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Pass the Chips, please.
Fish and Chips
It was deemed Fish and Chip night! Hooray! So we were off to Ford's Cove for some vittles. Apparently so was everyone else on the island. So it was a bit of a wait for our group of 9 to get our order filled. At first we all sat down to wait on a log.
Waiting began to take its' toll on some.
Hunger pangs were giving way to exhaustion. We had spent the whole day at the beach in the hot sun, running and playing all day.
Grandma was taking it the toughest. You can just see her thoughts... "I should be doing something productive with my time. I wonder if there is something in the car to work on... no I took everything out so I would have seats for everyone. hmm... I should relax and enjoy this time.. I wonder if I should go ask about the order, see if they've started it yet.
The wait was long... well over 40 minutes, but mmmm it was yummy and I managed to find a few photo ops to keep me busy. Much to my subjects dismay!
Caleb his efforts to look aloof and not notice me are wasted... I know he really wanted to turn and give me a big cheesy grin!
Dayton sitting on the log by the cove was such a natural shot for him.
Miles, Whittaker and Sarah were all tolerating the wait at different levels. Sarah, was too mature for her own good and was waiting patiently. Miles definitely was needing something to take his mind off of waiting, but Whittaker wasn't aware that this moment was any different than another moment of being cooped up in a stroller and moved from one location to another.
Once we decided to leave the log, the wait wasn't nearly as difficult to handle.
Bailey had come prepared for a bit of waiting time. She had swimsuits, towels and juice boxes. She also knew that the rocks at Ford's Cove could be a lot of fun to play on.
We headed down to find a place to claim as ours out on the rocks. On the way, Miles found a penny on the ground. Lucky pennies are something my boys love to find. This one was very dirty. Miles hoped that meant that it was really old and not just dirty. He took it to the water to clean it off.
*plop*
Yes. Waiting no longer consumed his thoughts. Now much of the wait was spent trying to relocate the lost penny.
Everyone assisted for a bit, but all gave up... except Miles. He explored the rocks for a bit and played some also, but he returned every few minutes to look one more time for the penny. Unfortunately he was unsuccessful. But if you're a treasure hunter.... I know where there's some money out by Ford's Cove! (Miles is now asking for a metal detector for Christmas so that he can take it to Hornby next year)
Warning: Picture intensive. How we entertained ourselves while we waited, and waited, and waited ....
and waited for our food.
Fortunately, a gorgeous sunset, an exquisite formation of sandstone rocks and the tide coming in provided a natural playground and plenty to occupy an excruciatingly long wait....
The kids leapt, they splashed, they explored, they made new friends, they observed marine life, they sat and absorbed the tranquility, they asked a few times how much longer until the food was ready....
Hanging with Dayton, navigating the changing pathways as the tide came ever closer, testing new abilities to leap from one rock to another and amazingly no one fell in... although there were a lot of near misses!
I loved watching as people came in so many ways to get their take out food. This one in particular was great. They kayaked in, she hopped out, placed their order, then she popped into the cove store and grabbed a bag of groceries, she returned to the restaurant window, picked up her order and returned to the kayak with their food. Once the groceries were stowed, they sat in the kayak, allowing themselves to be swayed by the waves as they enjoyed their meal. Then they went on their merry way.
Similarly, sailboats, small yachts, hikers, bikers and even hitchhikers came down to the cove for their meal.
Sometimes we needed to take turns babysitting. Whittaker was strapped into his stroller which was becoming all to familiar to him, but this time it was carried out to an outcropping of rocks not yet covered with the tide. He was in the thick of the action. He could see everyone around him hopping on the rocks and having a great time. It was so fun I'm sure he forgot about being strapped in like a prisoner for once!
I'm sorry... I can't help it... I am a Supernova after all!
Once the camera was back in my possession again I assisted those who were preparing to carry the food down to our dinner location.
Miles was fascinated by the boating equipment and how it worked on this boat shaped restaurant. He determined that the ropes were too short for them to be anything more than decorative.
Finally... our food was ready.
With such an order, they had waited until they could put our order in all at once so we could all eat together rather than cooking it as they had space in the fryers and some of us eating sooner than others. Sometimes decisions are made that if given the opportunity to do them differently another time, we would... I think this was one of them. Two smaller orders would have fed us a lot sooner. However, we might not have enjoyed such a tranquil and delightful pre-dinner ocean show.
Regardless, we all (except Duncan), enjoyed our meals. He decided that cod wasn't his favourite fish.
We were spread out at different 'tables' so to speak, but we all found just the right spot to enjoy our meal.
Once our meal was completed, the big boys loaded up into Dayton's boat......
and swung by our dinner location to give us a wave before they .....
... sailed off into the sunset!
Day 4 had been another wonderful day!
Waiting began to take its' toll on some.
Hunger pangs were giving way to exhaustion. We had spent the whole day at the beach in the hot sun, running and playing all day.
Grandma was taking it the toughest. You can just see her thoughts... "I should be doing something productive with my time. I wonder if there is something in the car to work on... no I took everything out so I would have seats for everyone. hmm... I should relax and enjoy this time.. I wonder if I should go ask about the order, see if they've started it yet.
Caleb his efforts to look aloof and not notice me are wasted... I know he really wanted to turn and give me a big cheesy grin!
Dayton sitting on the log by the cove was such a natural shot for him.
Once we decided to leave the log, the wait wasn't nearly as difficult to handle.
Bailey had come prepared for a bit of waiting time. She had swimsuits, towels and juice boxes. She also knew that the rocks at Ford's Cove could be a lot of fun to play on.
We headed down to find a place to claim as ours out on the rocks. On the way, Miles found a penny on the ground. Lucky pennies are something my boys love to find. This one was very dirty. Miles hoped that meant that it was really old and not just dirty. He took it to the water to clean it off.
*plop*
Yes. Waiting no longer consumed his thoughts. Now much of the wait was spent trying to relocate the lost penny.
Everyone assisted for a bit, but all gave up... except Miles. He explored the rocks for a bit and played some also, but he returned every few minutes to look one more time for the penny. Unfortunately he was unsuccessful. But if you're a treasure hunter.... I know where there's some money out by Ford's Cove! (Miles is now asking for a metal detector for Christmas so that he can take it to Hornby next year)
Warning: Picture intensive. How we entertained ourselves while we waited, and waited, and waited ....
and waited for our food.
Fortunately, a gorgeous sunset, an exquisite formation of sandstone rocks and the tide coming in provided a natural playground and plenty to occupy an excruciatingly long wait....
The kids leapt, they splashed, they explored, they made new friends, they observed marine life, they sat and absorbed the tranquility, they asked a few times how much longer until the food was ready....
Hanging with Dayton, navigating the changing pathways as the tide came ever closer, testing new abilities to leap from one rock to another and amazingly no one fell in... although there were a lot of near misses!
Similarly, sailboats, small yachts, hikers, bikers and even hitchhikers came down to the cove for their meal.
So, I snapped a LOT of photographs while we waited for our food. My subjects were generally cooperative and patient with me. It was only fair to allow a photo of myself to be taken.
Once the camera was back in my possession again I assisted those who were preparing to carry the food down to our dinner location.
Miles was fascinated by the boating equipment and how it worked on this boat shaped restaurant. He determined that the ropes were too short for them to be anything more than decorative.
With such an order, they had waited until they could put our order in all at once so we could all eat together rather than cooking it as they had space in the fryers and some of us eating sooner than others. Sometimes decisions are made that if given the opportunity to do them differently another time, we would... I think this was one of them. Two smaller orders would have fed us a lot sooner. However, we might not have enjoyed such a tranquil and delightful pre-dinner ocean show.
Regardless, we all (except Duncan), enjoyed our meals. He decided that cod wasn't his favourite fish.
Once our meal was completed, the big boys loaded up into Dayton's boat......
and swung by our dinner location to give us a wave before they .....
... sailed off into the sunset!
Day 4 had been another wonderful day!
Can't stop time.
Seven years ago at 8:21 am on this date, I voluntarily went under the knife. A tummy tuck of sorts. My girth was wider than it is these days and the doctors helped me out by removing a growth. A 7 lbs 7 oz growth that I had been affectionately referring to as 'Baby Duncan'.
His 7 lbs 7 oz has, over 7 years lost the title of 'baby' and has been affectionately been referred to as simply, Duncan. I told him last night as I tucked him in that this growing up business had to stop. I wasn't ready for him to be 7. Could he please just keep on being 6? I told him that when Sarah turned 11, I asked her to stop and she did, because if she didn't she would really be 13 now. And When Miles was 9, I asked him to stop and he did or he would be 18 already! But alas, his reply, "Mummy, that just isn't the way it works. It's not really true about Sarah and Miles is it?"
So I lie. I lie to my children. But they call me on it. Sarah was actually willing to play along... she'd love to be 13!! Duncan was a little worried... I guess he wondered if maybe just possibly I did have such powers and if I would make him stay 6. If I did have such powers... I'd really have to think about what age I'd freeze them at. And ultimately I don't know if I could decide. I've loved each age and stage of their lives... missed the old stages but enjoyed the new. So, we will bid farewell to 6 year old Duncan and welcome this 7 year old with hugs and kisses and birthday wishes!
He's correct.. it isn't the way it works. Instead he just keeps on growing up and getting older and wiser. He's fun and friendly. He gets along well with everyone he meets and is helpful and happy most of the time. He's also a determined young fellow. He asked how it is that I can wiggle my ears and no one else can. I wasn't sure what else to tell him except, practice, practice, practice! He did. After about two weeks, he successfully managed to wiggle his ears! He's so pleased with himself!
He's been excited to be old enough to begin scouts. We found a Tiger Cub group in the area so we could prolong the scouting experience an EXTRA year..
Knowing that Sarah shares a birthday with Sadie, Miles shares a birthday with Auntie Eden, a friend down the street and one of Mummy's friends from high school, and Mummy shares a birthday with Auntie Katie and an old neighbour of ours, he was extra excited to learn that he also shares a birthday, with a friend down the street and his new Great Aunt Nancy! There are a few years between them. One is 2, he's 7 and she's still well preserved for 90! Always will be! Young and old celebrate today... Duncan considers himself to be the one getting older though, so I guess Nancy is the young one celebrating!
His 7 lbs 7 oz has, over 7 years lost the title of 'baby' and has been affectionately been referred to as simply, Duncan. I told him last night as I tucked him in that this growing up business had to stop. I wasn't ready for him to be 7. Could he please just keep on being 6? I told him that when Sarah turned 11, I asked her to stop and she did, because if she didn't she would really be 13 now. And When Miles was 9, I asked him to stop and he did or he would be 18 already! But alas, his reply, "Mummy, that just isn't the way it works. It's not really true about Sarah and Miles is it?"
So I lie. I lie to my children. But they call me on it. Sarah was actually willing to play along... she'd love to be 13!! Duncan was a little worried... I guess he wondered if maybe just possibly I did have such powers and if I would make him stay 6. If I did have such powers... I'd really have to think about what age I'd freeze them at. And ultimately I don't know if I could decide. I've loved each age and stage of their lives... missed the old stages but enjoyed the new. So, we will bid farewell to 6 year old Duncan and welcome this 7 year old with hugs and kisses and birthday wishes!
He's correct.. it isn't the way it works. Instead he just keeps on growing up and getting older and wiser. He's fun and friendly. He gets along well with everyone he meets and is helpful and happy most of the time. He's also a determined young fellow. He asked how it is that I can wiggle my ears and no one else can. I wasn't sure what else to tell him except, practice, practice, practice! He did. After about two weeks, he successfully managed to wiggle his ears! He's so pleased with himself!
He's been excited to be old enough to begin scouts. We found a Tiger Cub group in the area so we could prolong the scouting experience an EXTRA year..
Knowing that Sarah shares a birthday with Sadie, Miles shares a birthday with Auntie Eden, a friend down the street and one of Mummy's friends from high school, and Mummy shares a birthday with Auntie Katie and an old neighbour of ours, he was extra excited to learn that he also shares a birthday, with a friend down the street and his new Great Aunt Nancy! There are a few years between them. One is 2, he's 7 and she's still well preserved for 90! Always will be! Young and old celebrate today... Duncan considers himself to be the one getting older though, so I guess Nancy is the young one celebrating!
Happy birthday to both of you!!
Party Island -- Day 4
Guest Blogger -- Sarah
We had been on Hornby for four days already and today, finally, we were going to Whaling Station. This was a great sandy beach. Bailey had been telling us since we arrived that she would bring party island to Whaling Station. When we go of course. None of us knew what party island was. Today we were going to find out. On our way to the beach, Doug, Dayton, Bailey and I stopped at the co-op for some snacks. Now we had everything we needed for an incredible day at the beach. I could hardly wait. I thought it was going to be a long drive to the beach because when I looked at the map on the wall in the cabana it seemed like Hornby was ginormous. I was thrilled when after only ten minutes we had arrived at our party beach.
Doug said that right now was a great time to look for sand dollars. So as soon as we got there I ran out to find sand dollars. It didn't take long until I found some. I found maybe 15 sand dollars. I came back up to where we set up our things and put my sand dollars down and went to see what the others were doing. Bailey, Dayton, Doug and Caleb were pumping up party island at the truck. Party island is a gigantic inner-tube but only better. It has seats and drink holders and a music speaker system. Bailey brought her cell phone for music for the island. Doug was all done pumping up party island and Dayton carried it on his neck like a necklace. He brought it to where we were setting up on the beach.
Jill arrived with Miles and Duncan and they went out to the ocean and played. Jill and Dayton put a blanket on the sand. Dayton was quite silly. I don't know what you would call what he made, maybe a bed? Anyway Jill asked me to put tanning oil on her and then give her a massage because her back was hurting.
I asked Bailey if she wanted to go out and jump the waves. She did. We were walking out and I said, "This sand is like magic. Bailey said, "I guess you could put it that way". We got to the ocean and started to jump the waves. Bailey was jumping funny. I said, "You can't jump like that. You have to jump like this." "I don't want to get my skirt wet. Bailey said. Okay, can we do party island now?""Not yet."
Mummy, Grandma and Whittaker arrived next. Whittaker in stockings and long sleeves, diaper covers, shade and all. "Can we do party island now?" I asked. "Not yet."
Dayton made a sandcastle and then he quit and Bailey's friend came over and ruined his sandcastle. He did not care. I asked again if we could do party island. "Not until the tide comes in more."
Finally the Connolly's and Channa's friends came. Mackenzie, Caleb, Miles and Duncan went out and played in the water while I drank a Canada Dry and ate some salt and vinegar chips.
Not everything at the beach was happy. I saw Kenzie crying. I started to walk out to where she was holding something in her hand. I asked, "What is that?" She said, "A jelly fish. The good kind." "So, why are you crying?" "Caleb dumped a bucket of water on me and now Bob the jellyfish has a hole in her so I am going to give him a funeral. Do you want to come?" "Sure."
Dayton picked up party island and again he put it on his neck and when the kids saw this they came running. "Is it really time?" "Yes". "Yeah"! Dayton got party island into the water. We all hopped onto the island except Cooper and Derek. They were going potty, so they missed a little bit of it. Bailey started with the music and it was so neat. I attached Kenzie's kickboard to one of the handles and acted as a motor. There was a real motor though, so I just tagged along. Cooper and Derek saw us and started running out to the water and Derek was yelling, "You went without us! No fair!" Cooper tried to calm Derek down. "They will come back for us. See! They are already turned around." We got to the shore and Bailey said, "It needs more air." Cooper had been calm and patient until this point. "Dang! Now I will never get a turn." Bailey said to Cooper, "We will all get a turn, OK?" "um.. ok."
Once again Dayton carried the island on his neck. Bailey finished pumping up the island and then back to the water again. Cooper had trouble getting up at first but he eventually got on. Miles wanted to go on the kickboard but he just couldn't stay on so I helped him. We were out there maybe an hour and then the grown up came. Channa, Jill, and Mummy said it was their turn to party! We twisted and turned and slipped in to the middle to make some more space. After a few minutes squished with everyone, Kenzie and I decided to go collect some seaweed, so I don't know as much about what happened when the grown up partied.
Kenzie returned to party island to see if there was any room yet. Channa, Derek, Cooper and Miles were ready to get off. Cooper and Miles didn't want to get wet. They had completely dried off on the island. Kenzie offered to water taxi them to the shore on her kickboard. Party island had been a lot of fun for everyone. We partied so long
that the motor began to lose battery power. I pushed the island and
got to be the motor for a while. It had been worth the wait for our
fun on party island.
The sun was getting low. The tide was coming in. We'd been at the beach almost all day. Some people were beginning to moan and groan about being hungry and tired. It was time to call it a day and go home. It had been a great day.
Of course after Dayton carried the island on his neck back and forth all day, there wasn't ever any room for him and he had to be a floating party of his own.
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