This past weekend we were treated to enjoy a cottage up north from Alvar's parents. Earlier this year it was their 40th Wedding Anniversary, and they wanted to spend a weekend with the whole family - and this was the cottage they booked. It fit 14 of us very comfortably and had lots of room to spare both inside and out! We had a great time there - the weather was beautiful and it was great to just relax and spend the time with family.
"Tranquility"
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When we arrived we got settled in and then took a little walk to the beach (just a minute away) - the kids couldn't wait to go swimming - weather permitting of course, and they loved just being on the sand. That night we attempted to have 5 of the cousins sleep together (that would be 5 of them under the age of 8) - hmmm...what were we thinking?? I'm thinking we weren't thinking here and therefore spent the next couple hours sending kids back to bed etc. Finally, at midnight, Anna was sleeping, Caleb came and slept with us in our room and the rest actually fell asleep. So yes, that was the first and last night that they all fell asleep together (we separated them and put them back in the room when the adults went to bed instead!).
Our first and only attempt at putting the kids to bed at the same time
Some shots of the cottage
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We enjoyed a variety of activities on the weekend - the first being the Castle Village and Enchanted Kingdom Park, the kids had an opportunity there to run around and play on some slides, a suspension bridge and look in the miniature houses that held different fairytale themes inside. A good place to release some energy!
We enjoyed a variety of activities on the weekend - the first being the Castle Village and Enchanted Kingdom Park, the kids had an opportunity there to run around and play on some slides, a suspension bridge and look in the miniature houses that held different fairytale themes inside. A good place to release some energy!
Kids enjoyed "riding" the dragon
Even Alvar joined in the fun!
The owner thought Anna was pretty cute, so he gave her a princess crown
Suspension bridge
Play structures
Most of the trees had eyes here (it's a fairy tale place!!)
Caleb just chilln' and enjoying some candy
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After the park, we moved onto the Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons (and open-air style museum). This was a pretty neat place that had everyone dressed up in old style attire and demonstrating how things were done in this little village from many many years ago. The kids quite enjoyed running from building to building - and even learning a thing or two! I think the adults also quite enjoyed this place, lots of interesting facts of our Canadian Heritage!
We had lunch outside before we went in the museum
Learning the ways of old
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That night we went out with the family for some dinner - found a nice little place right on the water - but had to wait a bit till the dinner menu could be ordered from. We let the kids play on the beach a while (always good to release a little more energy right!) - and then when the time was right went to the restaurant. We started outside on the patio, but noticed that the temperature was dropping very quickly, so we filled up the inside instead (we took up almost half of the restaurant!) - good thing we went in though as a bad storm came in shortly after that, the lights dimmed a couple times, the wind howled and the rain came pouring down (quite exciting actually!).
Nothing better then the feeling of sand in between your toes!
That night we went out with the family for some dinner - found a nice little place right on the water - but had to wait a bit till the dinner menu could be ordered from. We let the kids play on the beach a while (always good to release a little more energy right!) - and then when the time was right went to the restaurant. We started outside on the patio, but noticed that the temperature was dropping very quickly, so we filled up the inside instead (we took up almost half of the restaurant!) - good thing we went in though as a bad storm came in shortly after that, the lights dimmed a couple times, the wind howled and the rain came pouring down (quite exciting actually!).
Nothing better then the feeling of sand in between your toes!
Or on your legs....
View of the lake
Storm coming in....
On the patio at the restaurant - didn't last outside too long!
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And what would a cottage weekend be without some time at the beach - swimming and enjoying the water? Well, apparently the kids were brave enough to test that out too - so they got all their swimming stuff on and headed to the beach. I think it lasted a total of 5 minutes....with only 1 getting completely wet - a few others got wet to their knees and the rest opted for the sand only - it was COLD!! Oh well, at least they got their fix in and actually didn't ask again for the rest of the weekend :) And we did get to enjoy a nice roaring fire that night to keep us all warm....a nice "cottagey" thing to do!
Oops....forgot to put on Anna's bathing suit - she didn't care though, just stripped down to her diaper - a tad chilly outside though!!
Caleb didn't even bother with the water - sand is what he enjoys most!
Some brave souls out there in the water!
Beach shots....
Nice toasty campfire to end the day with
Sparklers!
Beautiful clear night
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Our evenings were spent playing games with the adults - Carcassonne was a favourite, as well as Blokus and even some Yahtzee yet too - what a great way to relax the evenings away!
Our evenings were spent playing games with the adults - Carcassonne was a favourite, as well as Blokus and even some Yahtzee yet too - what a great way to relax the evenings away!
Blokus
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I think though that one of the high-lights of the weekend was the motorcycle ride that Esther, Caleb and Anna got to enjoy! Alvar's brother came up to the cottage on his motorcycle, and he gave each of the kids a little ride around the block...and boy, was that a treat!! I think we were all surprised at how much Anna enjoyed the ride - her disappointed cries said it all when we took her off the bike to give someone else a chance for a ride...boy, you'd think the world was coming to an end!! Guess that means that in the future Alvar might just have to get his bike lisence too....join the rest of the family "gang" someday!
She might look all timid in the helmet, but don't let that fool you!
I see now that the bikers blood runs deep in the family - Anna just loved the ride!
And let us all know how disappointed she was when her turn was over
Esther quite enjoyed the ride too :)
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The weekend was a lot of fun over all - the cousins all played really well together - and the adults did too! Thanks Mom and Dad for a great weekend!!
The weekend was a lot of fun over all - the cousins all played really well together - and the adults did too! Thanks Mom and Dad for a great weekend!!
