Summer Vacation Post

This post is going to be picture loaded but I wanted to capture our memories from the week we spent in the little village of Bayfield this summer. It really was a most magical week and while it already seems a long time ago I know that the memories we created and the family time we spent together will linger over the next months as the weather turns chilly and we settle into our busy Fall schedules.

Our little cottage in the woods

This is where the big kids slept, hung out, spent time reading and napping

So private....our little bit of paradise

Our little beach where we spent lazy afternoons playing with the kids

Evan caught on really quickly and looked forward to his evening paddle on the lake

We all learned how to kayak. So much fun and easier than canoeing

Voted as the "Top Ten Best Sunsets in the World"  

Avery LOVED the water and was a natural beach baby

Avery "smirking" for the camera.....or is she hiding some yummy treats in those cheeks!

My two girls!

Evan enjoyed a couple of fishing days with Adam. His favourite acitvity!

AND NOW A LITTLE TOUR OF THE VILLAGE..........

Everything was so picture perfect, quaint and filled with the nicest people.  The entire week I spent trying to figure out if there was any way we could afford to retire here.  Lol....time will tell I guess. 

First Day of School 2014

Yes, I'm blatently aware that I haven't finished up on my summer vacation photos and now I'm staring September in the face and realizing that I'm hopelessly doomed to ever get them posted.

In my defence it has been a pretty crazy summer!  Crazy in a good sort of way. There were lots of busy days filled with kids, kids and more kids!  Throw a few trips up to Muskoka, a camping trip where Avery felt the need to rise at 5am, a trip to the CNE, a visit from one of my dearest old friends (sorry Colleen.....I don't mean "old".....I actually think we look pretty good!) and you are looking at very little time left for such things as blogging.

But I refuse to let the first day of school escape me without taking (and posting) the kids pics.  They grow up so fast!  Claire headed off to Grade 6 and as usual was up at the crack of dawn, bag packed and looking beautiful as always. Evan headed off to Grade 4!  He was super excited to see his friends and except for a few "butterflies" he was ready to go and looking forward to achieving all the goals he has set for his academics.  Even Avery was excited to enter another year of Preschool with me and has already been busy learning the letters of her name, and mastering all her letters, shapes and colours. It should be a fun year!

I still can't believe it's Grade 6 already!

Brother and Sister Love!

Looking forward to a great year in Grade 4!

Best Family Vacation Yet!

 

Adam and I took a different approach to our family vacation time this year.  In the past we have used our week off together to take the kids to Disney, or Old Quebec City, or visit attractions during a very busy "stay-cation."  To be honest, as much fun as all these trips were I was always left feeling rather exhausted at the end of them.  This year I knew I needed something different and with fingers crossed that everyone else would agree I booked us the cutest little waterfront cottage on the shores of Lake Huron for a week.  Our itinerary was simple: sleep, eat, swim, cuddle, read, and spend as much time together as possible. 

THE RESULTS?

It was a huge success.  Our simple days began with everyone landing in our bed to lounge and play with Avery. Then we headed to the kitchen to make our farm fresh breakfast from a stash of bacon, sausage, bread and eggs.....all farm fresh and purchased about 1 km away at a Mennonite farm.  After breakfast we either settled into reading or headed out to explore the very cute village of Bayfield (more pics to come). The afternoons were filled with napping and then heading down to the shore to spend the rest of the day swimming, kayaking, building sand castles for Avery to crush and picking along the coast looking for treasures.  Dinner was filled with such yummy meals (thanks Adam!) and always topped off with homemade pie and ice cream.  After Avery was tucked into bed we played games of Monolpoly or Crazy 8's in the Muskoka Room or curled up to watch a movie together.

It was so nice!  And even though this vacation has come to an end we are already dreaming of next year and the memories we will make.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

I made these over the weekend for an upcoming baseball party for a 3 year old.....I've been working on learning to do script on cookies.  Overall I'm pretty pleased how these ones came out........

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Evan's End of School Party....and Avery Discovers Candy Floss

Last Friday we celebrated the end of school with a backyard bbq and bouncy castle party.  As each of our children have finished Grade 3 we have always hosted their class of friends and the teacher for an evening of fun!  Evan was very excited that it was his turn this year.  Quite a few children had already left (or were leaving) to begin their summer holidays but we still had enough for a wonderful evening which was made even more special because Evan's teacher and her son joined us!

Avery was most excited by all the yummy treats!  She has officially been exposed to candy floss and another of her favourites.....popcorn!  Now I've spent the last few days explaining to her why we don't eat popcorn and candy floss at every meal! :)

Avery thoroughly enjoyed herself at the party!

I was an epic fail at making candy floss but Adam seemed to have better luck...although he was pretty sticky by the end of the evening!

Goodbye Grade 3.....Hello Grade 4!

Goodbye School Year.........Hello Summer Vacation!

Celebrating with some cookies!

Franken-Tree

Late last week we had quite the storm go through our town.  Normally I LOVE stormy weather and have always found it rather interesting the force Mother Nature has.  This particular storm lasted maybe 30 minutes and at one point Adam and I looked out the kitchen window and thought to ourselves that the maple tree was looking pretty droopy.

 Uh Oh........

It just happened that I had forgotten to close the shed door. Adam was concerned that it might just blow off it's hinges (yes, it was that windy!). Since I was the guilty party I volunteered to run out to close it.  The water in the backyard was literally 5 inches high!

Anyways, since I was soaking wet I made a quick detour by the tree........and what I found made me just a "tad bit" ticked off with Mother Nature.


You see, our tree is our ONLY shade tree in the yard.  I picked it out myself almost 4 years ago, paid over $800 for it, have cared for it, and watched it grow just like a baby. To say that I am emotionally attached to my tree is an understatement.

I was almost in tears at the thought of loosing it. But, it wasn't long until I was on the internetto see what I could do. Because if there was ANY chance we could save it.....I wanted to try.  After the worst of the storm cleared, Adam headed outside with some strong ratchet tie-downs to secure the 2 halves together. After some more internet research and a visit from an Tree Specialist who quoted $650 to salavage the tree we decided to take his advice and try to do the work ourselves.

So now our tree is affectionately known as "Franken-Tree" or by it's previous name "Leafy."

Now fingers are crossed and only time will tell but for now it's looking promising that "Leafy" will be around for a long long time....................

Our quick "repair" job while we waited to figure out a solution

A close up of the damage from the storm. The crack extended down about 15 inches.

About to drill the first hole.....crazy Willow kept trying to jump up and grab the spinning drill bit!

The first post is going in!

A close up of the steel post installed. There is another post about 6 inches further down the tree as well.

Our beautiful Franken-Tree!

2 Posts in 1 Day.........

I just needed to put these pictures on the computer right away. Tonight we attended Claire's Gymfest, a relaxed gymnastics demonstration and opportunity for all the kids to show off their skills!  Claire participated on beam, bars and floor......and she ROCKED IT!   We are so proud of all her hard work both in her Advanced Recreational class and with her Private Coach that she works with once a week.  We'll be continuing with the Private Coach for the summer and then adding additional classes again in the Fall.
This club, which Claire has been with for just over a year now, is so wonderful! We can't say enough!!!

THANK YOU GENESIS GYMNASTICS FOR ALL YOU DO!!!!

Looking good on the floor routine!

Bars are Claire's strongest (and apparently favourite) event

I would NEVER be brave enough to do this!

Avery was Claire's biggest fan! 

Our gymnast!

Claire and her wonderful coach Denise!

Summer Happenings

We headed up north last weekend to celebrate a belated birthday for my Dad and Father's Day for Adam and my Dad. The weather started off a bit chilly but by the end of the weekend the kids and Adam were back in the lake swimming. This weekend there were a few more brave souls that joined them.  Although we actually heard on the local new that they are advising people not to enter the lake because of increased risk of Hypothermia.  YIKES!

All in all though it was a lovely weekend. We attended an Antique Car Show, did a little retail therapy, ate way too many sweets and enjoyed hanging out lakeside.  A perfect way to celebrate Father's Day!

Before heading off for the weekend, Claire had Track and Field Day at school.  She discovered that shot putt is really not her "thing" but that she is pretty fast on the track.  Way to go Claire-Bear!

Claire snapped this picture on Father's Day.  This alleyway is where Adam asked me to marry him almost 13 years ago.  There used to be a fantastic little restaurant tucked away in here....and that is where he popped the question! 

Claire found a contender at the Car Show.......I think I wouldn't mind this one either!

The First Swim of the Summer!!

The chilly water didn't deter Avery.....she is going to be my "beach baby" this summer for sure

Spending some sisterly time together

We even had time to hit up a playground or two on our trip up to Gravenhurst!