The Last Hurrah

"Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well."

- George R.R. Martin

The summer was fun, busy and crazy at times too. Through it all though, I recognized that things were about to change. Tavish was going to school. Sure, he's been at a Montessori school, but this felt somehow very BIG and very different. As part of our 'last hurrah' together, the kids and I went off to the Beach by bike spending one of our last days of summer the way we spent most of our days - the three of us adventuring together...

Biker boy at the beach

Her chariot awaited the end of her nap

MOMENT: Biking with my Babies

"Summer's lease hath all too short a date."

- William Shakespeare

Checking out some boats en route

Catching a nap en route too

Taking a moment to enjoy the water

...before adding more rocks to it

Journeying out on the pier

The boy and the boulders we climbed together

Look who woke up to join us in our climbing!

Bonnet baby

Mmm, this might be tasty...(um, no!)

"Nothing, nothing felt better than the way the sand
felt beneath my feet. It was both solid and shifting.
Constant and ever-changing. It was summer."
- Jenny Han

It was a beautiful day for a bike ride. Tavish rode on his own (10km round trip) and Keva rode in the Chariot. We had an incredible time together throwing rocks (and preventing Keva from eating a few), climbing boulders, digging in sand, feeling free and just generally being happy to be together...

Fort Frances Part II

The kids and I went back 'home' for a week in the summer (Daddy had to work). The timing was pretty entertaining given that Mommy had laryngitis. The visit started off at our family reunion at my Aunt and Uncle's campground. The majority of the visit was spent at the cabin and wrapped up with one final day in town before flying home...

Keva and Tavish circa August 2013

 MOMENT: Family is Fun

Happy to see Grandma, Grandpa and Auntie Colleen, airport arrival

Tavish and Grandpa are reunited and laughing, waiting for lunch

Checking out a landmark, Norland Chapel

The great baby inspection, family reunion

Dropping a line in at the lake

Boating Beauty

The fellas paddling Footprint Lake

Keva, her apple, and her Mommy join the fellas

Boy in the Bow

Keva getting close, but not too close

Bedtime reading

Cousin cuddles watching cartoons

Tavish and Keva, Sophie and escapee Eli

Sophie and Tavish, being cute

Tavish and Sophie, watching trains go by

Keva and Eli, sitting still (briefly)

Keva swiping some food from Eli

Keva, summer time

Tavish of the summer

There was no shortage of fun and adventure. Tavish holds even more affection for his big cousin, Logan who introduced Tavish to Batman and the world of cartoons. They had a great time together at the reunion too with all of the other cousins. Our time at the cabin sped by... Grandma and Auntie Colleen really stepped up to engage in all sorts of activities with Tavish and when Grandpa wasn't in town golfing, he too was out exploring and playing with the kids. We even fit in an afternoon with Kate and her kids who are twins in age to ours ... and yes, the tradition of photo taking is alive and well. Enjoy the tribute to all things great about our August visit...

Stair Master

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Keva is a stair master now. This video was taken when she embarked on her first solo journey up, up, up the stairs...

MOMENT: I Think I Can

Everyone surprised themselves on this mid-July evening when Keva conquered her first flight of stairs. She wasn't too sure she could go the whole way, but she did! We weren't sure we would (patiently) let her take the time to do the whole flight solo, but we did! Taking just over 8 minutes to complete, Keva now has a whole new view of the world...

Algonquin Park

"Wherever there is a channel for water, there is a road for the canoe."

- Henry David Thoreau

Our fearless family of four finally made it out on a canoe trip that involved portages. Two in fact. Each way. It was memorable and wonderful ... and yes, we'll consider doing it again sometime...

MOMENT: A Trip To Treasure

The Captain of our crew

'Sweetride' loaded with precious cargo

Daddy, the 'Sweetride' carrier...

Mommy, the baby (and gear) carrier...

...and Tavish who leads the way!

We meet up with our camping companions

Keva and Finlay holding hands

Keva loving the camping life

Tavish especially loving the campfire life

The portaging families that knew they could!

Algonquin Park provided the perfect half way point to meet up and adventure with Jessie, Paul and Finlay. We enjoyed our two night canoe trip together, rain and all. I know that we are already keen to book again for next year. Memories like these won't make themselves, you've got to get out there and make the moments count!

Tub Twins

Tub time usually involves both kids at the same time. However, one evening Tavish went out on an errand with Daddy so Keva had the tub to herself and Mommy had a free hand to take some shots. In looking back, I see that we also took a few photos of Tavish in the tub at about the same age. Tub twins below, Tavish at 13 1/2 and Keva at 14 months...

Tavish having a splash...

...at 14 months in the bath!

Keva keen at 13 1/2 months to get in...

...for a spacious and solo swim

Soccer Season

We signed Tavish up for the "Skills Development" soccer program for the summer. At the beginning, the frequent GO train service during his class stole the show (and his attention for about a minute every time a train went by). Eventually though, it became more of a norm for him and he kept his eye on the ball...

Our soccer son

Two of his three biggest fans

MOMENT: He Shoots, He Scores!

Listening...

...and learning

Putting it into practice...

...and staying hydrated

There was one coach that was so much fun that Tavish didn't even flinch at the trains: Coach Andy. He kept the kids moving and the adults chuckling ... honestly, 4 and 5 year olds running around when many are clueless is so very entertaining. Tavish learned a lot and became quite skilled with his shots on net!