Cookie Break

We went to PEI this weekend for my nephew, Carlin's birthday party.  It was wonderful to celebrate his 3rd birthday at the CARI pool with friends and family.  Particularly wonderful because his family just moved back to PEI from Calgary, AB less than a year ago, and you realise how important family relations are when they are gone.  I have so many wonderful cousin memories from being a kid, and love that we're able to make sure the kids have some of those types of experiences, too.  

On the way to PEI, I was thinking about a family friend (Howie) that I hadn't seen in forever.  He lived in the same community as mine when I was a child, and is a close friend of my dad's.  I decided I wanted to be sure to see him this weekend.  He has recently sold and moved out of his old family home, and now has a new home nestled in the woods in the same community.  He also has a tiny one room cabin, further into the woods.  I figured that would make a nice little walk on a Sunday afternoon.  

When we arrived at the house, Howie welcomed us to his property.  He said there were lots of trails that would take us to the cabin, and that surely we would find it with a little exploring.  And this might have been true if we had not added to our little family hike on this day.   My boys really wanted their little 3 year old cousin to come with us.   Carlin did absolutely wonderful!! It is no small feat to walk on winter trails, and/or to try to keep up to Liam! At times, I carried Carlin on my back, and on my shoulder at times, and so did Al (as we did with our boys when they were younger).  Overall though, Carlin did lots of his own walking.  And even for the adults ,it was a little difficult to keep going with the trails going in all directions, and not knowing if you were heading in the right direction.  Eventually, we decided it was time for a cookie break - sitting in the snow in the sunshine.  The boys were so adorable and sweet with their gingerbread cookies, provided by granny.  Again, I'm ecstatic to provide this memory for the boys.  Then Howie showed up on his x-country skis to show us the way to cabin, but the little monkeys were only thinking about having some hot chocolate back at Howie's house (which had been promised earlier).  I walked back with the boys to Howie's, while Howie had Al trampling through the snow all over the property.  Al was able to take some pics and a video of the cabin for me.  I definitely want to come back to do some more exploring on his property.  So simple, beautiful and peaceful (when you couldn't hear the snowmobiles). 

Meanwhile, back at the house, I let myself and the kiddos in.  Actually, because Zachary was dragging his feet a little, it was my nephew who let himself in first :)  But we all got our boots and jackets and mittens and hats off, then made ourselves at home in the kitchen.  I gave the kids each a piece of paper from a notepad and a pen to occupy them, then went about opening cupboards until I found the hot chocolate.  The boys each had their own cup done pretty much by the time Howie and Al got back. 

I had never been in this house before, and I hadn't seen Howie in a really long time, but it still seemed like the most natural thing in the world.  I love relationships like that.  I think I should make a new motto in my life, "If I'm not comfortable rooting through your cupboards (or vice versa), then perhaps we shouldn't be friends at all". ... a little too extreme?! Well, for those who do have those wonderful relationships, I'm sure you know what I mean about how special that is.

Once again, it was lovely to get out on a trail.  Short but sweet.  And I can barely remember how it seemed like it might be impossible to get all three of them in their hat, mittens, snowpants, and winter jackets.  

Before we knew it, it was time to head off for another amazing family memory making experience at my aunt and uncle's place in Seaview (and the hot tub!!!)