Owie & Elly

I just had to share this series of photos I took of Elly and Owen last week.  He was being such a grumpy little so-and-so in the morning, but when his little sister started to cry about goodness knows what, he came to the rescue, shared his yoghurt and made her giggle.  Love it and love them.

A Month Of Memories

I first came to the cottage when I was nine years old.  My friend Karen invited me up one weekend, and her brother Mark, being my big brother David's friend, invited him too.  We Pergant kids were quite taken with it all - lake swimming, dock tanning, chips & coke at five o'clock, steak dinners at the long table, playing ping pong and pool in the basement until bedtime.  It was a new world for us hotel brats, but one we quickly adapted to.

Our family moved to Europe four years later but we still managed to come back to Canada nearly every summer and relished our time at the Johnson's cottage.  I remember whole days spent in the water, telling secrets to Karen under the floating raft (not realising it amplified my words for the whole bay to hear), waking up to the smells of her mother Susan making bacon and eggs, hearing her father Bill working his way through the list of outdoor chores, reading Archie comics on the sofas downstairs.  Every year we came back, and every year it was the same wonderful place, with the pine trees swaying high above the cottage and the water glinting invitingly in the sunshine. 

When I was nineteen, I came back as Mark's girlfriend.

In July of 2004 we spent two weeks at the cottage with friends and family celebrating and relaxing after our Toronto wedding and my brother proposed to his beautiful Cecile on the dock.  I sat with my  friends Amber and Annie and we imagined coming here in future years with our children, pictured these fictitious youngsters playing on the beach and splashing in the water and smiled at what would be.

And now, my boys and my girl are here with me for a whole month and we are making memories, superimposing new stories onto those that already exist.  We are playing and splashing, waking up to the smells of Gran making bacon and eggs, hearing Grandpa working his way through the list of outdoor chores.  The pine trees are swaying in the warm summer breeze and the water glints invitingly as we make our way down to the beach. 

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Amber & Jon and Amanda & Mark joined for the Canada Day long weekend, bringing those imaginary kids we once talked about with them.

 Owen & Caleb looking down at the lake

Abby happily eating away at her burgerless bun

Happy Caleb, such a flirt

Amber and Owie.  Hugs after dinner help with digestion, dontcha know

Early birds get the cereal (aka when will our kids learn how to sleep in?!)

Elly test drives the "motor" boat

Snack, the most important meal of the day

Getting in is the hard part

But once you're in, its lovely! By the way, I bought these noodle hammocks at the dollar store and they are unequivocably the best purchase of the year

Uncle Mark Wright reading a bedtime story to the masses

Elly and Peter hanging out before bed

view from the back deck

view from the lookout

Amanda and Peter chillaxing before dinner

Amber & Caleb

Jon cooking for 8 adults & 6 kids means a BBQ full to bursting

Somehow the cottage air means less fighting.  For now.

But lots of silliness

Grandpa made banana oreo ice cream and is now in the running for best grandparent ever

Blowing bubbles with Gran, a summertime staple

Elly and her Grandpa

Right where I want to be

Happy Father's Day

Elly & Her Baby

Couple of things I love about this video - first of all, my mum is on skype with us, so she's part of our day. In fact, we skype with my mum most mornings and lunchtimes. Sometimes, technology is truly wonderful. Second of all, I love all the noises Elly makes...she's so loud, but she really is trying to communicate with us.  Do you hear the little "hi" she gives her doll? 

Little Miss Fashion

Where do girls learn this?  I don't think this is something we've shoved her way.  I think she's been surrounded by boys and trucks and 4 year old scatalogical humour.  I don't think I've paraded around or flounced about.  And yet, we seem to be growing a girlie-girl.  And I have to say, I think its pretty great, just because she clearly knows what it is she wants and how best to achieve it.  These shoes with this hat.  This bag with those sunglasses.  Who are we to stifle her fashionista ways?

Two stories for you to illustrate my point.  About a month ago, I got Elly dressed in her room in a tshirt and jeans and then walked into my room to get myself dressed.  I could hear her down the hallway, opening up her drawers and making all kinds of fussy noises.  "I'm in here, Elly," I called, thinking she was needing me.  More fussing and drawer slamming and finally I hear her crawl-stomping her way over to my room.  In she comes, right up to me and starts yelling at me, 'gah-bah!  MAM!  MAM!  Gah-bah-dah!"  I look down and she's got a very angry expression on her face and is waving around a pair of fleece trousers with a pink and brown leopard print on them.  She's waving them around and yelling at me and finally I say, "Would you like to wear those?"  I change her pants as she rants and raves at me and as soon as I get her fleece pants on she immediately quietens down, pats her legs and gives me a satisfied little grunt.  And toddles off in her choice of clothes.

The second story happened yesterday morning as we were all getting ready for school.  I got the boys' sunscreen on and was throwing snacks into their bags when I said, "okay everyone, time to go, let's get to the front door."  As I make my own way there, what do I spy but my daughter, in her jammies, with her hat on and a paper shopping bag on her arm, waiting patiently for the rest of us.  'Ready to go, mam", she seemed to be saying.  I didn't get a photo then, but she very conveniently recreated the moment for me this morning near her bedroom, with the same outfit.  Cute or what?  This girl is fashion-fierce!

 

Many of you have probably seen my favorite recent photos of the diva, which I posted on facebook not long ago.  But for those of you who haven't seen them, check out this fabulousness.  She chose the bag and sunglasses.  All I did was invite her outside.

Stay tuned for more fashionable Elliot Anne moments because I'm pretty confident we haven't seen the last of this.

New Camera, Same Subjects

I went out and bought a fancy-pants new camera on sale for a ridiculously good price (I saved $300!) and last weekend I nervously took off the lens cap and took some shots of the kids and Mark, all working and/or playing in the backyard.   I've since used it for a couple of other playdates and I'm very pleased with the results, and I think you will be too!

Here's Will patiently posing for me in the backyard.  When he really smiles, its lovely, very infectious. 

Ellybelle chomping away on her favorite fruit - watermelon

"Yum!"

My pretty girl, playing in the sandbox.  You can imagine the state of her afterwards though, what with all the sand adhering to sticky watermelon juice.  Summer definitely means more baths.

 

Mr Miles came over for a playdate last week.  So much fun.  I love the way these two interact.  They watch each other a lot and I think the sharing is going well so far.  Apparently Miles was quite keen to imitate Elly's walking once he got home.  Nothing like peer pressure for racking up the toddler milestones!

I think Elly was offering to make Miles some lunch.

Why does the sight of two little people standing side by side make me smile so much?

Sharing the zoo train

Something's got their attention.  Probably food.

Sweet Miles, we love you so much! 

Annie, Miles's beautiful mummy.  She doesn't realise she's actually sitting in the middle of the shopping cart raceway.

 Miles maneuvers his cart with ease.

Puzzling over a puzzle

So ladylike.  "Peekaboo!"

We had a BBQ with a gaggle of friends and their kids on Saturday.  So great to have everyone there.  I even managed to get a good group shot of us all!

I don't exactly know what Will is reenacting for Abby, but she clearly thinks its good.

Busy at the play-doh table

Caleb & his pretty mama, who I sadly don't see enough of now that she's gone back to work.  Booooo! Come back, Amber, come baaaaaaaack!

Cheeky monkeys. They were being egged on by Uncle Paul and Uncle Chris just off camera.

Mummy and Elly (with mummy's new haircut)

 Hanging out on the steps

Our hosts Michelle & Chris's gorgeous daughter Jocelyn, who is going to be a big sister in August.  Love those big brown eyes.

Miles drumming away to his own beat

Peter, feeling a litle artsy, a little angsty, goes to play the banjo by himself for a while.

And last but not least, today's playdate with Anika and Mila (although Mila was napping when these photos were taken).  No better way to spend an afternoon than with good friends, a sprinkler, some snacks and mummies who can gossip over a glass of Pimms.

Will and Anika braving the raging waters of the caterpillar sprinkler.  Will was very nervous before Meg turned the water on, but when he saw the rather calm little water jets just barely making their way out of the sprinkler he said "oh, dats not so bad" and ran through it.  So brave, snort.

Jumping over was even braver!

Once he saw there was no danger, Owen had to have a go

Elliot in her cute new swimsuit & shoes, debating if she wants to get wet

Anika tries to persuade her.  Side note - I'm awed by how quickly little adorable Anika has become the biggie.  I met her and her wonderful mother Meg when she was just turning two.  Now look at her! Still adorable though.

Splish splash

Swinging to dry himself off, he told me

Oh sweet girl.  How do they grow so fast?!

Is it just me, or is this kid stinkin' cute?! Must be the new camera ;)