A Full Tank

We spent May long weekend with the Hubs' side of the family, as is our annual tradition.  This year's destination was a cabin on Galiano Island.  While sleep deprivation did its best to drain my tank (the baby developed a fever right on cue), the little moments added and multiplied until I returned from our weekend away overflowing with love and contentment.  Fuel for my love tank:

Breathtaking views,

Hammock snuggles,

Shared secrets,

Time with cousins,

Bellies full of food,

And, of course, more than a few photo ops.

 

May your love tank always be this full!  Happy Wednesday.

 



A Weekend Befitting a Queen

If you live somewhere other than Canada, you may not be aware that we celebrated Queen Victoria's birthday this past weekend.  Which basically means nothing to most Canadians other than the fact that we get a long weekend out of it.

This year we spent ours in Whistler with in-laws, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins galore and it was rather grand, as the Queen herself might have said.

Transportation options abounded.  (Okay, not really, but we had a lovely time ogling.)

High tea presented a veritable symphony for the taste buds and the company was equally delightful.

In fact, this guy gave it a thumbs up and declared himself thoroughly amused.

How was your weekend?

May Two-Four by the Numbers

Like everyone else from Ontario, I grew up calling Victoria Day Weekend "May Two-Four," in reference both to Queen Victoria's birthday, on the twenty-fourth of May, and to the many twenty-four ("two-four") cases of beer consumed over this particular long weekend.  It's the unofficial kick off to the summer season; the weekend when community centres open up their outdoor pools, outdoor venues start hosting concerts, and families dust off the grill and fire up the barbie.

Our May Two-Four this year was spent in Harrison (home of the popular Harrison Hot Springs) with the Hubs' side of the family, and this long weekend was all about the numbers.

Ten adults, five kids, and two dogs sharing one four-bedroom house for three days.

One very tall carpeted staircase, which proved far too tempting for one impish 14-month-old.

One fabulously messy, blueberry-infused pancake breakfast, and three dinners with family members gathered 'round the large harvest table and overflowing onto sofa cushions, with heaping plates of food balanced carefully on their laps.

Four pounds gained from all the unnecessary food consumption.  But it was 100% it was worth it!

One happy little girl, very much in her element and very pleased at finally being capable of really playing with her three older cousins.

Dozens of books read and stories shared.

One air mattress and one forgotten foot pump.  One brother-in-law with 140% of normal lung capacity needing less than 15 minutes to inflate said mattress.  Truly astounding!

One willing and able Grandma who didn't shy away when I passed her my camera - and proved she had some photog skillz of her own!

Thousands of beautiful, perfect moments.  The kind that give you goose bumps, a lump in your throat, and the urge to pinch yourself.  The kind you want to bottle and preserve, to be rationed out in times of need.  The kind you hope the kids look back on with fond memories and lumps in their own throats.

The only thing missing was perfect weather.  But since our control over that is exactly zero, we made the most of it and still had a truly incredible time. 

Tell me about your long weekend plans, past, present or future!