Vacation!

After an incredibly last minute decision, two days of packing and preparation and two days in the car, we are on vacation. Well, as much vacation as 4 kids and no husband can be. Our trip North to our family cottage is an annual tradition and when our move fell at same time we should have been starting our journey this year, we were really disappointed. But, its good to be here now. 

Xury did great on the two day car trip but she was really happy to get out and run occasionally. We don't have hills where we live which just added to the excitement. (The big kids had fun running down the hill as well.)

Most of our friends are already gone for the summer but we have managed to spend a little time with family. 

It's quiet, and peaceful and just us, but its been a much needed break.

We've had lots of fun in the water.

And around the campfire

We've taken countless walks, played countless games and read countless books.

I've been thoroughly enjoying Agatha Christie's autobiography. I've always loved her books. Although, I hardly ever read them anymore since I've had the kids due to the fact that I tend to sit in one spot and ignore everything else in life once I've started one. Her autobiography, while very compelling, doesn't hold quite the same power over me so my children are still being fed while I enjoy her fascinating perspective on life. Tanner's been reading through the Harry Potter books and Aravis and I have been reading Choose Your Own Adventure books and lots of other "cottage" books.

We've picked wildflowers.

And caught toads.

And the kids have been building a fort out of scrap wood down the hill behind our cottage. 

In a few days we'll start packing up to go home but in the meantime, there will probably be more walks, more lake, more campfires, more books, more family and more quiet.

Friends and Fun

I feel like I can exhale for the first time in months. We've finished the bedroom floor. (And by we I mean mostly Dominick) So we could finally move our bedroom furniture out of the garage and Dominick's room and the hallway. We've finished all the major furniture arranging and most of the boxes are unpacked. My awesome, huge, super spacious garage, that I was so excited about, still looks like an episode of hoarders but all that's left are small, manageable projects that don't have to get done right away for life to feel sane. And so, life feels sane again. And, for the first time in months, things feel good. Peaceful. Fun.

So here's what we've been doing. We took a trip to a much smaller than we were expecting, local aquarium.

But since it was free admission day, we didn't complain much.

Checking out some big sea shells.

Examining sea monkeys.

After our very short tour, we were right on the bay and it was incredibly hot, so the kids decided to jump in the water for a bit. 

We watched two crabs fight over a fish. They both had half of it in a claw and neither were letting go. Eventually, they scurried out to sea so we didn't get to see who won but it's safe to say, it wasn't the fish. Dominick and Aravis spent the rest of the time hunting for marine life. Aravis caught an anchovy and Dominick caught a jellyfish. 

We had a great visit with friends who came up for the afternoon.

We took walks and climbed trees,

played on playgrounds,

and finally made it to the beach.

The kids had some friends come up for a few days and it was fun to have a house full of kids again. 

It's been a good week. 

Our house is starting to feel like home.