Grandchildren at the Cottage (Week 2)

Aimee, Mike and the kids returned to the cottage in time for another family dinner, this time with Mum and Dad, Nicky and Dave, Kevin and Broghan and Christine and Jason.

Nicola and Dave introduced the kids to the tradition of "cottage carrots" (cheesies). Maya with a "cottage carrot" smile

and "cottage carrot" earrings.

The rest headed out that evening but Mum and Dad stayed a few days resulting in some quality reading time.

Water guns were a big hit.

There was a lot of running and squealing

and reloading in the lake. Both the kids were getting braver in the water and walking out to the sandbar without any flotation assists. Maya was trying to learn how to keep her mouth closed (and her nose and her ears) in the waves.

It wasn't always high activity, there was time for reading and naps,

Nintendo and movies,

and, of course, time for ice cream

and jello.

I got another couple of days respite while they went to the zoo with Kay, Jazzy and Kiara. Picture by Aimee.

Lollipops (photo by Aimee)

and a splash park. Photo by Aimee.

They had their last 2 days at the cottage basically spent entirely on the beach, playing with other kids, riding on the paddleboard, digging in the sand, collecting rocks and splashing around in the water.

The new paddleboard came in a large box that Rasta claimed as his own

He didn't like to share

choosing, instead, to vacate.

It was great having them based at my place and Mike commented on how nice it was to see nearly the whole family, just missing Emma and Carla.

Grandchildren at the cottage (Week 1 - part 2)

There was lots to be done even out of the water;

Bubbles to be blown. Photo by Kay

You might as well be comfy while you are blowing bubbles. Photo by Kay.

Perch dinner and then ice cream in Port Dover. Photo by Kay.

Watching Shrek in the basement, with popcorn. A little respite for the adults. Photo by Kay.

Dinner on the back deck.

Then Mark decided to teach them Red Light, Green Light

Which Maya took to mean, just run all the time.

The older two understood.

Next Dan took a shift. Ruby was listening intently.

She had them in the palms of her hands

until she didn't.

I just liked this picture of Dan, stroking the dog, taken through the milkweed.

Next chore - collect firewood. Avery the overachiever.

Had to wait for the fire to burn down before marshmallows.

Then it was S'more time.

The girls had bought sparklers but the kids were too scared of them to hold them, just wanted to watch.

Ruby doesn't like fireworks of any kind!

Next day the older girls painted the toenails and finger nails of the younger ones.

Mark's homemade pizza was a great success. I never would have thought of putting thin lemon slices on it.

and the kitchen was a mess.

Wednesday night Mike came sailing with me and Sarah, Heather and Fiona helped the Committee Boat, Kestrel, and then swam off it in Long Point Bay. They said it was warmer than the beach side.
Everyone left on Thursday and Mike, Aimee and the kids left for 2 days in Toronto, on Friday. Phew!

Grandchildren at the cottage (week 1 - part 1)

There will be multiple posts in this series as I have gone through all the pictures, eliminated about 75% of them and there are still too many.
I picked up Mike, Aimee, Avery and Maya at the Hamilton airport at some unglodly hour on Sunday morning (Swoop must get the worst times). We ate breakfast in Simcoe and they all slept in the car while I grocery shopped at Walmart. They all slept for another hour when I parked by the lake in Port Dover (The cottage was rented and their check out time was 11am). They all slept as I drove to Long Point. After unpacking, Aimee and Mike slept and the kids and I played.
These are pictures from the first week.

Each morning was spent playing in the sand in front of the deck while the adults got their act together. Avery on the left and his cousin (Aimee's sister, Kay's daughter) Jasmine, otherwise known as Jazzy.

Maya is a bit of a "fashionista", very particular about which dress, bathing suit or shoes she is wearing.

Work it girl!

Although the lake is still cold they always wanted to go swimming

We had to drag Avery out periodically

because he was shivering so much.

Maya was very happy running in and out of the waves but not thrilled about the walk out to the sandbar. Mike is carrying another cousin, Jazzy's little sister, Kiara.

At 2 years old, she was happiest being towed around on the flutter board.

Mike had never used the paddleboard before and didn't want Avery anywhere near until he had got the hang of it.

Then it was time for paddleboard rides. Of course Avery jumped off once causing everyone but Maya to fall off. We are not sure how she stayed on but she really didn't like the deeper water. (Photo by Kay)

Aimee had used it before and was a pro but this was Kay's first try.

R&R for Aimee and Jazzy.

The kids weren't the only ones playing in the water

the adults also had some fun.

Out of the water there were castles to be built

and holes to be dug

it was serious business.

Mark, Sarah and Heather came down from Ottawa, picking up Fiona on the way. Yep, that means we had 4 kids under 4, 3 teenagers and 5 adults for a couple of days.

The teens bought some big inflatables with them

but Maya preferred riding the dolphin on the land.

They were usually exhausted enough to go down for a nap but whoever got up first had to play quietly, like building with the Jenga.

I think Jazzy is going to be an engineer.

When Si and Dan arrived (Oh yes that meant there were now 7 adults) they bought Rasta back. He was less than impressed with the house full.

Long post, stay tuned for week 1-part 2.