It recently occurred to me that aside from this post, Our First Family Vacation, I never really shared much about our first family vacation.  Or did I?  I honestly can’t remember but I do know that I have a bunch of photos I didn’t share.

So, I’m going to change that with this post here and another to follow next week, Thursday probably.

Our vacation began on Friday June 25th.  Darren had an orientation of sorts at the college he’ll be taking classes at this fall so the boys and I headed out around noon without him.  He would meet us later on.

The cottage we were renting was less then an hour away.  We got there quickly and excitedly passed by the private road we were supposed to turn down.

After turning around we made our way down a dirt road that divided a corn field and a farm field.  A private road leading to the lake, our cottage the last one on the private road.

A wet dog, a large wet dog waited for us there.

I remember looking at the dog, looking at the cottage and then looking at the dog again.

The boys were quiet too.

I was thinking Cujo?  Stay in the van or make a run for the door?

I got out.  The dog got closer to me.  I could hear growling but see tail wagging.

I opened the boys side, got the boys out, walked briskly to the door where I had imagined I would quickly put the lock box code in and make our way safely inside.

Instead, I stood on the very small stoop, holding Aidan, Jacek nervously behind me keeping me updated on the closeness of the large wet dog and fumbled with the lock box.

I broke a nail.  I wanted to break the door down.

The dog, finally, was called off by the unknowing neighbor who finally realized her large wet dog was taunting us with his growling tail wagging ways.

And we were in.  The lock box opening, door unlocking…and the lake view welcomed us.

The boys and I ran around the cottage, checking out the rooms, the view, the kitchen, the view, the basement, the view.  Then made our way outside to our dock.

I was nervous being out numbered 2 to 1.  I was certain they’d fall in the water and I’d have to choose which one to save first.  They stayed safe though and we got life vests on them the next time we were out.

I put Aidan down to nap in a small pack and play in one of the rooms and Jacek and I explored some more while we waited for Daddy.

Daddy got there before Aidan woke up and Jacek and I ran around showing him the rooms, the view, the dock and the water.

Then they got busy….doing what they came to do.

Fishing.

Then Daddy went and woke Aidan.

And the first canoe ride took place soon after.

And just like that it was dinner time.

Then bedtime for the boys.  Oh the horror show it was.

Before Darren and I settled down for the night Darren went out to moon fish.  With success, however I was not out there with him so in order to PROVE he actually caught a fish, he ran the fish into the cottage, up the stairs, into the living room to show me.

And to make me take pictures.

Then we attempted to get some sleep.

Let me break down our first night away from home with the boys like this.

None of us got any real good sleep.

Aidan would not stay in the pack and play.  Jacek was in the same room with him (at first) and endured a few hours or more of his screaming and crying.

Darren and I were sleeping hiding in the other bedroom.

Aidan kept climbing out and walking around the cottage.

So, Aidan ended up with me in one bedroom where we barely slept.

I spent most of the night rubbing his back/arm/head, falling asleep, waking up to find him trying to climb out of bed – REPEAT.

I yelled at him once which in return bought me a good hour or two of actual sleep.

Jacek slept in the same room with Darren (although he didn’t know Daddy was in there till morning came).

I could hear Darren snoring through the bedroom wall. I kind of wanted to go in his room and shake him awake.

Or at the very least put Aidan in his bed.

But sure enough, we all survived the night and woke up when morning came we cuddled in bed together enjoying the view of the lake.  Then because the boys were whining that they were hungry we dressed and went off to find a Tim Horton’s.

Cuz, it ain’t a vacation with kids unless you have LOTS and LOTS of coffee!!  And donuts.

~~~~~~~More to follow next week~~~~~~~~

Happy Friday!!

Remember, if you’re around blog land on Saturday’s I host a link up for Saturday Share posts.

Come and share a recap of your week with us!  It’s normally pretty quiet around here so it’s nice to know who else might be “out there”.

Later Peeps.