The Little Whiles: Up at the Cabin

Up at the cabin with Nona & Grandpa the kids are always crazy excited. They find something to explore in every direction, but somehow they are a relaxed sort of crazy... we all are. We have nothing but time to spend with each other, and so many things we want to do!

After our long semi-peaceful (thank you iPad) trek up north, we barely bring in our bags and bags of toys, clothes, snacks, electronics, bedding and grooming supplies (hey, this is not a camping trip) before Norah is already begging Grandpa to bring her out to the dock to fish. We all follow them out and witness Norah catch her first batch of blue gills. She must have caught at least 45 fish that week. She even brought me out once to show me how it's done, and as she was about to put her line in the water a fish literally jumped out of the water onto her hook! No one caught near as many fish as she did, and I attribute this to her fidgety four year old self. What fish can resist a big old worm thrashing about all over the place? That night we decided to go to the resort next door for some dinner and then head back for the kids bedtime.

All four of us share one cozy room at night, and after the kids fall asleep us grown-ups kick back with a beer together out by the fire and scorch some marshmallows (OK - only I like them scorched). We stay up way too late knowing we have some early risers building up energy as ours diminishes to nothing. We call it a night when we finally realize we've missed our chance of being bright and cheery in the morning.

Waking up in the morning means a bed of 3 (dad has no problem sleeping in) cuddling in the light of the sunrise watching for a kitchen light to appear through the crack of our bedroom door. "It's on! Nona's up!" I reluctantly release from the cuddles and kisses of my two little munchkins and watch them run out into the living room to play trucks with Grandpa and to help Nona make breakfast from scratch. I try to go back to sleep, but it's useless. My babies are out there having fun and being cute. I can't stand to miss it. I also know they're making coffee out there - even if it isn't my usual punch you in the face Starbucks :) I convince myself I don't want to get used to sleeping in anyway, and I drag myself out of bed.

We spent our week fishing on the dock, having island picnics, cruising on the pontoon, swimming in the pool, swinging on ~~fighting over~~ the blue swing and braving outings to town and to Madeline Island. I believe this was our 3rd year in a row, and what a tradition it has become! Before we even left home, Norah was recalling details from last year about the cabin we have been lucky enough to get every year. Maybe I am easily amused, but I was amazed.

Thank you Grandpa & Nona for yet again another wonderful week up at the cabin!