For Labor Day this year, Millie and I took a road trip up to a wedding in beautiful Nelson, BC. Initially, we were hopeful that our whole family could attend - but as the date drew closer - we knew that without a passport or birth certificate, Esmee wasn't going to be able to join us. As I started shaping up my plans, I realized that there were going to be lots of families there (thanks, Derek and Jess for the kid-friendly festivities), and was going to be missing mine the entire weekend.
So Mom loaded us up with all kinds of healthy snacks, toys and other distractions, and Millie and I set sail in my car on Friday morning after she had a fun play session with Mom and Esmee in the park. I don't think Mom was the only one that was sad to see us go - but everyone smiled through it knowing Millie and I had a fun adventure ahead of us.
I was amazed at how well-behaved Millie was on both road trips, plus 8-hours both there and back. Its a haul, even with your foot pinned on the accelerator. On the way there, we actually only stopped twice. Once for gas and a diaper change, and once for a burger - and another diaper change. Millie never asked to stop at all.
We talked about everything under the sun on our trip, laughed a lot, sang, told stories, and gave a lot of her stuffed animals and other toys' personalities quite a bit of extra depth. We also looked for wild animals, and actually saw a bear cub -- at the border -- while we were being questioned about our weekend plans.
Millie made tons of funny jokes, such as requesting additional pretzel rings constantly - some to eat - and some to bling-out with.
Kenny Mac did a stellar job of locating a lakehouse for us to stay in (along with the rest of the Macs and Phillips too). It was super. Walking distance to wedding - held at a lovely local manner, lakefront, well-worn as not to show signs of 4 kids beating on it, and even a hot tub. We lived it up there!
Millie loved the beach, as usual. She wanted to be down there around the clock, discovering, and playing in the sand and water. She didn't like the mushy lake bottom too much, but it didn't stop us from a fair amount of swimming.
Otis, Tucker, and baby Julia (not pictured unfortunately) were lots of fun - easy going and cool with sharing all their fun stuff. Bosley, Kenny and Miaka's outstanding dog, was also a treat, as ever. We miss you, too, Boz!
Millie and Nelson's Mom, "M.A." became good buds. I think at some point, Millie's uncanny intuition yielded the fact that there was a Grandma in the house - and like her own Grandmas - seemed to have special power and authority around the place. So Millie buttered her up!
We found a giant canoe on the property and played in it a bit. I wouldn't say Millie loved, so much as merely tolerated, it.
Here with Tucker - a classic. I was going to crop out the beach, but didn't want anyone sending Julie an email calling me irresponsible. I was a responsible and thoughtful Dad all weekend, right Mill-Mill?
While we all wished we could have had the whole on our return to Canada with us, it really was a special time to be able to spend four consecutive days with Millie. Someday I'll do the same with Esmee, but for now, we've got lots of special memories. Thanks for being such a good kid on our road trip, Millie!
