Yesterday I sent my girls off to their respective schools, and I headed off to mine – each of us for our own first day. And that, more than September 21, defines the end of summer for me.
So I took some time to reflect and look back on the summer we had this year in 2012 – and it was a great one!
I sent my oldest off to sleep-away camp for the first time:
And the girls and I had a wonderful time in the Okanagan:
And then we had a few weeks to just veg and enjoy being at home with nothing to do. I read five books (okay, they were the five Percy Jackson and the Olympians books, but in my defense, I like to read everything myself before putting it in my classroom library…) I got a lot of cleaning and organizing done around the house, we spent hours at the pool and enjoyed the company of friends.
Before you know it, we were traveling again…this time eastbound, to Toronto. It was great to spend a few days in the city to reconnect with cousins and hit the big ticket tourist spots. Thanks to CityPASS, we visited the ROM, the Science Centre, and the CN Tower – and Uncle Mike even took the kids to a ball game on Jr. Jays day. Of course, we also made the obligatory trip to Canada’s Wonderland, and Jen and I even rode Leviathan with the kids:
In between all the hustle and bustle, we found time to sit and quietly read with a cousin:
And then we found ourselves packed up (and in!) all over again. Getting seven people and all their gear to the cottage in one vehicle is no easy task, so we called in the big guns and got ourselves a Chevy Orlando for the task. As you can see, it was rather a cramped ride — with the third row of seats up, this vehicle doesn’t have much room for seven suitcases, so most of us had a duffel bag at our feet or on our laps. But the car has guts and the driver’s seat is ridiculously comfortable (as I found out on the drive home), and it got us all to our destination without having to take two cars so…kudos:
And then — the cottage. My sisters and I spent all our childhood summers here, but since then it has passed over to my uncle, and we hadn’t been there in at least fifteen years. So it was a great thrill to be able to share it with our kids. And so wonderful to go back for our own sakes, as well.
A week of waking up to this (there is something to be said for being the first to rise):
A week of catching up with my sisters (we may be moms now, but we were sisters — and great pizza chefs — first):
But without doubt the best part of the cottage is all the amazing things to do on the water:
I even waterskied after nearly 20 years!
We capped off our spectacular week at a family wedding, and had this great pic snapped by a cousin (thanks, Ingrid!):
All in all, it was a pretty incredible summer, chock full of fantastic memories none of us will ever forget. And so I say to you, Summer 2012, thank you. And farewell:
Well, I was first up before some crazy lady showed up with two little kids who even beat the roosters to it! LOL – some days I prefer to let someone else make the coffee 😉
LOL, thanks Sara. Sometimes it’s good to know the ol’ gal still has it in her 😉
It was, Tracey…thank you! Sad to see it end, but c’est la vie.
I know, right? Almost literally golden too. (sheesh, what did we ever do before instagram?)
Thanks, Jen. Weird though: I couldn’t find a single pic of you and me together!
Amazing. But I don’t seem to recall you being first up! But you were close – hehe.
awesome pics kath!!! and you go girl on the waterskis!
Sounds like an incredible summer, Kath – I’m so happy for you all!!
that last pic is GOLDEN!!!
Great times! And great pics!!