Uncle Steve's & Aunt Theresa's visit - July 2 to July 7th

Uncle Steven and Silka

 Well, another successful visit with Uncle Steven and Aunt Theresa. Sorry, we didn't get any pics of Aunt Theresa before she left for Calgary (she had to head back early for business). We made the best of our time together and Uncle Steve easily slid into his kid self and played with the kids all week. He left for the cottage to visit Grandma Aida and he was pretty much spent. Since he left, Rein has been planning his flight out to Vancouver on his own to visit Uncle Steve and Aunt Theresea. We were all sad to see them go. The next time we will see them is pobably in Mexico in January for their wedding!

Rein's first time waterskiing!

Silka catching fish

Steve looking his debonaire self

playing on the trampoline

Rein trying to beat Uncle Steven at chess

some morning dancing with Uncle Steve

The last few months...

Matilda - the oldest snapper we have ever seen here 

Largest moth in Ontario - Cecropia

Well, as usual time has flown by and I realize (or I have been politely reminded) that I have not posted anything for the last few months. We are now in summer mode as all are you out there. Tom and the kids are off for the summer and I have been enjoying having them around during the days I have off.

Mom took the kids for a camp out overnight

Jumping off the rocks

Summer came early this year and we have been in the lake swimming, tubing, canoeing, paddle boarding and fishing since the beginning of May. We have been visited by some pretty amazing creatures - even a family of  minks walked past us along our shoreline...

Father's Day - gifts and breakfast on the dock

In June, Tom was busy with year-end marking, supervising the year-end athletic banquet and dance, and attending graduation at his school. One of the nights he was away, I took the kids on a camp out with a couple of Rein's school chums. We had a blast. We enjoyed the classic camping activities - roasting hotdogs and marshmallows, telling ghost stories and skinny dipping. In the morning, I made them French Toast over a fire and then after another swim we headed back across the lake to home.
On Father's Day, as requested by Tom, we headed to the dock for a morning swim. The kids presented him with his gifts and we served him up breakfast as well.

Kristin and Ross 

We had a couple of great weekends with friends including a visit from Kristin, Patrick and their kids, Teagan and Ross. The weather served up another perfect weekend of sunny days. We spent most of our time on or in the water. We went for an adventure on Saturday and boated over to Whalenose Island where we picnicked, fished (it was opening season for bass fishing) and swam. The next weekend we headed up to Ottawa on Sunday to celebrate Canada Day with thousands of other Canadians. The kids have never seen the fireworks on Parliament Hill. We visited with my mom, Len, Aunt Sally, Aunt Cathy, Robert, Gary, Jessica and Nicholas for the afternoon and after dinner we headed off to join the crowds in downtown Ottawa. We joined the sea of red and white and walked across the bridge from the Quebec side and found a spot to lay our picnic blanket and settle in for the show on Major Hill Park. We people-watched, walked around, enjoyed the concerts on stage while waiting for the big event. Jessica, Nicholas and her friend, Ron, joined us just before the fireworks began. They were pretty spectacular. After it was all over, we headed for the bridge where we had to wait until they re-opened it and let us make our way to our car. While we waited, the kids and I played some bottle-cap soccer. The next day we ate pancakes that Aunt Sally cooked up for us and then we headed back home where we were meeting Shawn and Julia who were coming to stay overnight with us. They were going on an Alaskan boat cruise with her father - it was his 80th birthday.

Patrick coaching Ross on fishing technique

Kristin removing Teagan's small catch

We were able to straighten up the house and at least get the bathrooms clean before our next guests arrived, my brother, Steve, and his fiance, Theresa. He is a teacher and also off for the summer. Uncle Steven quickly slipped into his role as Uncle Big Kid and the kids have been having a blast with him ever since. He took them into town with Theresa for lunch and bought them their birthday gifts. Of course, Rein chose two battery operated toys - Argh! He was concerned that Tom would not be happy with his toy choices and thought about it for a few minutes and with his uncle's encouragement to choose what he wants, he quickly got over his concern. He came to watch both kids play soccer as a good uncle should and today he is taking them to a movie. Theresa had to fly to Calgary for business. He is leaving tomorrow so we have got to make the best of our last day with him - will post pics soon...

Rein catching a 2 lb bass - enjoyed it later in tacos

April 29th: Annual Massassauga Creek Paddle

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For the last few years, we have paddled up the Massassauga Creek that runs from the top end of the South Arm of Buck Lake (the same side we are on). We drop a car at the end of the creek and then drive to the culvert at the "crotch" of Buck Lake. We paddle about 3 km to the mouth of the creek, about another km to a dam, portage about 200 meters past a lovely set of rapids/falls and then paddle the rest of the creek which is about 6 - 7 km long. We stopped for a picnic and enjoyed our beautiful surroundings. We counted the number of birds and other wildlife we saw throughout our paddle and reached our goal of 100 points before we finished. We saw a plethora of red-wing black birds, a couple of blue herons, some mallard ducks, a couple of muskrats, a couple of deer and the highlight was a beaver that swam right under our canoe.

Rein solo paddling

and he makes it...well done!

Tom and Rein speeding up to run the beaver dam

Almost over...

nicely done...

April: A month of Birthdays and those darn taxes!

Black Beard's crew eating "shark bait"

Well, I breathe a sigh of relief that April is over...

First Mate, Lester Crabby cakes

However, when I think back I always end up realizing that I had so much fun in the end (except for the frantic scramble to get our taxes in by the deadline). Tom and I apparently were successful in conceiving our children in the heat of July, hence the two rapscallions arriving the following April. And many of our family members and friends also decided on April as the month of their birth into this world - my mom and her twin, Aunt Tacos, my mother-in-law, Tiiu, our close friends, Kelly and Ruby, and our cousin, Nicholas. I am sure I am forgetting someone....Needless to say, I was busy planning birthday parties.
Rein decided on a sleep over and we were adamant that he was not having 7 boys like he had in Australia. So, I ended up settling on 5 boys. I will quote Tom's response: "Are you crazy? Did you not learn the first time? Remember they didn't go to bed until almost five in the morning?" Well, apparently not. Luckily 2 of the boys were not able to attend, so were were down to 3 sleeping over. Phew - that was way more manageable. They went climbing at the "Boiler Room" in Kingston and then came home to an evening of pizza making and movie watching. We were pleasantly surprised that the boys were asleep by about 11 p.m. Sorry no pictures of Rein's birthday celebrations....
There was a lot more planning for Silka's party. She wanted to have a pirate party which she decided should be a pirate tea party the day before the event. I explained to her the pirate crew at her party doesn't drink tea - they like eating the left over "shark bait" and fizzy juice. That seemed to be OK with her. When the kids arrived and stepped through our door they assumed their pirate identities. Silka's (Captain black Beard) crew were: Lester Crabby Cakes, Crusty, Hammerhead, Shark Tooth, Jack Sparrow, Oyster Ears, Salty Dog, Peg Leg, Squid Lips, Fish Breath and Swashbuckler. Once they were suited up with their hats, swords and beards, moustaches and/or scars they looked like a formidable bunch. They were challenged with various activities to prove their mettle and they didn't disappoint their captain. They partook in a sword race, a balloon popping race (Blackbeard's favourite), a hunt for buried treasure and a competition to see who could walk the farthest on the plank. First mate, Lester Crabby Cake's voice was nearly gone at the end from bellowing out AArrgghh! and "I don't want to have to make you walk the plank!" throughout the day. It was fun! Kids birthdays are done for another year....

March Break 2012: Quebec Ski Trip

Team Nelka

Kelly, Silka and Neko on first run of the day - 1st day at Le Massif

Well, we couldn't have had a better trip. No, I take that back. It would have been perfect if we returned without an injury. Alas, Julia's skiing ended on the third day when she blew out her knee at Le Massif. I would have pummeled the ground and cried like a baby but she was extremely stoic. The rest of our ski experience wasn't quite the same without her.

Kelly, Neko and Silka

Injury frustrations aside, we all had a great time in Quebec. We started off in Quebec City arriving late afternoon on Monday. We stayed for two nights in a hotel inside the walls of Old Quebec City. We walked the old city's streets, following the track of the upcoming 'Crashed Ice' race. We had a great dinner at Le Lapin Saute and got off to bed fairly early to be ready for our first day of skiing at Mont Sainte Anne. We had Silka and Rein signed up for ski lessons on the first day so we headed off early. The conditions were a bit icy the first day and I took it easy getting my ski legs back after about a

riding the chair to the top of Le Massif

Tom and Matt in the Gondola ride up

 year and a half away from it. That night we went out for some Moroccan food except for Matt who stayed behind with the kids. they ate pizza in our hotel room and watched Hoot while Matt ate Sushi and drank beer. It snowed overnight which made for some great conditions the next day.

Tom, Silka and Shawnypants 

The next morning, Silka had one more but Rein was skiing with us from then onward. Everyones' confidence kept building with each run. I stuck to the easier runs with Silka and Neko on the South side while the rest spent time the black diamond runs on the North side. Shawn and Julia took Silka and Neko for a couple runs in the afternoon while I joined the rest for some more challenging runs. The glade run through the 'Enchanted Forest' was a highlight.

Kelly and Team Nelka riding ahead into the clouds

After a full day, we packed up and headed off to Petite-Rivière-Saint-François where our rental chalet for the next three nights was located. None of us had skied at Le Massif before so we were all very excited. 

frost crusted chair floating by in the mist

The drive there was incredible - the snow was about a meter deep and hoar frost had settled on the evergreens covering the mountainous hills on either side of us. It didn't take long to get there and we unpacked pretty quickly so we could enjoy our new digs. Matt and Kelly made a great Mexican meal that night. I volunteered to go into the hot tub with the kids which in the end did me in. I fell asleep shortly after putting the kids to bed. The rest stayed up and jammed for a while. We were all at Le Massif early stoked to get acquainted with this beautiful mountain. Matt, Kelly and I took Neko and Silka down the easiest run first and it was magical. We were all enamored by the time we arrived at the Gondola. I stuck to the easier runs with Silka and Neko while the rest went off and explored some more challenging runs. When I arrived back at the upper lodge with Team Nelka that is when I learned of Julia's injury. When Shawn arrived, he helped her back to their car and she headed back to the chalet where she could rest up. 

Team Ruin (Ruby and Rein)

The food at the lodge was excellent and healthy - a french fry or soft drink could not be found anywhere...
When we got back to the chalet, Julia seemed in fairly good spirits. I took on job as sous chef for Shawn that night who made an amazing vegetarian pasta meal. The sauce was divine! 
That night I was ready to party but we all ended up heading off to bed fairly early - Kelly a little worse for wear...
We were off again the next day fairly early and parked at the bottom of Le Massif this time - it was a lot quieter and much easier to access. We woke up to freezing rain that day and it was raining when we got outside and headed up the gondola for our first run. Silka was a different kid on skis this last day barreling down the mountain with a ton of confidence and yelling after Neko to wait up if she wasn't in front of her. We all got pretty soaked in the a.m. and enjoyed a more relaxed lunch (Charlevoix sausage with sauerkraut and a beer for some of us) while our stuff dried out a bit. 

Julia in good spirits back at the chalet despite a blown-out knee...

When we got back out there, it had stopped raining and we had a great afternoon - except for that part when Silka refused to go down a steep part and screamed at me as she slid down on her bum while I skied back and forth beside her with her skis in one hand and my poles in the other. When she saw Kelly and the rest of the junior team that were waiting below appear out of the mist, she immediately perked up, got her skis back on and continued on as if that demon child a few moments before never existed. She apparently thought they had abandoned us. We skied until about 4:30 p.m.and called it a day. We left knowing that we will definitely be back next year.
That night, Tom and I were on dinner and we decided on a french classic - a cheese fondue. There were lots of giggles at the table (especially from Neko's and Rein's end) when one had to kiss the person on their left if they lost their bread, etc. in the pot of cheese. We tried to stay up to celebrate our last night and my 43rd birthday (yikes!) but we were all in bed by 10 p.m. and Tom by 11:30 p.m. 
The next day we packed up and headed home. We stopped in Baie Saint Paul - a quaint, artsy little town 5 minutes East of where we stayed. We toured a bunch of art galleries and Tom bought me a box of locally made chocolates for my birthday. We then headed West with some stops at Montmorency Falls and Trois Riviere for lunch, and then home on Buck Lake where we were greeted by the cacophony of spring peepers.