The things their memories will be made of…

Growing up, my grandparents had a cottage and many, many, many of my childhood memories were made there. Days at the beach, the “amusement park”, the trampolines, Cosmic fries, funnel cakes, playing booby trap, climbing the ladder to the loft in the rental, Chelsea buns, watching Grandpa share his ice cream cone with the dog – and the list goes on and on and on.

Now, as an adult, I get to experience the same kind of thing all over again – but from a different perspective. A few years ago my parents bought a cottage of their own and so now my kids, and my nieces and nephew, get to experience what my siblings and I had when we were young – fun times with Nana and Papa at the cottage.

Someday I know Evalyn and Gwen – and any other children we may have – will look back with fondness at weekend’s like this past one – they will have little snippets and details and stories that will mould together to create the very best memories that they will take with them for the rest of their lives. And as a mom, the beauty of this is not lost on me as I experience these heart full moments, memorizing the joy on Evalyn’s face and cherishing the special relationship my kids get to have with their Nana and Papa.

The times we spend there signify the things that my kids’ memories will be made of.

Because where else do you get to go for ice cream before going for lunch? Or spend hours feeding cashews to the chipmunks with Nana? Or go exploring to see what you can find in the forest? Or go for a ride and drive Papa’s boat? Or spend days at a time playing with your cousins?

No where else.

Only at the cottage.