Summer 2011 in a nutshell

I acknowledge that I desperately owe you all an update. We've been so busy this summer -- between running around, going away and having fun and my taking on a little more work than I could handle for several of those weeks -- I haven't had time to write any updates or download the camera.

So sit back, grab a coffee (or a tea for you weird, non-coffee drinkers!) and enjoy. It's going to be a long one, followed by an awful lot of pictures.

Day camp: The day after we got back from our camping trip, the kids went to day camp for two weeks. Austin went to full day camp (the same camp he went to last year) and Alex went to preschool camp -- which was only half day. Thankfully, they were both in the same place, so I would do one drop off and two pick ups. They both had a blast. Alex's program was very similar to the preschool program she went to during the school year (it was after all, at the same place). Austin played sports, did crafts, went to the splash pad, played games and went on two field trips (one to the movies and one to Chuck E. Cheese -- and they took the city bus on both those trips which made it all the more exciting). Oh, and mommy really enjoyed the two hours every morning when both kids were out of the house!

Soccer: Austin played soccer again this year. We switched leagues this year, mainly because two of his friends from school were going to this league so we could request that they be on the same team (which they were). He had a lot of fun.

Cottage: From August 6 to 13, we were at the cottage in Sundridge. It's the same cottage we've been to for the last three years (so, in other words, we really like it there). The weather, unfortunately, wasn't as good as past years, but we made the best of it. Three of the days we were there were sunny and warm (so we spent them on the beach and swimming in the lake); the other three days were rainy and/or cooler. At least with the rainy days, it never rained steadily so we still managed to go outside pretty much every time it stopped raining. And hey, the kids thought it was great fun to play in the sand in the rain.

On the cooler day, we took the kids for a hike at nearby Mikisew Provincial Park. It was a 3.2 kilometre hike and Alex walked most of the way (Ryan carried her on his shoulders for the last 500 metres, maybe). It was a fun and a great way to pass a non-swimming day. And needless to say, Alex (who doesn't nap anymore) napped after that hike!

Ghe week ended much too fast, but no trip to the cottage is complete without a visit to Great-Nana's house on the way home. We spent the day with her and then headed home.

Swimming lessons: Austin and Alex both took swimming lessons for two weeks in August. And they have both turned into little fishes now! Signing up for lessons at the end of the summer was perfect because we had just spent a week at the lake and I had taken to the kids to the public pool on several occasions over the summer, so they were now really comfortable in the water. They both easily passed their levels and are already asking when they can take swimming lessons again.

A visit from Teddy and Auntie Ali: For four days at the end of August, Auntie Ali and Teddy came to visit from California. They stayed in Brampton with my parents but we managed to spend 3 out of 4 days together. Even though Teddy is 2 (well, almost), the cousins loved playing together. In fact, Teddy would follow Austin around everywhere he went -- and Austin just loved it!

Niagara Falls: On Labour Day Saturday, we decided to take the kids to Niagara Falls for the day. Although Ryan and I have been there many times, the kids have never been. So we drove down in the morning, parked near the Horseshoe Falls; looked at it for awhile and then walked along the river to the Maid of the Mist.

We all had a really fun time on the Maid of the Mist.  Ryan and I hadn't been on it in over 10 years and the kids thought it was cool to a) be on a ferry and b) get to be close enough to the falls to actually get wet. Oh yeah, and did I mention that it was 31C out that day...and humid (I think it was a felt like 41C day). So getting wet on the Maid of the Mist was definitely a much-needed plus.

After that, we wandered up Clifton Hill and rode the giant Ferris Wheel. It was fun and actually quite a long ride (we must have been on it for 15 to 20 minutes). Then we wandered back down Clifton Hill (where of course, the kids wanted to stop and do all the kitchy rides, but we managed to convince them that we'd come back another year and ride some of them);  and back along the river. After stopping for dinner, it was 8:30 by the time we got home. A fun day.

Phew. I think that's it in a nutshell. The rest of the summer was filled with swimming pools, Zoo visits, splash pads with friends, bike rides and mommy working. I spent the last three weeks of the summer swamped with work (hence for the delayed update on this blog). But I have a bit of a breather now until the next wave comes in.....

This fall, the kids will both be in gymnastics and probably swimming. I'll end here with a very long slideshow, and I'll promise not to be such a stranger again.