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.....

The Great Boating Near Fiasco

The other day, our family rented out a huge 12-seater pontoon to explore Clear Lake.  The water had been placid all day, so we were expecting a calm ride.  Let's just say we were a little unprepared for the excitement that would ensue.

It took us awhile to get fourteen people organized and on the boat.  At the last moment, Amy and I came running with a large tray holding three large sachets of fries, a drink and several dips, our flip flops slapping on the wooden planks of the pier.  We launched ourselves into the boat and slid into our seats.  Magdalene, eyes barely popping over her too large life-jacket, her face smooshing against the inside of the jacket, was wailing without reprieve.  We were already launching 20 minutes later than we'd paid for when we ordered our rental.  The fries skidded across the seat of the boat, nearly upsetting everywhere.  Fortunately many hands came to the rescue to take away and demolish the fries.  The smoothie was grabbed too quickly and sprayed all over the floor.  More crying from Magdalene ensued while I tried to clean up the mess.

All the while, Derek began maneuvering the boat away from the dock.  Steering the boat in the direction of open water, we warped ahead, water flying over the front of the boat, unexpectedly splashing anyone and their gear near the front including bags of school books and cameras. Earl's hat went sailing over the top of the boat and into the water behind us, while several others clutched their hats closely to their heads.  Anyone who knows Earl, knows that a hat of his is not a mere $30 hat.  And so the boat nearly came to an abrupt halt as several of us attempted to rescue the hat which floated lazily alongside the boat just a fingers breadth out of reach as if taunting us.  One member of our party, leaned over the side of the boat, dangling his legs up in the air while I grabbed Maggie with one arm and his ankle by the other. 

In the meantime, while our attention was focused on rescuing this darn hat, we drifted ever so swiftly backwards, inching closer to other boats anchored in the harbour.  Our rescue mission swiftly ended when we all turned our energies on figuring out how to NOT hit the other boats in the harbour and get out to open water.  We were all prepared to throw our arms out to brace ourselves against nearby boats.

But Derek was brilliant, and got us out of the tough spot and we continued on to do some fishing--the two young boys' first time, before heading back.  The chop was pretty big and we ALL returned completely soaked, but delighted.  Magdalene, soaking wet from the chop, somehow managed to sleep through most of the trip.  And nothing else was lost or damaged on our adventure but sadly, that hat was never found.