US Trip - Week 2 Lake Cabin

For our second week in the US, we went to my Grandparents' lake cabin in Northern Idaho.  Great Grandma Marien (Gigi) lives there in the summer and hosts many family and friends that come and visit.  We drove up with my parents.  My older brother Ben and his two boys joined us from California for the week giving his wife a nice girl's weekend in Florida.  My younger brother Josh was able to join us for a couple days before he went off for some more Army training.  My cousin Traci and her husband and three children joined us for most of the week as well.  So the cabin was at maximum capacity with all of us there.  It was a lot of fun and the best part was seeing the cousins enjoying playing with one another.  Campbell joined us for the trip mid-week.

View down the lake from the dock.  What a perfect day for a boatride!

Ben took the kids and me for a boatride.  There was no one on the lake and it was perfectly still.

Looking back at the cabin (behind the boat cover....not the big one on the right!)

Sylvie was squashed into her life-vest.  It was the only time she wore it which was in the boat.  They both loved the boat ride.  Archie kept looking up at me smiling showing me how happy he was and pointing around.

And while we were there, Sylvie had her first birthday.  Campbell arrived the day of her birthday so it was a great day.  I successfully made a cake with icing and all.  Considering my varied success with cakes in the past, I was very proud of my creation.  Traci brought a large cupcake tin cake mold that I used to create a special cake.  Cousins Marien and Oren helped make, color, and decorate the frosting and sprinkles.  They also help me taste all the colors to make sure they were good.  They tested so much, neither were too hungry at dinner....all my fault!

Birthday girl ready to dig in

She loved the frosting!

Swimming on the beach.  Archie and Ruby do not look happy but they loved spending time with one another.  They were just a little camera shy at times.  They are in their beach chairs enjoying cookies.

Fun meal with no shirts

Dinner with the cousins

Enjoying some Daddy time at Starbucks after we picked him up at the airport.

Traci brought a train set up and all the kids loved playing with it.  Archie would wake up and ask to go outside to play trains.  Santa might have to bring him a trainset for Christmas.  It provided HOURS of entertainment.

Young Marien and Gigi (Great Grandma Marien)

Enjoying watchin a movie together.  Archie had to sit in the same chair with Marien, his best buddy.

The three musketeers, two of whom are being camera shy.

Another sucessful attempt at getting a photo of the two of them together!

Going for walk/run down the bay.

Sylvie loves her Uncle Ben and was totally at ease with him all week.

Time on the dock. 

Swim time.  I don't have any photos but Archie did really well swimming in the lake.  He had a life-jacket and could swim on his own.  In fact, he didn't want me holding on to him at all.  It was more of a stand-up swim style than a laying in the water but it worked well.  He kept saying, "Arching swimming! I do it!....Come on Mom!....This way!....That way!"  It was super cute and lots of fun.

Dock time with Grandpa

Growing up, when we went to the cabin and met up with many of our cousins, we had photos on the beach.  We would line up by age and take photos and then we would line up by height and take photos.  It is a great way to see us all together and see how we have changed.  So this year we lined the kids up and took some cute photos.  Archie was in a bit of a mood and refused to take his Binky out.  

Happy Birthday Sylvie!

Birthday girl!

I got him to smile but still couldn't get the binky out!

Another perfect weather day

Auntie Susie and Grandma

Auntie Traci.  Archie wanted to cuddle with her on the couch.  He was tired from another long day of trains and swimming.

My favorite photos: Gigi and the kids

US Trip - Week 1, Parents' House

US Trip - Week 1
I had to split this up into 4 posts because of all the stuff we did and all the photos to put up.  So hope you have a lot of time to get through all these!

It has been awhile since our last post as we were visiting the states for a month.  We left in early July and arrived home in early August.  It was a great visit but totally exhausting.  

I left with both kids and flew home to my parents house for our first week.  Yes, I flew 10 hours in a plane with a 1 year old an a 27 month toddler.  Yes, did it alone.  If I wanted to stay longer then I had to leave earlier than Campbell was going to be there.  He only has so much vacation time to use.  I was prepared with and Ipad and movies, new cars, stickers, markers, snacks, more snacks, pacifiers, blankets, etc.  They both sleep a little and didn't have any major meltdowns.  It was close to a miracle.  People on the flight were also incredibly helpful especially getting on and off the airplane.

And then we arrived in the US where my parents met us at the airport for a short drive to their house.  It was the first time Sylvie met Grandpa and a long time since they had seen Grandma.  Archie decided to call Grandma, Didi.  Not sure why but that is who she is now.

Grandpa made a super cool rocking horse for Archie.  He LOVES it and had a great time riding it.

Archie and Didi

Getting to touch a real trash truck!  Archie loves the trash trucks and since Grandpa knows all the drivers in town, he was nice enough to stop.

Sylvie's hair is growing so much and she starting crawling the week we were there.

Playing with trucks in the wood chip pile with Grandpa

This is Great Grandma Kitty (Grandpa's mom) who came to visit from Iowa.  It was the first time she met the kids and a nice bonus to the trip.

Archie and Sylvie love to rough-house and roll around with one another.

On the swings again!  No baby swings in Holland to be found, so this one was the first Archie has been on since in Seattle.  He loved it!

Sylvie's first time one a swing and she was so happy!

Sylvie looks more like a baby than a toddler in this photo but by the time we arrive home, she looks less like a baby.  She grew a lot on this trip and started moving a lot more.  She is starting to get more of a personality and becoming a little rascal at times!

The playground across the street in a park had all sorts of trucks and diggers.  We went almost everyday and Archie loved it.  He could spend hours there.  We also went to a paddling pool for babies and toddlers which both kids loved.

Uncle Garry came to visit one night with Auntie Judy and their daughter Alise with her boyfriend.  It was a great night and both kids loved seeing them all.  

Cuddles with Judy!

They look less than interested but they were having a great time!

Sylvie loves the rocking horse too!

And then we were off to visit the Lake Cabin in Idaho!  

That will be week two and the 2nd post.