Summer's Last Hurrah

Hard to believe that summer has come and gone but it has, and looking back I really neglected my blog. I really didn't blog all summer. Sorry blogger! I guess that is a good indication on how much fun we had this summer. Lyla is growing more and more independent as the days go on - that is not to say that she isn't a muma's girl - as she surely is - ask Ryan! But she is working on potty training, talking like a 20 year old and having the most fun any 2 year old could ask for.

Tomorrow we have a huge milestone - Lyla is starting a day of daycare each week. I will post more on that tomorrow. But for tonight I had to post some of our pictures from our last hurrah of summer time fun.

Last week we went to Nana and Papa's house to spend a couple of days with them and Lyla's cousins. We were only there a short time but we made the most of our time with everyone.

It was really hot last week - in the 90s! And we needed some relief -So the first day that we got there we headed to the splash pad as soon as Lyla had her nap. Splash pads are in almost every community in Ontario - not so much in Michigan so this was Lyla's first experience with the splash pad. It was not without excitement and injury - two typical things in any toddler day. The excitement came just from the fun of the entire scene - fun with her cousins, and fun with water. The injury came when Lyla climbed up on the wall you see behind her in the picture below and decided to have Jillian catch her as she jumped off the wall. . Lets just say my heart was in my throat as I saw this scene unfold - Lyla is lucky she didn't truly hurt herself more than some abrasions.. Just check out these pictures from the splash pad and you can see everyone had a blast....

The 3 friends and 3 cousins....

Lyla really likes her older cousin Matthew. He really entertains her and makes her laugh. she is still talking about him this week and mimicking him... Thanks Matthew for the laughs...

The next day we planned to load up the van and head to the beach. Two sisters and their 4 kids! It was so much fun. We really didn't know where we were going - just to the lake and once we got there my memory of a beach trip when Emily was Lyla's age was our map. We went to Port Franks and had a great September 1st at the beach. The sun was hot, the water was warm and the family fun was great! I can't wait to go back next year, and it left me asking my sister - why we hadn't done this earlier this summer!

Here are our 2 princesses bathing themselves in the water at the beach. I love this picture!

The nice thing about this beach was the shallowness. We were able to go out quite a bit and the girls could lay in the water and enjoy the water. It was really nice..

No trip to the beach is complete without the kids splashing their moms. . Lyla even got in on it.. and on my camera - I have pictures of her coming up to me after seeing the kids splashing Aunt Pam... Lets just say Aunt Pam was no long dry after this splashing ..


Loving cousin Emily...

Loving the beach...


More splashing...

Like I said, great beach for kids - Here is the gang all out swimming together. Thanks Emily for watching over Lyla...

3 of the kiddies ... Sorry Pam - I didn't post the picture of Jillian crying about Lyla not holding her hand...

Lyla loved wearing Matthew's goggles. In fact today she was telling me about wearing Matthew's sunglasses at the beach. I think it was quite the fashion statement don't you?

The next day we all gathered at Nana and Papa's for a lunch and a cake to celebrate family time as well as Miss Jillian's birthday. Matthew spent a lot of time pulling the girls around in the wagon with Lyla yelling 'FASTER!' at him.

Such a cute picture. As we all sang happy birthday to Jillian she reached for Lyla's hand and held onto her hand. Very cute.

Thanks for the great summer visit! We can't wait until next summer comes and we can all play again at the beach and splash pad!