I know, I know. We're already half way through fall and I'm just getting to our summer post...so much for monthly posts. Every day the little "do blog post" reminder pops up on my blackberry and every day I'm forced to press snooze as other things take priority. But enough lamenting about that for now and on to the important stuff. This is a long one (we had a great summer!) but it's mostly pictures.
So, I like to think that we "play" as hard as we "work" and I definitely think that this summer we squeezed every drop of fun out of our free time. We went to cottages, the zoo, took advantage of all that living downtown offers and even managed to sneak away for a weekend in Calgary sans-kids.
People often wonder why we would choose to live downtown Toronto, I suppose in the same way we wonder why they prefer not to. This summer there were some amazing events and festivals which were a short scooter/bike/stroller ride away and we checked them all out.
Zoe & Ian waiting for the start of their bike race at the CHIN picnic.
On your marks, get set.... 
GO!!- I love the look of intensity on Ian's face in this picture.
What's the name of the emotion that causes the lump in my throat when I look at this picture? Joy? Pride? Excitement? Love? 
Zoe and Ian shared the podium.Ian & I had a great trip to the Ex with Uncle Luke, Auntie Britt, Ciel and Grandma Rita taking in all the sights, sounds and tastes of this annual event.
The blue helicopter was a hit.
The first couple of rides Ian went on almost made him toss his cookies so the day was off to a bit of a grumpy start.
The stop at the Ex Firestation was a highlight. 
And the ice cream got rid of the grumps. 
He enjoyed the rides with uncle Luke a little more.
Ciel (aka El serioso) also enjoyed her day at the Ex.
Ian beat uncle Luke in the watergun game so was the proud owner of this little blue bear.This year there were two street festivals in Little Italy with entertainment, rides for the kids and delicious treats to sample. Both days were sunny and hot so we took a stroll down College Street.
Lexi trying to sneak her way onto the bouncy castle.
Even caught a glimpse of the snowbirds as they flew over Little Italy.
Lounging in the chariot, it doesn't get much better than this.
Balloon animals were a highlight of the event. Cam has wanted a cottage ever since we were teenagers. I was able to persuade him that we needed a house first but now that we're settled here he's got the cottage itch again and is on the hunt for the perfect deal which fortunately for now is not easy to find. Luckily we have some great friends who invite us to their cottages annually. Unfortunately I think it only serves to reinforce all of the reasons why Cam wants to get a cottage rather than satisfy his appetite for one. These pics are from when we visited Anne & Greg at Anne's parents' cottage on Lake Muskoka.
The water was a little chilly!
Waterbaby
Who doesn't love a brisk skinny dip?
I'm not sure if the object of Lexi's adoration is her big brother or the ice cream cone, pretty sure it's the latter.
Pure silliness.
A little exercise after dinner
Ian, Ben, Avery, Alexa
Snuggles!!
Ben & Ian ran in a 1km race in Minette. The medals were a highlight.
Buddies.
Ontario the Beautiful
Children dressed like this seem out of place in a "summer" post but it was in fact still summer.
Home Sweet Home- stinky boys in one tent, Zoe & Nikki in another and Lex & I in the last. A couple of raccoons even joined in the fun.
Thank God for UHT milk. Both of our kids drink enough milk to warrant the purchase of a cow or two.
Daddy and his snuggle bugs 
Honestly, this was not posed. Lexi just went up and put her arm around Ian to show him something.
Note Lexi's help with the paddling.
Zoe's barbie fishing rod was the envy of the campsite, I'm not sure that she grasped the concept that she could potentially catch an entirely non-barbie/girly/pink, slimy, yucky fish with said rod and she was none too thrilled about her catch.
Uncle Scotty soon realized that the Barbie rod was where the action was at so he abandoned his high tech fishing gear to try his luck.
What's a camping trip without roasting marshmallows over the open fire?
S'more please!!
Passout victim
Zoe & Nikki making breakfast
Breakfast of Champions, aka Uncle Scotty's influence
We decided to take the "lazy man's load" back to the car rather than taking two trips. As you can see, there was no room for Nikki in the canoes so we made her swim back. No, seriously, she actually did swim the 2km back to the car, luckily for us she's an ironman triathlete!
The water was a little chilly! 
Waterbaby
Who doesn't love a brisk skinny dip?
I'm not sure if the object of Lexi's adoration is her big brother or the ice cream cone, pretty sure it's the latter.
Pure silliness.
A little exercise after dinner
Ian, Ben, Avery, Alexa 
Snuggles!! 
Ben & Ian ran in a 1km race in Minette. The medals were a highlight.
Buddies.Our summer was capped off by a weekend of roughing it in Algonquin Park with Uncle Scotty, Ian's best friend Zoe and her mom/our friend Nikki.
Ontario the Beautiful
Children dressed like this seem out of place in a "summer" post but it was in fact still summer.Home Sweet Home- stinky boys in one tent, Zoe & Nikki in another and Lex & I in the last. A couple of raccoons even joined in the fun. Thank God for UHT milk. Both of our kids drink enough milk to warrant the purchase of a cow or two.
Daddy and his snuggle bugs Honestly, this was not posed. Lexi just went up and put her arm around Ian to show him something.
Note Lexi's help with the paddling.
Zoe's barbie fishing rod was the envy of the campsite, I'm not sure that she grasped the concept that she could potentially catch an entirely non-barbie/girly/pink, slimy, yucky fish with said rod and she was none too thrilled about her catch.
Uncle Scotty soon realized that the Barbie rod was where the action was at so he abandoned his high tech fishing gear to try his luck.
What's a camping trip without roasting marshmallows over the open fire?
S'more please!!
Passout victim
Zoe & Nikki making breakfast
Breakfast of Champions, aka Uncle Scotty's influence
We decided to take the "lazy man's load" back to the car rather than taking two trips. As you can see, there was no room for Nikki in the canoes so we made her swim back. No, seriously, she actually did swim the 2km back to the car, luckily for us she's an ironman triathlete!
And so, another summer ends. Sometimes the long and many days of work are arduous but it makes those weekends and family times together all that much sweeter. On to Fall and many more fun times and adventures already...
