Parry Sound vacation- week 2 (part 2)

Wed- day 11. How the day was suppose to read:

The men jumped in the boat at around 8:30am, their sights set on a new refrigerator at Home Depot. While they’re off purchasing the new one, Grammy, Allie, and I are busy watching the kids and moving the 30 year old fridge out to the back deck. It’s an all-around upgrade that has me humming the kids song (we know all too well) about the people ‘in the bed and the little one said, “roll over, roll over”. So they all rolled over and one fell out…’ The new fridge will replace the old fride, the old fridge will replace the beer fridge on the back deck, and the beer fridge will roll on out.

This, however, is how the day actually went:
Nursed Graham at 2:30am. Fell back to sleep only to be woken at 3:30am by Allie knocking on our screen door. “Meg. Meg! Mabel fell and split her head. We’re trying to figure out if we need to go to the hospital.” I lept out of bed and stumbled to the door in the darkness of the cabin pouch, fumbling with my headlight in hand. Mabel’s face was covered with blood, her hair stained red. I couldn’t get a good look at the cut since she kept turning away from the light so I told Allie to meet me at the Big Cabin. Mabel had been sick when she first went down for bed. Her sheets in the pack & play were too messy for her to sleep there, so she was in bed with Allie and Randy. In the night, she had wiggled up and over the top of the bed between the crack of the mattress and the wall, there was just enough space for her to fall down onto the sharp metal corner of the bed frame. It was decided that she should go into the hospital- the sky was clear, the water was calm, visibility was perfect… there couldn’t have been a better night for an emergency. We weren’t sure whether she’d need a tetanus booster or a stitch to prevent scaring; this all factored into the decision. Grammy rushed down to stay with Wylder, Jeff took over care for Graham, Ethan & Jen slept soundly in the tent, while Randy, Allie, Grandpa, Mabel, and I set off for Glen Burney. Grandpa (dad) and I reclined the boat seats and laid under the night sky waiting for word on how things were progressing. It was a slow night at the hospital and they expected to be in & out quickly. About 1 1/2 hours later, Allie and Randy arrived with a sleeping Mabel. She had been cleaned up and glued together. What a trooper. She hadn’t cried or let on that she was uncomfortable, but fell fast asleep on the boat ride back to the cottage.

Our little trooper. ❤️

The remainder of the day was a whirlwind. We played at the beach, took naps, read, listened to music, and enjoyed being together as a family… healthy and safe… but still needed to get the new fridge! Aunty Allie and Grandpa went into town to run errands and look at refrigerator options. The only fridge that could be purchased immediately and fit into the available space was a nice stainless steel model. The company delivered it to Glen Burney marina and got it into the boat. Jeff, Ethan, and Grandpa went to pick it up. While they were away Allie, Jen, Randy and I moved the old fridge to the deck and Grammy cleaned the area in preparation for the new fridge. They were behemoths to move, but we did it. (And by ‘we’, I mean the men of the group.) By the end of the evening, the fridges were set in their new locations and the awaiting the swap over of food from one to the next. The new fridge glows so brightly when it opens, that we told Wylder it sings…. “Ah ahhhhhhh” like a soft spoken Tarzan. He thinks that’s pretty funny.

Thur- day 12. Wylder says to Grammy,”some times I just have to call you Darling.” His cuteness makes Grammy’s day. We take a boat ride across to Parry Island with James and Calvin. Graham swam in his pfd. We returned to the cottage and the guys fixed the boathouse dock. Graham is still climbing up onto the navy deck toy and walking with his ‘cottage cruiser’ as Jen calls it. There was waterskiing followed by a pasta dinner.

Fri- day 13. Today was a day for visitors. Andrew, Elianna, and James each stopped in (separately) to say hello. Allie and I swam across the channel while Jeff paddled the canoe with Ryder. The biggest wave in Parry Sound history was experienced by Grampa & Allie (& cousins) at Devil’s Elbow after a dump run. “The wave was as tall as the ceiling”, according to Grandpa. We’re so glad they’re ok and didn’t sink the boat! Ethan and Grandpa went fishing in a lake near our ice cream place. They towed the canoe behind the aluminum boat to the put in for the other lake. They made it just before the downpour of heavy rain. We had dinner at Henry’s, Grandpa’s treat. Then Jeff and Randy shared a SeaDoo ride home; we had a good chuckle about their closeness. There was a quick stop at Aunty Marion’s to say hello & goodbye to everyone. (Wishing them a happy 50th anniversary! Jeff, Graham, and I are sorry to be missing the big celebration party tomorrow!) Then we celebrated our August birthdays with chocolate cake dessert. Happy birthdays to Jeff, Randy, Jen, and Graham! Mabel & Graham each had bathes in the kitchen sink before bed. Wylder calls Grampa his best friend before bed and tells us stories about the 3 little pigs. He’s also shared how much he already misses his cousin Graham and wants everyone to stay in Party Sound. We all agree! It’ll be sad to leave and end our vacation together.

Sat- day 14. The day the Underhills leave Parry Sound. I’ll miss the ongoing game that Wylder and I have been playing, “say Chippppmunk” or “supercalifragilisticexpialidoeshus”. I’ll miss seeing everyone when I wake up and eating big family meals together. I’ll miss gin and tonics in the afternoon, saunas, swimming at a whim, watching Graham interact with his cousins and how his face lights up to see everyone. Most of all, I’ll miss time with my family. It’s been such a fun vacation! My greatest Party Sound memories are from back when we’d stay all summer. Allie and I would spend the day outside feeding chipmunks, driving the aluminum boats around, and swimming. Then Jen came along and as we grew older we’d play big family games at night, go tubing, and do crafty projects. Then there was playing frisbee with Dudli off the dock. Those were the days. But having Graham to share this Parry Sound experience with changes everything. It’s more clear then ever that some of the best summer memories are still being made. Xo.

Parry Sound vacation – week 2 (part 1)

Aug6

Sun – day 8. Randy and Jeff arrived yesterday- Daddy Day! After several combined weeks of solo mom-ing, Allie and I deemed that today would be the ‘Mommy Day’: the day moms get to go relax and enjoy- sans kids. This is the day we’ve been looking forward to while temporarily single parenting, the metaphorical pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. (Not that solo parenting is bad. It’s actually kind of fun… until that brief moment when it’s not.) Anyway, that’s not exactly as our day played out. The first task of the morning was to pitch our circus tent for Ethan and Jen’s arrival. (Some families joke that they could put a tent around their loved ones and call it a circus… we actually have the big canvas tent.) Our tent provides sleeping quarters when we’re all in Parry Sound together. The Boat House has several beds, the Little Cabin has a full size bed with a screened-?in porch, and the Bunkie has two twin beds. The tent is actually quite a nice option for a couple; it’s furnished with a big blow up mattress, bureaus, and chairs. There’s electricity and a ceiling that’s at least 8 feet tall in the center. Jen and Ethan gracefully volunteered to stay there this trip. Thanks Aunty Jen & Ethan! (Or ‘Nethan’, as Wylder calls him.)

The rest of the day included time with Dada. Graham played at the beach with us, he napped in the cabin and in the hammock with his dad. (During this time I got to take a nice Sauna with Aunty Allie and jump in the lake while it lightly rained down on us.) We all had dinner together (the men had fired up a steak on the open fire pit at the top of the hill), then Jeff and I took the boat up the bay so ‘dads’ could have ice cream; one to go as a special delivery for Randy and one that was eaten in route back to the cottage, by Jeff.) We finished the evening with a game of ‘spider’ (place the spider on Uncle Jeff’s leg and watch him act surprised as he tosses it into air). For the smaller family members, this game doesn’t get old and could go on for hours. It’s an entertaining game that provides non stop kid laughter. Thanks Uncle Jeff. Until tomorrow…

Quality time with Dada.

Cooking steak over the open flame. Ryder keeps a close eye on things.

Trying to eat rocks when Mama isn’t looking.

Sleeping with my Dada in the hammock.

Mon- day 9. Today is the day that Aunty Jen and Ethan arrive! Yeay! Randy, Jeff, Graham, and I made a quick trip into town for groceries, Internet, and a book at Barely Used Books. Graham went fishing again with Granpa and cousins. He spent time in the hammock with Dada and Mama, he played in the sand at the beach, and he’s definitely getting the hang of this Parry Sound thing. Jen and Ethan arrived in time for dinner. Some people took saunas, swam, drank cocktails, and enjoyed music. The most requested song of the summer thus far, has been one about 10,000 lobsters escaping on highway 93. WYLDER loves this one and, of course, so does his cousin and his sister.

The Big Cabin: for eating, playing games, cooking, listening to music, and talking.

Our view up the bay on a dark afternoon.

Tues – day 10. We woke to a beautiful morning. First priority, now that everyone is here, is to go to an island! We decided to head towards Palmaroy. Graham took his first swim with the life jacket on the backside of the island! The front is very sheltered; we anchor the boats here, lay out beach towels on the rock, and eat lunch. Then we walk to the more exposed back side. Grammy said that there was great blueberry picking on the walk across the island a few weeks ago, but we didn’t see any today. The water was perfectly refreshing. There was a little “ohhhhh-ing” and “ahhhh- ing” with the first slide down into the water along the smooth slimy rocks, but after the initial shock it felt like cool bath water. We played with a giant frisbee- throwing it back and forth from the water to the shoreline. Graham splashed around at the water’s edge with Mama, then he went right in with Dada wearing Mabel’s pfd.

We headed back to the cottage in the boat- 6 adults and 3 kids. (Plus two people on the Sea Doo.) I drove the boat out to the island, Grampa drove it home…most of the way. Graham also had a turn driving the boat. He LOVES the steering wheel.

Once back, almost everyone suffered an attack of Parry Sound Syndrome – that lazy lake time feeling that sets in once true relaxation has started. We had people napping in the tent, in the Bunkie, in pack & plays, and in the hammock.

We also had a breakthrough in Graham’s waking! Aunty Allie and Grampa found a Fisher Price walker at the town dump when they were there the other day. Early this morning Aunty Allie cleaned it up with bleach for us. Graham immediately took a liking to it. Before walking around, he flipped it over and inspected the wheels and figured out how it worked. Our very own little Curious George. Then he set out walking back & forth in the cottage. He loves it! (And he’s so proud of himself.) We don’t get all our toys from the town dump but when we do, they’re good ones! It’s hard to believe that before long, our little baby will be walking like his cousins.

We had another great dinner. The men cooked bbq ribs up on the open fire with chicken, rice, peas, sweet potato, yellow beans, and cabbage slaw. Then we roasted marshmallows over the fire and went to bed listening to loons and Barred owls calling from across the lake… and the sound of the refrigerator humming away as it begins its final night in the Big Cabin. Tomorrow we get a new fridge!

Parry Sound – road trip!

Aug1

Sun- day 1. Arrived in Party Sound around 11:30am. Waited for Aunty Allie, Grammie, & cousins to retrieve us after their trip to Walmart in downtown Parry Sound. (Unfortunately, this is one of the only consistent places in town to pick up necessities like diapers and baby wipes.) We made good time from our overnight stop in Mendon, NY. Graham slept all but about an hour in the car. He’s such a good little passenger! This was the second day of our long drive and it took us about 5 hours to reach Parry Sound (after logging 8 hours the day before). We drove through the boarder crossing at Niagra Falls in the early morning hours, then continued onward along the 407 toll road. Once at the cottage, we unpacked our stuff and ended the night with a paddle in Grampa’s new Weenona canoe. Grampa, Aunty Allie, cousins, and Graham & I paddled up to see Aunty Marion & Uncle Don. It was a great day! We settled into the Little Cabin, where we’ll be staying for the next two weeks, and fell fast asleep cuddled together in bed.

Mon- day 2. I have no cell service for some reason and spent almost an hour with US Cellular trying to fix the problem so we can keep in touch with ‘Dad’/ Jeff. It’s hard not to have a cell phone, but we’re not too sad about it. The screen-free time is nice, and almost unheard of when we’re home in real-time, normal life. Instead of texting and Facebook we look out the window at glissinging waters and green trees across the bay. We listen for loons and distant boats, or the echos of neighbors who are also enjoying their lake time.

After the fog lifted, Grammie & Aunty Allie left to take cousins, Wylder & Mabel, to the Toronto zoo. It’s WAY too soon for us to get back in the car. We’ll wait to hear about the fun they have… and maybe one day Graham will go to the zoo also. Instead, we took advantage of the quiet morning by taking a run with Grampa in town- up past Glen Burney Marina on Grampa’s new running route. Then Grampa took us fishing off the dock. Graham caught three sun fish and boy, did he love it! He held the pole, played with the reel, and splashed the water in the bucket where the fish were temporarily held hostage. After we were done, Grampa slowly tipped the bucket back into the lake and we watched our fish swim under the dock.

Tues- day 3. It was a relaxing lazy Party Sound day. The weather was perfect- sunny and warm. We took advantage by doing absolutely everything we wanted to do- nothing at all. We highlighted this with a midday nap in the hammock (Graham & I) and a little fun in the swing that Grampa has rigged up between two trees near the laundry building. That’s fun too! We swam with Grampa at the beach and Graham tried out one of the circular floaties. He was a little unsure about it at first (as were we) but he settled into the idea of ‘floating’ and played with toys on the mesh at the front, as his little legs dangled into the water below. Later in the day we went with Grampa to Glen Burney Marina to get Allie, Grammie & cousins after their trip to Toronto. Of course, we did another couple miles of running while we were there. (We can’t be totally lazy all day.) Graham snuggles down into his Ergo carrier while I (‘mom’) trot along with Grampa. We had a late dinner and time for beddies knowing that tomorrow brings lots of cousin fun.

Wed- day 4. Graham takes his first (SLOW and brief) Sea Doo ride with mom! We spent a long time at our beach with cousins. Graham is also getting very talkative! He’s responding to questions with long sentences of jibberish baby talk (but if you stretch your imagination, you can almost make out what he’s saying.) He’s the cutest.❤️

Thur- day 5. Graham spent some time with Grammie and cousins while I went into town with Grampa & Aunty Allie to run and get groceries. I was finally able to check email and get online to fix my phone. Cell service has mysteriously started working. Back at the cottage we went canoeing with Aunty Allie & cousins and spent some more time at the beach. Being at the beach and in the water is more & more enjoyable. Graham is getting more comfortable and gaining confidence. He loves to splash with both hands and climb the rocks. (Just as long as he’s not eating the rocks.)

Fri- day 6. Graham learned how to drink a smoothie from a real straw! (Thanks for the smoothie, Aunty Allie.) We took a boat trip to the dump with cousins, Aunty Allie, & Grampa. Graham played at the beach with everyone… climbed the rock, splashed, and played in the sandbox with Mabel.

Sat- day 7. Aunty Allie left to get dad and Uncle Jeff from the Toronto airport. Graham, Grampa, and I are responsible for the groceries and a quick run. We’re looking forward to what we’ve deemed, “Daddy Day”! Once back from our town trip we went next door to a dock party. All the neighbors were there. Graham got to meet a few other boys: Owen, Peter Fletcher’s grandson. Ryder (2) and Jackson (4) who are Sarah and Jay’s boys; (Sarah is Betty’s daughter.) Graham also got to meet the Reeds, Jim Brown, and Katie (Aunty Jen’s old Parry Sound friend) who hadn’t been to the cottage in almost 10 years. We did a bath in the kitchen sink (our second one since arriving).