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.