A Manitoulin Thanksgiving

Talk about a jam-packed, crazy weekend!

Friday
The girls had a P.A.day. We did our best to pack Thursday night. Friday morning everyone got up and my cute family dropped me off at work. Ken and the girls went to Cora's for breakfast, then they watched two episodes of a show on the laptop in the van, then they went to Playcious - a play place they had yet to go to.

After Playcious they had a late lunch at McDonald's and then came to pick me up. We made a few stops - ToysRUs, (Ken went to Winners) and then we went to Fortinos. After that we were off!

We ended up driving north along the Gore Road, then Airport road. The colours were amazing! We had a few hours of light, and while we had light it was so pretty! At some point along the drive I got a text from Andrew. He and Mom had picked up Mom's new car - so fun!

We pushed through to Owen Sound where we had dinner at East Side Mario's. We stopped by Staples on the way out of town to pick up a speaker because the CD with the book - the 8th book in the How To Train Your Dragon series (I think), wouldn't play! ARGH!

I can't remember exactly when we got to the Big Tub Harbour Inn, but it was later than we would have liked. We settled in, Fiona falling asleep on the floor first (I put her in her bed) and that was that!

Saturday
We had to leave the hotel bright and early because we had to be in line for the ferry early. The ferry departed just after eight. It was cool driving onto the ferry. The girls were in awe, heck, we all were. It's amazing watching all of the cars drive in. Once we were loaded in we left the van and headed up to the cafeteria to have breakfast. We spent the next three hours in various states of distress!

Breakfast was good. Everyone was happy. Then when we left the safety of the habour and we were out in open water, things got interesting. It was very choppy. Fiona thought she was going to be sick. Kate sat with her eyes closed trying not to move. Alice seemed fine. I was fine. And then there was Ken. He went outside on deck and tried to keep himself calm. He was almost successful. However, when he got to the van when it was time to dock and leave, he was no longer fine. There were definitely barf bags everywhere for a reason!

Thankfully Ken feeling ill didn't last long. We were off the boat and we decided to drive to where Ken and Chris had their farmer's market in Providence Bay. It was really, really windy and cold. The market was pretty much done, but we did manage to find Nana and Papa.

After finding them, we drove to Mindemoya and went to lunch.

After lunch we picked up some things in the Sobey's in Mindemoya and then we went back to Ice Lake Cottage - the name the Ken and Chris gave their house, which is also their business - making jams, baked goods and produce. We didn't do a lot, watched tv, the girls hung out with the pets. Bonny the dog was a big hit with the girls. She's a very gentle dog.

After dinner we decided to go to the falls at Kagawong. Alice wasn't happy at first, but in the end we all had a really lovely time. And the salmon... It's the end of the salmon run. I know that salmon swim upstream to lay their eggs. I didn't realize that this was then the end of their life. I didn't realize that they gave their whole life to lay their eggs. The stream was filled with dead salmon. It didn't smell great, but there was something very sacred about it. The sacrifice parents make for their young, that Heavenly Father's whole purpose is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, that sometimes I get annoyed with being a Mom but it is my everything.

Sunday
We got up and got ready for church. The girls had a great time in primary - there were only two other kids in primary. After church we went home and there was much food preparation. Nana got out her painting supplies and the girls painted up a storm - they were in heaven. I worked on my progress reports. We had a yummy Thanksgiving Dinner and a nice quiet day.

Monday
The colours in the morning are so magical. The colours this whole trip have been magical. This morning we wanted to leave bright and early. I walked around outside a bit.

Before we left Ken's Mom mentioned this place, Willisville Mountain. She said we should turn off down the road and look at the view. The girls said their goodbyes - we all think Bonny will be the most sad!

The light this morning. I don't really think the pictures captured it, but it was so pretty. (Taking pics through closed windows also doesn't help...)

We got to Willisville road and it was just incredible. I was so, so, so grateful that Ken's Mom suggested we go there. I loved it.

The next stop was Sudbury. We grabbed sub lunches and then headed over to Science North. Having a membership to the Science Centre in Toronto means admission is free. We were only going to stay for an hour... we stayed a little longer! The girls had a great time. We all did.

Then it was back in the car for the longest drive EVER! We decided not to do the 400/401 and went through Orillia. I'm not sure this was the smartest idea ever. We stopped at a park in Orillia that we didn't go to, but we saw from the boat tour that we took.

After the park we found a McDonald's that half the universe also found, had some food, found an accident, turned around, and eventually, twelve hours after we set out, arrived at home. We were tired but happy, not quite ready to face the week ahead, but there it is, the price of adventure! We are so thankful for our family, the beautiful place we live in, and the comfortable life we lead which allows us to do fun weekend trips.