Happy to be home after an action-packed month

We spent the last month in Ontario, and had lots of fun to seeing family and friends and enjoying the amazing lakes and cottage country that we miss here in Alberta.  Evelyn had a great time, but I'd also have to say that a month away from home with a baby and toddler was definitely exhausting and it is nice to be back in our own home getting into our normal routines again.

This trip took us around a few different locations in Ontario.  I flew back to Sudbury with the two girls on my own an spent 10 days with my parents and sister in Capreol (the small town I grew up in).  Craig made the long drive out with the dogs and picked us up en route to a cottage we had rented near Huntsville.  We spent the next week there with most of his family.  From there we moved to another cottage near Parry Sound and spent a week with friends from Newfoundland (moved there from Calgary last summer).  After that, Craig left for the long journey home and I travelled with my parents down to the Stratford area to visit my grandmother for another 4 days.  Then I flew back to Calgary from Waterloo this past Tuesday.  It was quite the trip!

Overall, both Evelyn and Lucy did very well on this trip.  Many people have told me I was brave to fly alone with both of them, but these were some of the easier flights I've done with kids.  Much easier than the solo flights with Evie on my lap when she was between 1-2 years old.  The fact that the iPad will hold Evie's attention for several hours is a game-changer, and if I pair that with some gravol (for the motion sickness) snacks and special treats throughout the day, she is a pretty great traveller.  Lucy is still young enough that she's happy to sleep in my arms for hours on end - so all our flights went really well.  We flew WestJet for all three flights (happy they now have flights to Sudbury too), and they just have the best staff - always someone willing to hold the baby when needed or keep an eye on Evelyn when I needed to visit the washroom.

Had a sore arm by then end of this 4 hours, but can't complain too much

 Limits on screen time go out the window on airplanes

 At least with 2 of them, I had somewhere to set Lucy down for a moment here or there

 Flying into the Sudbury airport over Lake Wahnapitae - every time I do this flight, all I can do is admire all the beautiful clean, lakes....definitely wish Alberta had more swimmable water.

While the travel itself went well, I think that a month is a little bit too long to have kids this age (well mainly Evelyn) break from there normal routine.  Lucy did fine, and is generally pretty content to just go along for the ride.  By the third week though, Evie was getting pretty overtired and you felt a little like you were walking on eggshells with her as the tiniest thing could cause a meltdown.  She was asking for naps/quiet time everyday, which usually isn't her favourite thing.  By the end of the trip, she was pretty much refusing to eat normal meals in lieu of snacks and many many treats, and was watching way too much TV/iPad games (and I definitely didn't have the energy to fight those battles while out of our own house).  Luckily, over the last couple days she seems to be settling back into her normal routine just fine - and I am enjoying a few quieter days with her back at day home a couple times a week.

While, it was lacking a routine that I think kids thrive  on - Evelyn really did have an amazing time overall.  We packed a lot into two weeks and had lots of fun catching up with family and friends, and fitting in as much time swimming as we could.

Evie's first lake experience (in her memory) - She was so excited to wade into the water when we visited Bell Park in Sudbury and just kept saying "Look at me" and "I love this". It was pretty cute.  She cried when we had to leave.

First time reaction in the lake

Evie teaching Lucy all the animals

We got almost a week of rainy days in Capreol, but had to get outside regardless.  Evelyn didn't mind the puddle jumping walks

 She also loved all the tent caterpillars that are taking over some trees

 I can deal with a couple caterpillars on the street, but seeing them blanketed on trees creeps me out

Evie is pretty happy to chat them up though

 Out in search of the biggest puddles

Visit to the Capreol Train Museum, which was a lot bigger than I thought it would be.  I actually was babysat for my young elementary years in the house where the museum now exists.  Funny to visit it again. 

Grandma Faye teaching all the girls about train operations (these two girls are from the Syrian family that my mom is very close with, so Evie had fun playing with them a few times this week)

Inside the school car -  a really neat car that the kids liked a lot

Once a teacher, always a teacher

Practicing her keyboarding skills

As part of the train museum entry, you can also visit the old fire station and jail in Capreol.  After entering this cell, Evelyn saw the smaller toilet that looked kind of like those toddler toilets they have at kids attractions....next thing we know she is taking her pants off and saying she needs to pee.  At least the potty training is going well :) (We stopped her from going)

 Lucy was there too

The short path to Ella Lake beach, where I learned to swim and spent most of my summer afternoons as a child.   Although the weather wasn't super warm, it was nice to be able to take Evie a few days.

Enjoying the water

After a couple hours, she would be shaking with her teeth chattering but still insisted that she was "hot" and didn't want to go home yet.  I usually had to bribe her with snacks to get her out of the water.

Sister playtime

Visit to Science North in Sudbury - pretty awesome that our Calgary Science Centre membership got us free entry here too

According to Evelyn, this frog was her favourite thing at science North - Guess we could have just gone to a toddler playground instead of touring her around four floors of exhibits :)  (really, I think that was her answer because it was the last thing she saw before leaving)

Future scientist?

Admiring the whale

She loved playing here, despite the fact that there was also a whole class of rowdy grade 4-5 kids also working on making big dams and directing the water (luckily they let her keep her own sand pile)

Evie is really into phone calls these days, so she really liked playing on these phones that are set up for video conference calls (technological upgrade since I was at science north last as a kid).  Her phone calls all go the same though (regardless of what the person on the other end has to say): "Hi, how are you today? I'm good, I'm good.  Bye Bye"

She loved driving this airplane

The beaver out for his daily stroll

Meeting the skunk

It was a long day!

 Sister snuggles :)

More fun at the beach

Lynn and her nieces.  Evelyn got really used to ordering Lynn around to play her her "Come play with me Auntie Lynn".  Lucky for her, the general lack of kids in Lynn's life meant she had more energy for playing than most of us :)

Planting an indoor garden, a good rainy day activity care of Grandma Faye

Watching my mom's band, The Accidentals, play Canadian music on the lawn of the church for Canada Day.

Exhausted after Canada day music and on the way to meet Daddy at the end of his long long drive across the country.

The waterfront area at the first cottage we stayed at.  There were about 14 of us staying at this cottage, so it was great to have a big beach, kayaks, a canoe and a paddleboat at our disposal

One of several evening dance parties

The black flies were just terrible at this cottage.  This was Evelyn's back (probably because that's where her hair hangs).  All of the kids had pretty bad bites, but luckily none of them really seemed to complain too much.

The dogs having a mandatory break period (mainly so Ruby doesn't run away and terrorize the neighbours and so Hudson doesn't injure himself from over-exertion and being too crazy from playing fetch)

Lucy with Drew, who took very good care of her during this week

Evie had tons of fun playing with these diggers

Boden providing some entertainment to Lucy

Girls having fun at breakfast

Lucy and cousin Sam

Cousin pile up - Lucy definitely got passed around a lot during this trip, but didn't seem to mind too much

Enjoying the lounge floater with Craig

Craig taking Evie out in the deep water, and the dogs doing what they love more than anything

Pop Pop with Laikyn and Evie

Drew the movie star :)

At least 2 out of 3 appear to be enjoying themselves

Floating on her own

And getting brave enough to jump off the dock, with a mandatory count to ten

Kids were pretty excited about Popsicles for breakfast on the last day at the cottage

Yummy Canada Day cookies

Enjoying some much-needed afternoon quiet time

Loaded up in the van...the dogs have a pretty sweet spot.  This was also the mattress that Craig slept on during his long trek.

We had a photographer come and take photos of all the cousins at the first cottage.  It went much better than I thought it would with the number of toddlers who were there (and it being at 5pm during dinner after a long day outside).  I totally didn't expect any shots where all the kids were a) together and b) not crying - so I thought the photographer did a great job.  These were some of the shots I liked.

Love the dresses and diggers combo in this one

Singing campfire songs with Auntie Lynn (more correctly, toddler songs)

Got to try fly-boarding with our friend Geoff, who is on the national team - if you don't know what it is, Google it.   It is pretty awesome!

This is Craig

 This is me

Evie loving one of many vacation ice cream cones

Swimming with Auntie Lynn at the cottage at Star Lake, near Parry Sound

 Getting braver

Beach babe - it was much easier to get outside with Lucy at the second cottage, as there were hardly any bugs.  It was strange because the two cottages were only about an hour from each other.

"Someone please throw this for me"

Evie and Jet learning about something from Auntie Lynn

Bringing water back for the sand castle's river

Wish we had this view more often

"Guys, I know its night-time, but I found this ball hidden in a bag over there and I'd love to go down to the lake and fetch it some more"

Craig will tell you otherwise, but the real reason he wanted to drive back to Ontario is for these next few pictures.

Waterfront view

Evie swimming with Pop Pop and Daddy

Enjoying a nice evening once the kids were in bed.  With two two year olds, a 2 month old, and a 4 month old, there really wasn't a lot of kid-free time. But we did have a couple nights where we managed to get them all asleep before the sun was completely gone.

Talecha, Sloane and Jet - 3 of our 4 travel companions.  Last time we vacationed with these guys, it was in Barbados in 2014 - 3 years later and 4 kids - we'll just say it was a pretty different trip :) Still awesome though!

Craig out for a paddle

Lucy is such a smiley baby (and yes, for this one smiley picture, I have like 10 that her eyes are closed or she is not smiling) - but she will seriously smile at anyone who talks or smiles at her.  People love a baby that smiles at them, that's for sure.

"Guys, come back to shore and throw our balls for us"....These dogs were so tired at the end of each day...unfortunately, the 3 day drive home seems to have rested them so they are back to their energetic selves

Warming up and waiting for her snack to be served to her, beachside...I have a feeling Evelyn would love a caribbean all-inclusive

Lucy and Sloane, in one of our many makeshift shade contraptions

Decided that I had to get Lucy in the water at least once...she wasn't a huge fan, though Evie was excited she was coming in, and was trying to show her how to swim

 Maybe next year Lucy

"Please put that baby down and throw my ball"

Looks like Huddy found a new playmate....we just need to work on her arm a little

 I love this little sweetheart so much.  As long as she is fed and rested, she is all smiles

Last stop at our trip was visiting my grandmother, who was happy to meet Lucy for the first time

We went to an Amish farm auction one day - Evie liked checking out all the animals that were up for sale (I have never seen so many caged birds in one small space, it was so loud!)

Grandma Faye taking a nap along with Lucy

Waiting in the Waterloo airport for our flight that ended up being delayed slightly.  Both girls were really into watching the TV at the airport.  It was great to fly out of a small airport though (and awesome that there are direct flights to Calgary) - so much easier than navigating Pearson with little ones and no other adult.  

Got lucky and had a row to ourselves on the flight home.  Lucy slept on the third seat and I actually got to watch a bit of TV.

While it was very tiring, it was a fun trip and I think Evelyn will have lots of great memories from this last visit.  She actually does remember a surprising amount so we are very lucky to have had lots of quality time spent with our family and friends.  While it isn't without its challenges, I really enjoy the stage that Evie is at now.  The amount she learns and remembers just continues to blow my mind - and she is very inquisitive, always asking questions or interested to learn new information.  It is really fun to watch her learn to use her imagination to come up with games, and if you give her an idea of how to pretend-play, she jumps right on board.  She loves when you "talk" her animals as characters, and will address them often more so than she'll address you (so that's a strategy we sometimes use if she won't do something we want her to do...sometimes she'll do it if the animal asks).  She definitely is in that "no" stage, and will almost instantly answer your "Do you want..." question with a no, which is sometimes followed by a quick "yep" after she actually processes the question and decides that it actually is something she wants.  She also has some funny expressions when she says no, or doesn't like what you're saying.

"Don't tell me", "Let me talk by myself",  "Let me do whatever I want" - when you are telling her she isn't allowed to do something

"I'm talking to daddy/mommy" - when one of us tries to interrupt a conversation with the other

"I need to cry louder" - when told to be a bit quieter because Lucy is sleeping

"Asking nicely makes my throat sore" - We are trying to work on reducing the demands and using "Please may I"....this was the response I got once

"I eat mints so the throw up doesn't come out of my mouth and on to my body"...We have started giving her breath mints in the car to help with the car sickness on shorter trips - she seems to understand cause and effect :)

While it can be hard to maintain patience with a toddler sometimes, I always try to remind myself that she is just 2.5 years old, and does not have full control over her emotions yet.  I think because Lucy is so little in comparison, it creates higher expectations for an older child, and I have to constantly remember that even though she is a big sister, she is still little and has lots of needs that she can't always express accurately.  They tire you out for sure, but watching them grow and learn is pretty rewarding and amazing

Father's Day lunch at Char Bar....again, technology saves the day

 Finger painting

Throwing rocks on St Patrick's Island

Evie has been great with Lucy - lately, she is really into giving Lucy horsey rides to cheer her up.  Surprisingly, Lucy actually does seem pretty happy during most of them....it is minimally more comfortable to hold Lucy on there, than when I have to be the horse, so I guess I'll take it
(sorry for the video direction)

Lucy has also been doing really well.  We had her 4 month vaccines today (a long post-vaccine nap is allowing me to write this blog :), and she is at 16lb 8 oz, which is double her birthweight and half a pound heavier than Evie was at this age.  Similar to her sister, she is around the 90th percentile for weight for length....so definitely packing on the pounds.  She is a very determined little baby, and seems like she will be on the move pretty early.  She started rolling both directions (though seems to only do it for a couple days at a time and then forget about it)...I thought that was pretty good, but my standard of comparison is Evie, who didn't roll until 7 months haha.  She has discovered that she can grab her feet, so loves doing that and trying to eat them these past few days.  She is getting much more coordinated at grabbing items and wants to put everything in her mouth.  We've set up the high chair at the table (it was packed away for all of 4 months), and she likes being able to look around and see everyone.  I think she is going to be itching to eat like the rest of us within the next month.  While we were on vacation, Lucy slept amazingly - only waking up once in the night usually.  If it hadn't been for the fact that I was sleeping in the same bed as Evie for almost the whole time, I probably would have been well rested (I swear, she never stops moving and kicking in the night).  When we came back from the trip, Lucy was pretty much running into all sides of her bassinet, so we've moved her into the crib in her own room.  It is pretty crazy how quickly these first four months have flown by - I feel like we were just bringing her home from the hospital, all tiny and new.  It makes me a little sad, but less so than the first time around, since I know how fun the stages that come next are.

Mastering her rolling skills

One of Lucy's favourite toys at Grandma's house - the Tweety Bird puppet

Enjoying her new spot at the table

 Enduring some sniffs (and probably kisses) from Ruby

Lucy loves selfies

Tickles, giggles and lots of chatter

So far our summer's been off to a good start.  I'm looking forward to enjoying time in Calgary too, as we get awesome weather and long days.  Hopefully will have another update before summer is all over!

This is as good as family selfies usually get these days..one baby puking and the other whining