The Cottage Vacation

Time for the cottage! I was excited, but had low expectations of relaxing, as it can be quite full with the little ones all around. But this year, it beat my expectations. James was so sweet to let me have lots of water time, and the kids being a bit older, were able to enjoy the water a lot more. So we all had a great time. 

We had Wim and Lizette (from Belguim with us for part of the cottage time). They were finishing up their Canada vacation after Sarah and Jonathan's wedding, so we got to have them alongside us for a bit. Neat seeing them and catching up with them. 

Stripes, stripes, stripes...in blues and pinks. Starting to relax the first full day at the cottage. 

Uncle Brad and Amy. 

Katy did so well in the water - such a little fish. She would jump off the boat into the deep water with me, and lots of jumps off the dock. Love her enjoyment of water. 

Happy Nelly

This little one did so well in the water all week too! If she started to get out too far, and would tip over onto her back, she wouldn't cry, but would float making a little noise for someone to help right up back up. :) 

Auntie Deanna and Amy having a moment. :) 

Wim and Lizette were so thoughtful and brought little coloring books, or small toys for the little ones.  (and chocolate for the adults- absolutely loved it Lizette!!!) Here, Laura is coloring with Lizette. 

Diane and James - just being themselves. :)

 I was passing by Ben and Deanna's room one afternoon, and this is what I saw.
Deanna reading to the kids - no staging. :) Just a momma loving on her boys.
So I grabbed my camera and ran back to them, and took a few shots before I distracted them too much.... :)

 Dee let me just have fun with the boys - and yes, we did bribe a bit, but we got these shots...

 Then Eden woke up, and we plunked her in the middle - poor child. Didn't even let her wake up. :)

 Then I got this.

 This.

And Miss Adorbs. This. My fav. 

We had a nice bonfire one night, and some singing, which was well enjoyed. 

Hendrik playing along for us. 

One of the meals with some of us...two of the couples had to run into nearby Gravenhearst, so the rest of us tag-teamed babysat the extras :) 

So after supper, we loaded the kids, the teens to make sure they didn't fall out, and a few of the men to take them... killing time before bedtime. :) 

Off they go!

Micah and the fun sea-doo

Breakfast time

We went to a nearby beach one morning and just relaxed there. The kids made boat slides down the sand, castles, and just enjoyed the water in a larger swimming space. 

Hannah sweetly came along to help out. 

My little man that is growing up way too quickly, but ever so cute. 

Love this shot - these two, having a water fight. I love how the nieces are close to their uncles. 

Diane asked me to grab some shots of Elita running... and Elita obliged by running. That girl is cute. 

Lovely mommy Diane, and 'Nessa. 

Laura went into the hot tub and practiced "swimming" - she was quite proud of herself for all her kicking work - and I was too. 

Supper is yummy and messy, but it looks cute on her. 

Roobs, with his ever present smile. 

A bunch of cousins enjoying a crazy bath together...see the water on the outside of the tub? It was water, water, everywhere. 

A view of the cottage - isn't it beautiful? :) We loved it!

The spacious kitchen - what a delight to cook in. 

Mark trying out the little sailboat the cottage had. He did great, catching on to it, quickly. 

Coming back from many of the rides on the sea-doo. 

 I got to water ski a couple times which was fun. James caught up to me with Erik, Laura and Katelyn on the sea-doo beside me and caught a couple shots of me skiing. Rob (in the boat along with Brad) took some shots of us side by side, but I don't have those pictures yet. :)

 The hot tub got a lot of use by us all.  The children enjoyed it just as much as the adults - making sud beards, and splashing around. 

Erik trying out badminton. 

On the last full day - Ben comes up to us moms, and tell us that we have an appointment at a spa for 1:30 p.m. :) So, thanks to his booking, we gals went for a massage, and a lovely, lovely time together! Heather has some pictures of us that I'll have to post later,  and I finally posted them! We got the royal treatment, with time in a eucalyptus steam room after the massage, girl time on cute and comfy chairs, and lemon cucumber water. It was my first "spa" treatment (other than a few pedicures) and it was so enjoyed. Being with sister in laws whom I love dearly and chatting about important issues, is a real gift from God that I don't take lightly.

 In our little slippers. :)

 But, while we were having our massages, there was a massive storm outside that we missed, but that caused the power to go out at the cottage and many other places for 8 eight hours. That changed up some packing plans for the next day, but instead we chatted around some candles, played some games, and a few went to a local McDonald's for some food. That event, ended in abit of tragedy as Brad and Di's van's went for a swim in a deep puddle on the parking lot there...it was so dark that you couldn't tell that a puddle was actually over 2 feet of water. So they had to be rescued and the van later had to be fixed the following week. Abit of a bummer, after a great week, but the Lord knows why, and He allowed it... 

This is Katy looking out at the window...on our last day, during the power outage. The end of a wonderful time together.