Overdue Pictures from the Cottage 2012

Given Baby Girl's due date smack in the middle of summer (July 17), we had to make our annual trip to our cottage in Northern New York a little early this year.  Fortunately, a good number of our family made the extra effort to be there at the same time, which made the trip great as usual.  We made the 16-hour drive for Memorial Day week, and while Sackets Harbor is usually pretty desolate and about 50-degrees over Memorial Day, it certainly didn't feel like it this year.  We had so much family come up to visit, and with 75-80 degree temps, it felt like the middle of the summer.  My dad is the oldest of 7, and 5 of the sibs (and cousins) were at the cottage at different times, plus a smattering of 2nd and 3rd cousins. 

My great-grandparents bought their first cottage in 1947, the year my grandfather graduated from Notre Dame.  My great-grandmother's 2 sisters also bought cottages at the same time, so the descendants of all three families still gather with their families every summer.  It is so special to have one gathering place, not just for my aunts and uncles and first cousins, but to see and get to know my 2nd and 3rd cousins as a real part of my family. 

And now, our boys (and girl :)) are coming up in the same tradition and we are so excited to experience it with them.  Baby Jane made her first visit to the cottage this year and did swimmingly, although surrounded by rowdy 2-3 year old boys, I think she was really anxious to have a girl cousin there with her next year.  So, here are just some of the highlights from 2012:

This is an awesome picture showing the kids' personalities.  Sean is in the background concentrating VERY hard on building a Thomas the Train track, James is jumping on a mattress in the front yard by himself (why not?), and the pair of feet you see flying in the left of the frame are Gabriel's--flying off of the mattress in the front yard. 

Jamesie hugging Baby Jane

All three boys gathering around Baby Jane who arrived while they were sleeping the night before!  Doting Dad Michael looking on, ready to intervene.

My cousin Brendan introducing himself to our little girl.  Brendan and Ben spent nearly an hour feeling our girl move around.  My grandmother later commented on how that would never have happened in her day because people didn't talk about being pregnant (or wear clothes that showed the bump), because they didn't like to think about how you got pregnant. 

Cousins.

Sean practicing his sleepy-baby-asleep-on-the-chest-dad-hold.  He's really good at it.

Gabriel and Jamesie doing their morning yoga practice together.

Another picture indicative of typical activities for each person:  Sean has procured someone (Aunt Annabelle) to read to him; Annabelle is reading to a youngster; Denise is breastfeeding; Jane is eating; and Michael is simultaneously reading a book, cuddling with his arm around his wife, and protecting his daughter. 

Martha Jane and Jane Iris-- 4 generations

Gabriel and Jamesie on the top bunk in the bunk room.  They were only allowed to have their "guys" (the lovies they sleep with) and suck their respective paci and thumb in bed.  Therefore, they learned quickly to climb the bunks and chill out with their guys for a few minutes here and there throughout the day. 

Lifeguards on Duty.

You may not know, but Sean has an alter ego as a 90-year-old woman recovering from cataract surgery.  These are his new "sunglasses."  He wears them everywhere--still.  Jamesie learned how to say "cheese" while in New York.  

Ice Cream at our favorite place!

How many pictures of grandparents holding new babies on the porch?  Countless.  Heritage. 

More heritage-- Emmy's middle name is Jane and her maiden name is Peacock.  Lisa found this onesie for Jane and couldn't resist the beautiful peacock painted on it.  Everyone at the cottage LOVED it.  Proudly displaying her heritage.

So long for now....