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Cousins, Cousins and Second Cousins: Our Family ReunionAug 13, 2005
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Barn Near Cestnik Cottage
Activity At The Beach
Auntie Shelagh And All The Cousins
Ottawa is likely a very fine place, but several days on the road had left us looking forward to reaching the Cestnik family cabin, where real beds, properly cooked meals, and especially laundry facilities were waiting. Most important of all, Kirsten's mother Lisa, stepfather Jay, and numerous cousins and their children were all assembling there for a reunion. We thus had a quick swim and hit the road.
We bought more corn (picked 15 mins. earlier, I was assured, and I think it was true), buttertarts, and blueberries from various roadside stalls. There is no faster food, and it usually seems more delicious as well than hitting yet another Tim Hortons. I read a very funny book (The Cockroach Wars) to everyone, and so I didn't actually see that much of the drive, but it was a fabulously sunny hot day, and what I did see looked very pretty.
We arrived in the late afternoon. The kids instantly hit the beach and started collecting frogs again, although Phil appeared to be away (perhaps he had advance notice of our arrival?) We enjoyed meeting the newest additions to the extended family, Avery and Camden, both only weeks old. Kirsten was in baby heaven. Liam ran amok with his cousins Mackinley and Hunter. Beer and a picnic table beside the lake, and BBQ'd burgers on the deck, made a pleasantly relaxing respite from the road.
