! Here are some recent photos including one of my Mom and Dad's FIVE grandkids!

Putting in the Dock

Last week was rainy and buggy but the two Dans got the dock in at the cottage.

School is out for summer!

Another school year gone by! I can't believe Luke will go into Grade 1 and Liam into Grade 3 in September. The boys got excellent report cards and while Liam is sad school is over, he is thrilled to have Ms. Aikman again next year.

We are packing up and doing laundry so we can head to the cottage this weekend. I am having a sudden reminder of all the gear that we need when travelling with a baby....

There is a lot of rain in the forecast for next week but who wants to stay in Toronto with a smelly garbage strike...?

It is dial-up for the internet while we are up north but I will try to post pictures when I can. Here are a few from the last week.

Cottage update

Dad and I went up to the cottage on the 30th. Despite the big Boxing Day melt, there was quite a bit of snow. I took the opportunity to take a picture of the Hobie Cat and the canoe in winter storage. I'm looking forward to many happy hours out on the lake this summer.