Favorite Cottage Moments: Clear Lake

So we are back from Winnipeg and have moved on to other adventures, just had a few photos left to share from our visit at the cottage.  I'm all tapped out for stories, but here are a few favorite moments, captured in photographs left to share.  Family, I am sure there are more memories and stories and moments, so feel free to add to this!  Here goes:

This girl and her many outfit choices... all with some sort of beach theme.

 

Playing games and reading with Grandma and Grandpa--Pierre et le Loup.

Time outside playing mini golf--for the first time ever.  We sort of mini-golf hole surfed.  

The many ice-cream dates altogether as a family at the many ice-cream shops in Clear Lake. 

Uncle Harrison teaching Gabriel to fish.  Harrison is just the most natural teacher.  So good at it.  Gabriel is now 100% obsessed with fishing rods.  The whole concept keeps him busy for HOURS.

Silly/memorable moments around the cottage....  like when I tried to make strawberry Daquaris without strawberries or a blender....  They ended up being really chunky, watery looking peach bellinis....  Might have been in the top three worst recipe attempts in my career as a creation-making mama.  Somehow we all finished off the concoction, but not without a lot of teasing and slagging in the family fashion.

All those hours spent outside, on the boat or at the beach.  The mosquitoes were a little bad.  See exhibit A, Maggie's eye/face which made her head swell all across her brow. 

A wonderful week with family--all of us together for at least a couple of days!  So fun!   Can't wait to do it again! 

Oh, and here are a few photos of Amy and Harrison's new cat, which we like to call "Little Lady."  Gabriel was IN LOVE with this cat.  So cute to see him holding her and cuddling her.  Someday.....

"Hollywood" Breakfast Overlooking the Canola

What a feeling of accomplishment to have the anniversary party behind us successfully!  The next morning, it was just our family and the Klippensteins and a leisurely morning ahead of us.  We had the most amazing breakfast outside on the porch, overlooking the valley surrounded by good conversation.  And again, felt a little like celebrities.

See that delicious looking Blueberry French Toast??  Here is the recipe which the Klippensteins were so generous in sharing:

Overnight Blueberry French Toast

Ingredients 

• 12 slices day-old bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 12 eggs, beaten
• 2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup maple syrup 
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 tablespoon butter 

Directions

1. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange half the bread cubes in the dish, and top with cream cheese cubes. Sprinkle 1 cup blueberries over the cream cheese, and top with remaining bread cubes.
2. In a large bowl, mix the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, and syrup. Pour over the bread cubes. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.
3. Remove the bread cube mixture from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
4. Cover, and bake 30 minutes. Uncover, and continue baking 25 to 30 minutes, until center is firm and surface is lightly browned.
5. In a medium saucepan, mix the sugar, cornstarch, and water. Bring to a boil. Stirring constantly, cook 3 to 4 minutes. Mix in the remaining 1 cup blueberries. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, until the blueberries burst. Stir in the butter, and pour over the baked French toast.

Recipe can be found here:  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Overnight-Blueberry-French-Toast/

The Farmhouse: A 30th Anniversary

This past weekend, we flew to Winnipeg, Manitoba, the beautiful warm prairies, to celebrate the 30th wedding anniversary of Jordan's dad and Marion.  We were all so excited to spend some time together as a big family and celebrate the event at the home of good friends of theirs--the Klippensteins.

The Klippensteins are such a delightful and generous (and beautiful) family.  We were told that the event would be held at their "farmhouse" in the countryside outside of a small Manitoba town.  But let me tell you...  this was no farmhouse.  It was a seven bedroom mansion, complete with a wrap-around deck, porch swing, levels of stairs climbing down to a large stone patio with a hot tub, all perched atop a cliff overlooking a beautiful valley covered in blooming yellow canola fields.  And the gardens were exquisite.  Even sitting here writing about it now, I can hardly put into words the unexpected beauty of this place.  Admittedly, I sort of felt like we had been transported to somewhere in California rather than rural Manitoba.  I think I could have easily stayed there for a week.

The children thought they were in paradise.  There were cats and dogs to chase and attend to, games like lawn croquet and a hammock.  Lots of steps to climb, decks and patios to discover and fields upon fields to look at.  Fortunately, we had a live in baby-sitter for the evening, who followed the children around everywhere so that they were able to explore to their heart's content while we carried on with preparations for the event. 

It was good to see so many close family friends and other family members, people we might only see at weddings.  There were a few speeches, most of which were incorporated into a bit of a game by all of us siblings/spouses.  Magdalene joined in, making herself a charming addition by hiding under my dress and other things....

We had such a great time preparing for the event by reminiscing of stories from over the years--hinting at some of the stories only to be kept within the family.  There was lots of good-humored banter between us all and when it came to the day of the event, the six of us stood up and in front of family and friends to recount our favorites and sort of felt like we were all just talking to each other.  It was really fun! 

Luckily for us, there was also another photographer in the crowd who took a picture of us and of our big family overlooking the valley behind the house on the back patio in the golden hour of that evening.

Our family friends, the beautiful, kind and generous Klippensteins...  you are all so wonderful!  Thank you so much for opening up your home to us!  You really made us feel like Hollywood stars. :)

Happy 30 years!