COUSIN FUN - Day 5 - BATES!

Suzanne, Matthew and the Connecticut Cousins (as we call them in our house) arrived last night.  Fluid.  The plans are fluid.  Originally they were going to come to us sometime on Monday, and we were then going to head north sometime on Tuesday to join the Bacons.  When Jon and Michelle realized how big the Tory ski chalet was, they told the Bateses to come on up!  They made great time, and even though they left late, they got in to Collingwood last night.

I was planning to get organized today.  But when there are cousins to see, who cares about organization!  The girls and I drove north for the day.  Ken stayed home to work.  (Thank you Ken!)

We hung out for a bit at the chalet.  Matthew forced Fiona to bond with him.  The girls had fake nails applied - thank you Auntie Michelle.  The boys built a palace for Alice.  And one for Kate too.  Cousins connected!

We finally got organized and packed up and we headed down the road to Craigleith Provincial Park.  We were expecting beach.  There was rock.  It was good and not good.  It was fun and not fun.  Some of the rocks were slippery.  There were some cut toes.  And there were black flies biting our ankles.  And of course, no sand.  Other than that, it was kind of cool and the kids did what kids do, they had fun!

The rest is kind of a blur.  The girls and I left eventually.  I'm excited for tomorrow.  Cousin holiday fun is on!

COUSIN FUN - Day 4 - A Dinner

Sunday dinner.  It wasn't in the original plans, and I wasn't exactly sure that it was going to happen until it did, and I'm glad!  The weekend (before Suzanne and company arrived) was for Jon to see his non-related family.  Jon has kept in touch with a surprising number of high school buddies.  Or maybe not surprising?  That's Jon!  I was sad to think that there would be two whole days without the cousins, so then I asked.  Hey?  Want to come for dinner on Sunday night?  We're about an hour from Collingwood, which is perhaps a little far for dinner, but hey, Utah's farther!

The cousins came and we ate and played!  It was great! And I didn't take a single picture!

Beitz Birthday Bash

I think I might have to do this one day.  Three birthday parties on the same day, at the same time, at an indoor play place.  Wham bam done!  And why not celebrate the half birthday with the party - especially when all the birthdays are winter birthdays and the bang up against Christmas. 

Sarah - aka Mama Beitz, decided she'd had enough of winter birthdays - Thomas is November, Bridget is January, and Abigail is December.  She decided that a Birthday Bash was in order. The girls all had lots of fun, and why wouldn't they?!

Thank you Beitz Family for an awesome birthday bash!

COUSIN FUN - Day 3 - Canada's Wonderland

What a fun day!  I keep thinking that one day I want to get passes to Wonderland again, but for right now, it's fun that going is such a big deal, and that it doesn't happen very often.  Last time we came was two years ago.  Alice was almost 18 months and not really old enough to have fun.  I was excited to hang out with Michelle and Lovey and do the fun kiddie rides. 

One of the many reasons that today was totally awesome, Ken kept Fiona!  I wasn't sure how I was going to manage exactly, I would have made it work, but goodness I'm so glad I didn't have to manage a one year old!  

We went on lots of rides.  I wanted to list them, just because!  So I did!
1. Snoopy's Space Race - just the kids
2. Snoopy vs. the Red Baron - airplanes - just the kids
3.  Kate - Ghoster Coaster  Alice - Carousel
4. Sally's Love Buggies - Kate, Alice and I
5. Woodstock Whirlybirds (spinny ride) -  The girls and I
6. Joe Cool's Dodgem School (Bumper cars) - the girls - twice
7. Snoopy's Revolution (ferris wheel) - Michelle, the girls and I
8. Pumpkin Patch - Michelle and the girls
LUNCH
9. Chopper Chase - all the girls - two different choppers
10. Jokey's Jalopies - Kate, Alice and I
11. Frequent Flyers - the girls
12. Silver Streak - Lovey and I, Jumpin' Jet - Michelle, Kate, Alice
13. Blast Off - Lovey, Alice
14. DINOSAURS - Andrew, Seth, Lovey, Kate, Alice, and I

One of my favourite moments was seeing the glee on Kate and Alice's faces during the bumper cars!  (Kate's teacher's daughter went on the bumper cars, and her teacher had told the class about it.)  Kate was determined to go on the bumper cars.  I wasn't sure if she would like it, but she did.  She loved it.  The other girls did too!

Proudest moment was Kate riding the ghoster coaster.  She was so proud of herself.  (See picture below!)  I thought for sure she'd walk off, but she didn't.

Kate was also super excited about driving a car.  She drove the old fashioned car with Alice beside her in the front seat.  I sat in the back seat.  It was adorable.  I kept thinking, in a few more years this will be for real!

Seth, got to say a word about Seth!  He was awesome!  He's in that awkward, almost tall enough for all the rides, but isn't.  He was not about the kiddie rides, but he went on them at the beginning and throughout the day when needed.  He looked a little glum here and there, but really, he was awesome!  Next time you come Seth, you'll be tall enough for EVERYTHING! 

The girls really did keep it together. Alice, Lovey and Kate had lots of fun together.  (Except the one part at lunch when Kate might have acted like a goat when Lovey might have reminded her again that she was younger but taller, oh and to stop interrupting.  Little girls are funny!) We had a great day together.  It was awesome being with family.  It was just a great day! 

And the best picture of them all!  I can't remember how much it was, but it was ridiculously over priced, but I just couldn't pass it up!  Look at that face!