First trip to the lake this year
Posting this July 17 but backdating it July 05.
July 01, we headed off to the lake, and it was an emotionally charged event for me. This is the first time I've been to my dad's cabin since he's passed away. It actually went better than I thought it would. It did not have that sense of "presence" that I still feel in the house, and the vacation was completely enjoyable.
Saw lots of wildlife on the way up. Bunnies, lots of deer, a couple of foxes, lots of squirrels. Didn't see the bears, although their presence were everywhere.
We have bats nesting in the attic. At first we weren't sure it was bats, but we later confirmed it when Jason saw them flying in and out of the roof at night. They can't (or don't want to?) get into the main cabin, and honestly I'm not too concerned with them being in the attic. I like bats. I realize not many people do, but I think it's really cool we've got a nest up there. We could hear the babies. I also like that they keep down our insect population. We haven't had any trouble with wasps since the bats have moved in.
While there were definitely tons of squirrels, they definitely were well-fed, and not too interested in the nuts we'd put out. The Blue Jays and Whiskey Jacks, on the other hand, were delighted with our offerings. We had a hard time leaving nuts out for them though, because Alex would eat the nuts as soon as they were put out.
Both kids travelled really well considering it's a 4 hour trip up there. They both loved it up there. Alex has been talking for a full year about feeding the squirrels and going to the beach - both activities we've only done at the cabin. It makes me so happy to think that this cabin is starting to mean as much to my children as it meant to me when I was little.
Stephen had a great time as well. Jason and his dad have done so much work up there, it's made it so much easier to bring the kids up. I remember when we brought up Alex at Stephen's age, and it was a complete nightmare. It was so hard to contain her and keep her from destroying everything... but this year it was just not an issue. She was well-behaved, and Stephen couldn't physically get into the same kinds of things that were previously left out.
One more surprise... Alex decided, on July 01, that she was going to use the potty from now on. It wasn't an announcement she made or anything, but she just... started using it. She wouldn't even tell us. She'd just walk in, go to the bathroom, and walk out. Like an adult. It was crazy! Did not anticipate that at all. Now if we can just get her to poop on the potty, life will be fantastic. So far we've had no success in that arena, but I've got renewed faith that it will happen one day. Friends have assured me that she WILL be trained by the time she goes to school.
Anyway, the visit was fantastic, and I can't wait to go up again.
July 01, we headed off to the lake, and it was an emotionally charged event for me. This is the first time I've been to my dad's cabin since he's passed away. It actually went better than I thought it would. It did not have that sense of "presence" that I still feel in the house, and the vacation was completely enjoyable.
Saw lots of wildlife on the way up. Bunnies, lots of deer, a couple of foxes, lots of squirrels. Didn't see the bears, although their presence were everywhere.
We have bats nesting in the attic. At first we weren't sure it was bats, but we later confirmed it when Jason saw them flying in and out of the roof at night. They can't (or don't want to?) get into the main cabin, and honestly I'm not too concerned with them being in the attic. I like bats. I realize not many people do, but I think it's really cool we've got a nest up there. We could hear the babies. I also like that they keep down our insect population. We haven't had any trouble with wasps since the bats have moved in.
While there were definitely tons of squirrels, they definitely were well-fed, and not too interested in the nuts we'd put out. The Blue Jays and Whiskey Jacks, on the other hand, were delighted with our offerings. We had a hard time leaving nuts out for them though, because Alex would eat the nuts as soon as they were put out.
Both kids travelled really well considering it's a 4 hour trip up there. They both loved it up there. Alex has been talking for a full year about feeding the squirrels and going to the beach - both activities we've only done at the cabin. It makes me so happy to think that this cabin is starting to mean as much to my children as it meant to me when I was little.
Stephen had a great time as well. Jason and his dad have done so much work up there, it's made it so much easier to bring the kids up. I remember when we brought up Alex at Stephen's age, and it was a complete nightmare. It was so hard to contain her and keep her from destroying everything... but this year it was just not an issue. She was well-behaved, and Stephen couldn't physically get into the same kinds of things that were previously left out.
One more surprise... Alex decided, on July 01, that she was going to use the potty from now on. It wasn't an announcement she made or anything, but she just... started using it. She wouldn't even tell us. She'd just walk in, go to the bathroom, and walk out. Like an adult. It was crazy! Did not anticipate that at all. Now if we can just get her to poop on the potty, life will be fantastic. So far we've had no success in that arena, but I've got renewed faith that it will happen one day. Friends have assured me that she WILL be trained by the time she goes to school.
Anyway, the visit was fantastic, and I can't wait to go up again.