A Lemonade Summer Day

The cottage. Every time we pull in and get out, Iam reminded why we bought it.  We have spent a fair amount of Sunday afternoons there since April.  Above is Adam on the lawn mower...they both love to get on that thing and we've since basically put a stop to it, but it was cute.  Below is Miss Abbey, who we discovered can climb up trees quickly ...and well.  But let's get to last weekend.  As to why I call it a lemonade summer day.

When I was a teen, they'd show this Country Time lemonade ad, referring to the 'dog days' of summer ( which I know actually is August, but stick with me).  A kid in swim shorts, running across the yard and a tire swing.  I'd think, I want that.  Whether or not I wanted it for me or my future kids, I don't know.  I just wanted whatever that feeling was.  

We stayed the night for the first time, me getting brave and doing it with Ellie.  It was hot, but not intolerable on Saturday.  By the time we got there, it was nearly seven.  The kids ran around and we got them into bed around 9pm.  I wish I'd taken a photo, because it was the very first time they slept in regular twin beds.  We weren't sure what to expect, but they did great!  Got up at 6:30, which is way too early but later than I thought they'd sleep.

While I worked to get Miss Ellie asleep, Todd was outside trying to get a fire going.  Earlier in the day, I said it was my main reason for wanting to spend the night.  I LOVE camp fires.  Ellie fell asleep at 9:30pm and slept until nearly four am, exhausted, it seemed, by the heat.  Todd and I had a nice time by the fire until after midnight, having a little Red Cat, until the bugs drove me in.  Of course, I had some S'mores, too.  Took awhile to get the fire going, especially since there was a giant tree stump in it that the neighbors who put the dock in put there.  They had cut down an old gnarly apple tree that made their life harder putting the dock in and out and even took the stump out.  Stumps don't burn easily, let me tell you.

The next day, we went to breakfast at Kristi's diner 'around the corner' and had a great breakfast.  We then drove to Cape Vincent to see what was going on.  The waterfront there is gorgeous...it's where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence.  There was a French festival going on that we discussed returning for, though we never made it.   

Ellie slep a lot, lethargic from the heat.  Todd laid down and I took the kids out. Adam had been saying until that point that he didn't want to go swimming. Now he did, so I went and got Todd and got their swimsuits on.  Abbey jumped right into her Daddy's arms.  

You can see Adam was a more reluctant.  He wanted to, but was scared.

But then he got in and loved it.  I even ended up getting in, though I've been cautious of lake swimming since 1994 when a snake with teeth went after me ( ask Pam, it's true!).  It was nice ...and upon reflection it felt like that feeling...that lemonade summer feeling...

Abbey and I went to town to get food to grill and band-aids for Todd, who cut his foot.  Elle slept again while I was gone, woken up as we finished eating.  We left after 6, sweating from the humidity but happy for a nice family day... Doesn't Ellie look cute here??