The trip away from Niagara and to Elora started with a convoy of Natasha and myself and our nine children :) It was quite funny because we decided to do a Costco trip (so Natasha could use my membership card) in Guelph and there were were toting NINE kids thru Costco. Everyone stared and we laughed. Ice cream was purchased at MacDonalds and we decided this was what we always wanted to do - go out with all our kids all together.
This second week was a very exhausting week. I mostly remember how tired we were. And the kids were all out of sorts and hard to manage. We had had a really fun week and friendships were forged but sleep hadn't been good due to no air conditioning and humid nights - which they didn't understand so had a hard time coping. This next week the children had to meet and greet many "new" people again and that was hard on their countenance. So there were many expectations, not enough time to actually form friendships, and when they did hit it off we had to run and leave again. It was good to realize and take note of so it we ever do this again, I think I would do the weeks in opposite order so they arrive with enough sleep.
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| Playing with Beppe's toys. She has more toys than anyone I've ever met! It's like a toy store for the kids! |
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| We went to the St Jacobs Market as tourists this time (used to go as locals lol). Funny feeling. |
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| We also walked around a bit in Elora. It's a pretty town! |
We met up with all of the cousins at some point or time. Below they are with Inge's kids at a park. It was fun seeing all the cute cousins and their similarities. Hopefully someday longer. You are welcome here anytime btw... ;)
Seth and Tristan had a sleep over with Haaye and Sacha from Marten and Margriet. They felt right at home there, running around shoeless, frying eggs for breakfast on their own (they loved that) and playing with calves. I'm glad they had that opportunity.
Piet and Tineke were at Mem's for supper on Sunday and they have a little boy and girl Abby and Marla's ages, so that was nice to see them there.
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| Abby, Waylon, Aldrik, Rowan, Marla and Harriet. |
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| Cute cousins 😍 |
Friday I went up to Owen Sound to visit Natasha. I owed it to her as she came out when I had Marla;) The kids were thrilled to go play outdoors again in the bush and make forts together. Uncle Ken likes big toys so that is a novelty for us and keeps everyone entertained.
Argo rides and car rides into town for Timbits and photo ops. Way to make a good impression :) I've been told boys thrive on excitement, novelty and a little bit of danger. This combined all of that, no wonder they didn't want to leave.
Saturday was spent with Jocelyn and Willem and family, Tyler and Janneke and kids as well as Auke and Carina at Sauble Beach. The weather was cloudy so it didn't feel like beach weather for us spoiled sun lovers from Alberta, but that was ok, we still had fun and it was relaxing. We went to the cottage where Auke and Carina were staying at for supper. In Alberta we talk about Ontario's beautiful sandy beaches, whereas here we get small pebbles or rough sand. But the best is really just what you are used to as seriously, fine sand in hair and cars is nasty! But the sand castle building was intriguing.
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| Marla and Lilian - two tiny girls cousins |
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| Rowan, Tahlia, Marla, Abby and Asher. |
On Monday morning the kids were raring to go to Opa's farm as they hadn't spent any time yet there at all. They had high expectation to put on boots and go work in the barn. They really really wanted to go work for a while. So that's what we did for the last day. I think they needed to feel useful, and so they worked their little hearts out. Of course now the two oldest have dreams about starting their own layer farm someday. Always entrepreneurs with big dreams. 💙💚
After that it was Home Sweet Home to our very loved and missed dad and husband. He was getting pretty lonely I think, although he bonded well with our Rocky who also missed the commotion of us all. We came home Tuesday to a stocked fridge and cake and flowers on the table. 💘 Always thoughtful.
I think we talked his ear off for the next week which was wonderful apparently 😀 I don't know if he will let us go again anytime soon, or even if we want to go. But it was good to know we all are happiest as one big family. 💙💜💙💙💙💜💜
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