A great date

The other night we went out for a date. Laura has been making sure that we go about once a month, for sanity, for marriage maintenance, for a chance to eat our own meal without cutting up someone else. It has been good.

The other night we went out to the tavern on the falls (by bike of course). It was lovely and we had a nice time. The view is great and as the temperature turned cooler, they offered blankets. Nice touch.

Lovely sunset

Lovely company

We thought that there was something to do with lights on Parliament, so when we were done we moseyed over to the hill and arrived 2 minutes before the show started. It was nice and I was happy we went.

Lovely lightshow

After that we wanted treats (of course) but the coffee shops were mostly closed, the market would have been too busy. We both had a little bit of a cold, and I was tired by this point so I suggested we head home. Know what was on our route home? Yes, the Palestinian Festival and they have treats, so we stopped.

Lovely treats

It seemed that everything just worked out while on that date. Good times.

Cottage Life

We spent some time at the cottage after the long weekend. It was fun and I'm very happy with the moments we had together.

I took Alice out in the back hatch of the kayak and paddled down to twin rocks. I stopped paddling and we drifted close to a loon and her 2 babies. It was the closest I've ever been to a loon - I could see the spots on it's back without my glasses. She dove under us and swam to the opposite side from her babies and called to draw us away. We carefully headed away and then I went out with Lucy sitting with me. I kept us much, much farther away but the mom did the same trick again. Lucy was very happy to see the "baby balloons".

Another time the 5 of use paddled over to "poopy island" and went exploring there. Another time we all went out in kayaks to the swamp. Lucy was with Laura and Lucy feel asleep right away. Alice cried and didn't want to paddle so she held onto the big red kayak and I towed / dragged her kayak all the way down the lake. At the end she was paddling so quickly I had trouble catching up with her.

One of the nights Laura and I went out and lay down on the dock to look up at the shooting stars. We watched the milky way and the huge lightening off to the east. We were brave with the sounds of the dangerous carnivorous squirls that were hunting us (spoiler: we got away). I miss the stars. I wish that we could often go outside and just look up at the wonder that is all around us.

We spent a lot of time swimming, jumping off the dock (not Isaac or Lucy). Alice jumps with reckless abandon and is so good with all the kids - "Oh look, there are fishies!". Isaac "jumped" off the lowest rung of the ladder which is a big improvement over not going in the water at all. Lucy had a good time in the water but insisted that she wore her lego crocs. When she would get in, she'd say "I did it!" with immense pride.

It was a good time.

Just floating along

Constantly on the lookout for more fishies

It's all about the form. Grace, beauty, huge splash. She's got it all.

Kayak passengers are best passengers.

The Western Fleet. Alt title: 5 people, 3 kayaks.

Mr Smiles.

Showing grandma the frogs they caught.

Uncle Phil and Isaac in perfect form.