Staycation phase 2 : family style (scroll down for photos)

The four days away that Dan and I had were just wonderful... I would do it all over again in a heartbeat... thank you so much to the people who helped make it happen for us.  When I think back to last week and close my eyes I can feel my bloodpressure drop and a nice relexed sigh flows from my lips....  Good thing we built up our reserves for Phase 2!

We arrived back to the homestead on saturday and were reunited with the kiddies.   We did a unpack / repack marathon for all, loaded the van and we were ready to go after church on Sunday.  The kids and I hit Letournea and awaited daddy's arrival late in the night after he finished up with some work / church duties.

As we drove to camp, shea's first question was... "will they have a ramp for my chair"? Ahhh the concerns of a babe!

I was a bit whooped getting the kids into the cottage settled, unpacked, fed, changed, etc etc, but had a fun break as my good friend Deb and her son Ben were brave enough to come visit us and have a play date.  There are many categories of friends at this stage in life.  One main category:  the friends who are still brave enough to come hang out for play dates with the crazy kulp crew for more than half an hour!  If you are one of the brave souls in that group give yourselves a pat on the back! 

The kids were very excited to explore the new surroundings of the cottage, play on the enclosed porch, set up the "big kid bedroom" camping style, and in general, run, jump and climb.  Simon especially seemed very content and happy to be king of this new castle.  One of my favorite features was a comfy rocker, that simon liked as much as I did.  A few times a day he would come sit with me and just rock and enjoy each other.... just being still.

That is one of the necessary reasons for a staycation with the family... it is still a ton of work, there are still medical routines to perform, dishes to wash, diapers to change, meals to prepare.... but the rest of the world is not pulling on you.  You sit and enjoy each othera bit more easily.  You may be thinking about the million things that need to be done, but you are not home so you don't feel guilty about not doing them!  You can be still with each other just a bit more, play with them just a bit sillier, and breath just a little deeper some of the time.

Grandpa Button came for a fun surprise visit on monday.  The boys had long overdue haircuts.  The rec hall was explored.  The playground was played on.  The lake was admired!   Emily seemed to be the most entranced by the beauty of the water.  She asked (insisted) repeatedly to go "out out out" to the porch.  She would climb up in a chair and look out at the water over and over again.

Mommy's favorite quote of the week... "oops a doosie" from our Shea.  He used this phrase repeatedly.  I don't have the heart to tell him it's really oops a daisy...because I don't want him to change how he says it!  Too wonderful!

Surprise winner in category of "favorite toy":   The platic kitchen ladel that was transformed into a sand digger, worm finder, dirt soup stirrer!   Ahh what a young mind can do with a kitchen utensil.

Unexpected skill discovered:  my boys kind of kick butt in air hockey!  Simon has quite the arm, and scored on mommy a few times.  I loved watching him gaze intently at the way the puck hovered over the hundreds of tiny holes shooting out air.  Yes I know he was intently studying this because of his autism, but he let out a happy squeal, was good at something while having fun with it... and it was something NEW!  I love it when simon will allow a new joy to enter into his routine.

Award for best ploy:  Danielle was intent on "arresting" mom and dad, and throwing us into "jail".  Dan came up with the brilliant idea to make his prison the park bench... He could be doomed to punishment of sitting down and resting while the others played!  I married such a smart man!  He did deserve some rest after all the hauling and packing i've made him do lately!

Tuesday was honestly quite hectic... the norman rockwell of it all had to fade in the background as mom and dad figured out how to watch the gang and pack up a whole cottage, load the van, do the normal routines etc etc....and Emily was giving us a run for our money :)  We did leave a few hours early as this all became a bit overwhelming.  We did however go out for a "grand" mexican meal at Taco Bell on the way home. It was a hit for all.... especially simon...BEEF!... a kids best friend. 

So now we are home... mostly unpacked, and reality kicks back in tomorrow. No more playing hookie from school I am afraid! I am very thankful for the last few days to give us a boost during this long winter....memories were made. Hopefully the kids will be recharged and refreshed too! Now we wait for Spring!!!