We can hardly believe its over! We had so much fun that it all feels like a dream somehow. We started off trying to get in a little cabin time and since it was Crew's first year of training (for THE DRIVE!) we were a little worried. Crew really only sleeps well in his crib in the dark with a noisy old humidifier plus he was starting training a little late- the ripe old age of 11 months. Carson started at 3 weeks, and Chloe at 2 months. Crew's first car nap lasted 2 hours! I was so relieved! Was this too good to be true? YES. Let's just say he's improving. When we do get lucky enough to take a quick break I always try to quickly nurse Crew because he's hungry and upset. But as soon as he is free from the bonds of the baby-torture-chair he goes straight for the front of the van to the steering wheel. Who needs a playground?!?
August 2011
He's going to be just like Carson who has loved cars and boats and driving them since day one!
Carson driving Grandpa's boat ~August 2002
The other kids are really grateful for DVD players with headphones! It helps when patience is running thin. As usual Carson and Chloe are great travellers. There's hardly a complaint from the two of them. They have even learned to limit unscheduled bathroom stops. Dave really hates to break stride! He really only 'brakes' for the RCMP!
Cabin time was great. Carson fell right back into skiing and wake-boarding- this time with even more confidence. Last year he got really strong on one ski and this year he just picked up right where he left off. We were out one day and he fell now normally this is the frustrating part- going back for the other ski and trying to remember where he drops it next, but this day he just decided to try and do a deep-water start. He managed to do it on his first try! We could hear him screaming and yelling... he was so proud. So was Dave (there may have been tears!). Then the next time he fell it took another 3 tries. That was a great lesson for him. He's so used to sports coming easily for him that it was a bit frustrating. In the past this would be where things would end in a fight and his refusal to try again but Dave managed a really good talk on why it's better to have to work for things and Carson seemed to have listened. He really had a great attitude this year. Wake-boarding is going well too. Carson is working on jumping the wake and seeing how high he can get!
Chloe is still trying to get over her fears. She waterskiied a few times first when she was 3, then sproadically until last year. We had finally convinced her to try again when she fell and didn't let go! So now she refuses! She's also mourning the loss of the skip saucer. That was a nice alternative for her but it met it's demise under the stairs on top of the heater! So sad!
Chloe on saucer 2006
So now she is perfecting the art of snorkeling, being a good spotter and swimming without a lifejacket (only under supervision!). She also needs to be reminded to spend some time with us, and to give the Cardiff's a break!
August 2011
She's got quite a sense of humour; Dave and I don't always get it (since its meant for silly seven year-olds) but it's fun to watch her doubled over laughing. Her favorite "joke" this summer was to jump off the dock with Dave and Carson but when they came up for air they would discover she really hadn't jumped in! Hilarious! They "fell" for it every time!
1, 2, ...3! BAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! Every time!
We really tried to spend a lot of time in the water together, it's where we all love to be and everyone can do it except Crew who still spends a lot of time napping. The kids spent so much time with their snorkel masks on that they both had cracked and peeling faces! There were a lot of tears and aloe at night! Crew was introduced to the lake. He didn't mind too much, but definitely preferred the warm kiddie pool....when there was room.
July 2011
When there is down time the kids usually hunt. This year's yield was great! There were several frogs, two salamanders, one snake and hundreds of fish (most of which met their demise fighting for oxygen in a giant pickle jar or the palm of a little girl who loves them soooo much). The kids love to hang from the stairs, fly down the stairs and just learn to become true friends. They're also constantly attempting to break their previous records of 'time spent at the Cardiff's cabin before getting kicked out'!
Always need a spotter! Story time
We also went hiking and Geo-caching with the cousins and Nanny and Granda. I love how the kids need a little time for complaining and then they just become too exhausted to even bother! I love to tire them out because there are days I wonder if its possible! It makes me feel good to see them passed out in the van on the way home. We also went camping one weekend with Lara and family. The weather was cold but the kids didn't even seem to notice. They spent most of the time tearing around the camp site on their bikes or parked in front of the fire making roasted apples and poopy-diapers (chocolate-filled marshmallows!). On the Saturday we were making breakfast when we heard shouting, our neighbour was telling us to gather up our children because a bear was coming! I looked up and there he was right in the camp site in front of us!!! so we all jumped in the van and waited for it to be chased away. So exciting! We didn't let them wander off so far after that!
In August we went to Coeur D'Alene with Lara and Greg. We really had a lot of fun. We shopped with crying babies, the kids went to the pool every night, and we spent a good part of most days at the beach. We also spent one day at Silverwood and Boulder Beach. It was soooo fun! We probably could have spent several days there.
Coeur D'Alene 2011
We love warm weather and water and boating but we really cherish being together. Looking forward to this time is the only thing that keeps us sane by the time the 7th month of winter blows in. We don't even mind cold camping days, being stiff all of July and August, sun burns or driving for hours on end. The only real bummer is that summer ends!
