Foto (Photo) Friday is a show and tell of pics from the past week. I finally have everything I need transferred from my old computer. I figured instead of trying to catch up with the posts I would just start new and keep on schedule. Labor Day weekend we rented the cottage my grandparents built for the weekend. The weather was a little chilly, but we made the best of it and had a great time. Now I can say that my kids got to stay there like I did as a kid. This weeks pictures are going to be from this week.
- This is what the cottage looks like now. When my grandparents owned it there was not a roof over the deck. I actually love the roof on the deck. It gives shade so you can sit and watch everything when the sun is blazing down. (Only on Monday for us, but the kids also ate lunch on Monday on the deck instead of inside.
- This is the original orange paddleboat that was there when I was a kid. It still works, the steering is still a little wonky, and just as much fun now as it was then. S loved taking this out, and went out on it multiple times by himself.
- Saturday morning we took the boat out first thing so I could show B where he could and couldn’t drive it. Little B got to go out on our boat for the first time before either her big brother or sister got too. She loved riding on the boat.
- S got to knee board for the first time. I taught him to take off from the shore like we did when we were kids. When he fell out in the water he couldn’t and wasn’t willing to try to get back on the knee board by himself. He really did like knee boarding and was able to take off from the shore all by himself on Monday.
- We used to minnow fish with a big minnow net like this when we were young, so with my description B was able to build a new one. I love watching my kids, nieces, and nephews all getting to do what we did when we were kids. They all had fun catching the minnow and putting them in sand buckets.
- I was super curious what Little B would do with a minnow if I gave it to her. She usually puts everything in her mouth so that is exactly what I was expecting. To my surprise she only took the minnow in her hand and held it. She was very intrigued by it and just kept checking it out. I did put it back in the lake before it was too late.
- My nieces were out on the paddle board together when B said he would like to rooster tail them. It was a joke until my sister gave him the okay. She just wanted to be on the boat to watch. Not only did he manage to spray them once, but he did it twice. They had a good laugh just like everyone on the shore did.
- Monday I paddle boarded around the entire lake (even the swampy area) in the morning. Halfway through B brought P over to me on the speedboat. She rode on the board for the second half of the lake.
- When we got back the kids had fun fishing for minnows and then playing with them. It’s is the same thing we always did as kids, too!
- After I paddle boarded through the swampy area I wanted to take B and the kids back there so they could see it all and B would understand why the boat can’t go back there. Well we couldn’t leave the dogs at the cottage by themselves so they tagged along on the canoe with us. It really was a family adventure. Dinky sat up front with me and watched out the front of the boat. Yes she wears a life jacket. PJ could have cared less and slept in the bottom of the canoe. I thought she would be checking everything out but I guess sleep sounded better.
- Of course, I never get family pictures unless they are done by me. At least we can prove we were all actually there!
- I convinced P to try knee boarding before we left. I got her on the board holding the ski rope, and I rode behind her holding on to the rope and making sure she didn’t fall or get hurt. S was attempting to take pictures and video for me. P was so happy and scared when she was done.
Overall, the weekend was great. It did rain for almost the entire day on Sunday but at least that gives us a feel of how it would be up there. The kids had a great time. Going up there did not put water on the fire, or add fuel to the fire of me wanting the cottage but has kept the kindling going. Will we rent it again? I have no idea. Am I glad we rented it for the weekend? Absolutely, it is something I got to experience with B and my kids. Now if I ever talk about the cottage at least they will know what I am talking about.