Diego and Liam

My nephew Liam who was at the cottage with us, is a really cool kid. From birth he's been laid back, funny, curious about the world and not a huge talker unless he's asking questions about how things work.

Julia and Rafa's son, Diego is quite similar. Gesturing with only his eyes and head he quite adequately conveys his desire for food or toys or cuddles. He's a sweet and good tempered kid wiht a curious mind.

Not surprisingly, Liam and Diego banded together during their week at the cottage. In the face of awesome but out of control toddler wildness, these two were engaged in a quiet little week long conversation.

Cottage Frisbee

The frisbee came out this week. I've gotten substantially better at this as an adult. As a kid, the whole concept totally escaped me.

Clearly the concept is not foreign to Adara.

Our gorgeous cottage kids

We spent all of last week at the cottage with my university friends Jenn and Julia and their families. We rented a three bedroom up near Cobourg, for all eleven of us. Yes, that's right eleven. Len, Me, Adara and our nephew Liam, Rafa, Julia and Diego, Jenn, Steve, Griffin and Corben. For those who are counting that's four under the age of four.
Len really noticed all of the new things that Adara got to experience, so here's a list of Adara's cottage firsts
1) First time picking a fresh apple off the tree and eating it. And the 2nd, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh too. She was a big fan of this activity.
2) First bonfire
3) First time falling directly into a bonfire. Thank you so much Steve for the quick grabbing hands and Oh Good Heavens My Heart, was that actually sparks in my baby's hair! She's totally fine, not a mark on her.
4) First time sleeping in a tent. We tried when she was eight months, but she didn't sleep at all
5) First time falling down the same flight of stairs twice in the same hour. Yep. Also fine, no damage
6) First time sitting on a dock dangling her feet in the water

For Liam, who is ten, I think that that might have been his first slingshot. (sorry Greg and Kristen, we had to have it) And wow, was it cool, I could have played with it all day. A sweet rubber part, with a leather pouch for holding the ammo and an arm guard for stability. Really sweet.
Toy wise, there was also a bevy of foam airplanes, some new bubble blowers, some wicked cool pirate hats (to be seen later this week) and some really unfortunate balloons. I had no idea that a couple of balloons could cause half an hour of crying, wailing, toddler chaos as everyone tried to claim their favourite. Let me tell you when the kids went to sleep, those balloons were quietly popped and disposed of!
For the adults, there was some great cards played, some kung fu video action and a lot of beer and wine. Len and I also fit in some very quick antiquing in Hastings.
So, that's our cottage week. Stay tuned all week for photos and more details.

Camping

While Len was away camping Adara felt the need to take part. So, why not?

The gauntlet

Over the last week or so Len has been here and gone. This week I went out to put out the garbage in his absence and discovered this between me and the gate to the front...

Len has been working on digging a three foot deep trench, the whole 150 feet of the yard. It's to run the electrical to the shop and that's Toronto's bylaws. So, he's been working (yes, by hand) on this trench for about two weeks. Before he left this time he blocked off the remainder of the trench that was open to keep Adara and I safe. Which was a great theory until 7:30am when I was grabbing the green bin, hauling it over the sawhorse, around the wheelbarrow,narrowly missing tripping on the garden hose, stepping over the trench and opening the gate. All this in heels, while keeping half an eye on Adara who was waiting out front. I swear that this is my test of wills, I can pass his gauntlet, I can be his wife! Thank heavens I passed.

Tea Time With Mamma