Graeme's favorite thing, when we talk about the cottage, is still Grandpa's boat. Required photo #1 Required photo #2 Grandma/Mom is thrilled to see her grand kids. Grandpa enjoys some quality time with Catriona. The morning boat ride over to the store to pickup the newspaper is a tradition of sorts. A little bribery never hurt anyone. I think she likes it. Grandpa "tidying" the lake bed. Grandpa canoeing... ...with Graeme! We went over to Mont Tremblant for a few hours. Hold on to your hats. Try not to look like tourists. Catriona is super-happy to be holding her grandparents hands, and vice versa. I love this shot. Catriona and Mum. The overpopulated sign post. Classic. Maybe it's a M*A*S*H thing. Our one family photo of the year. Frame it. Mom (Grandma) and flowers. Who'da thunk it. Graeme loved the ski lift. I notice everybody is helping Catriona walk. It's funny because now (1.5 months later) she's really good at it. Back at the cottage... Catriona and Jenn in the hammock. Graeme and Doug hiking in the woods... ...and Graeme decides that if Daddy can take photos of Graeme, then Graeme can take photos of Daddy. I'll hold it, you go for help. Let's see if we can get it rolling. (Graeme is getting good at this photography thing.) Walking along the shore I like photographing mushrooms. Is that odd? Grandma's heaven: Gardening with the grandkids running around nearby. Graeme is helping move wood. (Grandpa's been tidying the woods again.) The Olives show up! Here Ryan is wearing his Dad's glasses. He looks really intelligent with those. Hi Katy. Catriona contemplates her day's agenda. So much to do. 9:15am, time for colouring with Katy. 9:30am, power nap... ...followed by stretching. Who dares interrupt the all-powerful Catriona... ...when I'm trying to nap cutely. Across the lake we meet up with Robin who is anxiously waiting for his new grandson to show up. Catriona and Graeme's favorite pastime. Close-up (crop of previous) Off on another hike. ...this time with Chris, Sarah, and Ryan. (and Doug on camera duty of course) Insert your own punchline here. Whackamole anyone? Ryan overcomes adversity. I really like this shot. The Miller Store. When a sign gets old it transforms from brand identification to iconic antique. On our way home Chris discovers a mole. The mole had discovered a tire. (Chris did wash his hands a few minutes later.) Post-hike. Yay! Peter and Alexia show up... and for the first time... ...introducing Thomas! Ah, the new family. Notice the tiredness setting in. Obligatory Loon Photo #1 The kids are looking off the bow of the boat at the "alligator". Heron in flight The heron in its native "raft" habitat. Heron in flight (wings up) Heron in flight (wings down) Obligatory Loon Photo #2 Obligatory Loon Photo #3 (close-up) I like this one because of Robin's Nest's Boathouse in the background. We saw several beavers this weekend. They'd swim past in the evenings. When I was taking the beaver photos he swam back and forth several times checking *me* out. Micah and his new girlfriend, Shan. Welcome Shan. Hi Todd. [insert caption here] Christa and Jon in the kitchen. One week, 800 photos, and this is one of about 3 that I'm in. (well, technically it's a Catriona shot, and I'm playing the role of chair.) Happy people. She does like her popsicles. A nice photo of Jenn. Happy Micah. What is Christa thinking? A flan by any other name. (I think we'll call this one "dessert".) Everyone seems really happy.... it must be the wine. Pick up? Christa... um... what is she doing? Pensive. (Todd's photo) Graeme in 4-year-old-heaven. (4.75, whatever) Another flying heron. Christa was the only one to climb to the "lower" cliff (3m). Here's what she's contemplating. And she's off! Mid flight. Sunday's sailing race is at Robin & Sue's place. Although he's quite able to swim without them, the water wings give Graeme confidence. Jon peers down from upstairs. Todd's cannon ball Todd: "I have the best girlfriend". Christa: "Boing, zip, pow, wooeeeesh". Jon's trademark "X-Wing" pose from the body building competition he won. More extension! Shan, demonstrates how to fly. He's still at it. Group shot as everybody was leaving. (Peter, Alexia, and Thomas were across the lake.) Skipping back now to photos from Jenn's camera... we're bringing the canoe to the far end of the lake. At the far end is a river which feeds the lake, on the edge of which we find another heron. It's a nice river, with a lot of lily pads, lots of plant life, flowers, birds, and of course, the power lines. Grandpa, Jenn, and Graeme are swinging around so that I (Doug) can hop back in, after helping them over a very low beaver dam. Hiking under the power lines we find a big log bridge. Yellow We were happy to find raspberries this late in the season. Grandpa helps Graeme over the rocks. Hi Jenn! Can you imagine what this river would be like full of water? A bit further down river, we come to a nice secluded terraced area. Canonical canoe tripping photo. Obligatory photo of Jim driving the boat. Graeme at the bow. These guys are working on dock rebuilding, and, evidentally destruction too. Grandma's last swim of the year. It was a bit grey today. Here are the Olives down on the dock. "Lonely". Well, not really. Katy is just taking a breather from the 3 kids playing behind us. We needed something long to reach the stick with... I know, we'll use Graeme! Thanks Chris. Cute smile from Catriona.