The Emma Report: August 2007

Summer Vacation - Part Three: The Toronto Zoo

While staying at Jellystone Park, we made a few day trips into Toronto to see some of the sights (well at least the ones a toddler and a preschooler might find interesting).

Our 45 minute drive to the Toronto Zoo ended up being a much longer 3-hour adventure as we were stuck in traffic after an accident closed the highway. Luckily no one was seriously injured (a dump truck driver lost control, crashed through the centre guard-rail and swerved across the oncoming traffic lanes, losing his load of gravel across the highway) but we had to wait for close to 2 hours as crews cleaned up the roadway.

All I can say is Thank Goodness for air-conditioning and portable DVD players!!!

Once we FINALLY got to the zoo, the temperatue was hovering around 38 degees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), so we decided that our first stop would be the Waterpark:

Big Sister found the park to be a bit too noisy and the water fountains a bit too cold, but Emma had a blast!:

Eric had fun too :)

After running around the fountains like a crazy baby, Emma enjoyed the rest of the zoo at a more leisurely pace:

In fact, we have no other pictures of Emma at the zoo, because she slept through the rest of our visit!

Given the mid-afternoon heat & humidity, most of the zoo animals were enjoying long naps in the shade too:

Big Sister soon got bored with all the sleepy animals, but luckily she found plenty of things on which to climb, swing, and jump:

Never underestimate the restorative powers of an icy popsicle:

Summer Vacation - Part Two: Jellystone Park

After nearly a week at Bonnie Lake, it was time to hitch up the trailer and head off to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park near Toronto:

We stayed at two other Jellystone Park campgrounds on our vacation to the Maritimes last year and found they are great family-oriented places with plenty of activities geared specifically for children:

Big Sister especially enjoyed the face-painting:

while Emma's favourite activity was the twice-daily hay ride:

On the first hay ride Emma discovered the treasure chest at the front of the wagon was filled with lollipops. On every ride we went on thereafter, Emma immediately started squealing and reaching for the chest. By the time we went on our third ride, the staff was just handing over a lolly to Emma as soon as we sat down :)

After spending so much time outside, most nights Emma was more than a little grimey. Sometimes the easiest solution was a quick sink bath:

Emma didn't seem to mind....

We also enjoyed a lovely afternoon on the shore of beautiful Lake Simcoe where Emma helped cousin Taylor build sandcastles:

and then Emma ate some sandcastles:

and then took a refreshing dip in the lake:

At the end of each fun-filled day, we enjoyed a campfire, complete with 'Smores (not such a big hit with the girls), star-gazing, and a milk/juice nightcap. Emma quickly got the hang of "Prost!" :)

Next up: The Zoo!

Campfire blogging

Emma and big sister are sleeping, mommy and daddy are enjoying a nightcap beside the campfire, and, um, yeah, there's wifi here.

Summer Vacation - Part I: Bonnie Lake

The first week of our camping vacation was spent on the shores of Bonnie Lake in the Muskoka district of Ontario. It is the same lake on which Eric spent many of his childhood summers.

(one of the two loons who return to the lake every summer)

These two photos are the perfect synopsis of Emma's time at Bonnie Lake: virtually non-stop running and a near-permanent smile on her face!

We were outside for the better part of each day and we never forgot to put on sunscreen:

Most days, we enjoyed just sittin' around Opa's place:

We spent some time in the water everyday and Emma had her first experience with lake swimming:

(she wasn't sure about it at first)

and a boat ride:

Unfortunately I don't have a picture of it, but Big Sister also caught her very first fish that week (which we promptly released back into the lake).

The girls also met a family of chipmunks who are so tame they would crawl up on Emma's lap and steal peanuts from her fingertips.

Big Sister must have fed them 10 pounds of nuts and I'm sure the chipmunks are now wondering what happened to their All-you-can-eat Peanut buffet:

All in all, it was the perfect start to our vacation, spent leisurely enjoying the lazy, hazy days of summer:

More Birthday Pics

The Birthday Girl:

(the Princess Birthday hats are courtesy of her Big Sister, who insisted that Emma "really, REALLY wants a Princess Birthday" :)

Big Girl Emma, playing in the yard with her party guests: