isabelle of the ball: Muskoka Magic

It would be a significant understatement to say we enjoyed our days at Six Mile Lake. To spend time there with the entire family for the first time in several years meant so much to all of us, not to mention how it felt to see Isabelle and Oliver reveling in that environment. Isabelle developed into the quintessential cottage kid right before our eyes, from casting her fishing rod off the dock repeatedly to spending hours swimming all over the lake, she could have been any of the Bangay sisters 30 years ago. As amazing as it was to see her leap into the water with reckless abandon or yell at Grandpa to "hit it" when cruising in the boat, what she enjoyed most was all the time playing with her cottage cousins. Of course, Olan was her partner in crime as always, but Anikka and Mikaela (who Isabelle often called "that girl" and "that other girl") were both so good with her. They follow in their Gran's (Auntie Teppy) footsteps as fabulous and generous hostesses. As for Oliver, he was simply pleased to toddle down the path, down the rocks, up the rocks and up the path, exploring all the while. Forever on the lookout for animals, he quickly befriended the two dogs in the cottage, as well as an ever elusive chipmunk just off the path. We can't wait to head back and renew acquaintances in a few weeks at the family picnic but for now we have many fresh memories of our great long weekend at the lake.

Ah, cottage life is awesome. As Winston Churchill once said, "Why stand when you can sit?", and it rings even more true when a Muskoka chair is the seating option.

Oliver and Mommy visit the dock for the first time. After a few days, Oliver could navigate this steep rock with ease going either up or down, but we were always nearby for the inevitable fall that never actually came!

Isabelle was oh-so-pleased to show Olan how to work the new binoculars he got as part of his cottage gift. Only she could pull off the safari explorer/ballerina look so well.

Is she 3 or 13? She appears to be pleading her case like a pro while snacking on peanuts. She was a treat at the cottage, not a fussy bone in her body. If only it were like this at home! Maybe we can convince her that because we have a lake across the street, our house is a cottage too.

We could have taken this picture 100 times over while there, Isabelle and Mikaela were always in the water and rarely far from each other. One night we tried to call them in and they just ignored us for as long as they could!

Little dude, long path, little cottage. Oliver truly loved heading down this path over and over again, looking back, seeing if anyone would follow him. Often we just watched to see how far the little explorer would take himself.

Like her Mom before her, Isabelle loved the boat. If you had any doubts, try getting her out of the bow for any reason other than to drive. With the wind in her hair and the smile on her face, she was in heaven.

Learning the ropes from Grandpa. We'd much rather see her behind the wheel of the boat than the car for now!

Look at the joy in Isabelle's face. A simple boatride was all it took. Of course, when that boatride includes some full speed accelerations it doesn't hurt. Only 3 and she already has the need for speed, we have our work cut out for us!

Not to be outdone, little brother can also have fun on the boat. His favourite thing to do was walk back and forth from bow to stern, not so easily accomplished with 12 people on deck!

Gran and Oliver discuss the possibility of the chipmunk coming back to visit. We left peanuts out for him and Oliver was overjoyed any time he caught a glimpse. The boy is an animal fanatic, so much so that I'm sure the dogs were happy to see him go, they might be able to get some rest!

Sunkissed sweeties settle in for a story from Gran. That afternoon, Isabelle fell asleep on her Mom while they were on the floating dock. She was red on her arms and her face, then the next day she's sporting a perfect tan and no burn. What gives with her superhuman skin?