When I was a kid, visits to the cousins were a semi-annual event, sometimes a little more often. When we talked about those trips, we’d say we were going to “Uncle Louie’s and Aunt Doreen’s.”or “Aunt Bev’s and Uncle Graham’s.” We didn’t say “Are we going to Sandra’s tomorrow?”or “Are Timmy, Cheryl and Heather coming over on Boxing Day?”But, to our kids, the children lead the way and seemingly own the 
houses, too. And not even all of the children. Sam still calls Tracey’s place, Carter’s…but the “new” name is starting to catch on now that Anabel is nearly four. And Janey & Brett’s house is only incidentally theirs and one wouldn’t expect a pair of teen girls live in the basement, given that it’s called “James & Charlie’s.” The same holds true on the flip side. The kids aren’t in town to visit aunts and uncles. They come to Sam’s or Carter’s. It’s all about the boys.
houses, too. And not even all of the children. Sam still calls Tracey’s place, Carter’s…but the “new” name is starting to catch on now that Anabel is nearly four. And Janey & Brett’s house is only incidentally theirs and one wouldn’t expect a pair of teen girls live in the basement, given that it’s called “James & Charlie’s.” The same holds true on the flip side. The kids aren’t in town to visit aunts and uncles. They come to Sam’s or Carter’s. It’s all about the boys. For a long stretch now, those summer cousin visits to Ottawa have been fun but marred by unseasonably cold and rainy weather—often arriving at the same time as Janey’s van (or James and Charlie’s van, depending on who’s talking) like one of those rainclouds that follow sad comic book characters around. It was uncanny, a
nd made for a weekend of much thumping and noise from the upstairs bedrooms. But even when it was indoor mayhem, the James and Charlie visit has always been a summer highlight.
nd made for a weekend of much thumping and noise from the upstairs bedrooms. But even when it was indoor mayhem, the James and Charlie visit has always been a summer highlight. This year, we got the fun and we got a hot and gloriously sunny Canada Day weekend. For the first time, we spent the whole visit outside. On Saturday, we packed a huge picnic and went to Westboro Be
ach for swimming, sand play, marsh exploring, and tree climbing. On Sunday, we picked up pizza and found our way to nearby Honey Gables, where a big new splash pad had just opened in an existing park.
ach for swimming, sand play, marsh exploring, and tree climbing. On Sunday, we picked up pizza and found our way to nearby Honey Gables, where a big new splash pad had just opened in an existing park. In between, we had slip n slide fun and watermelon slices while stretched out in the sun on beach towels at Sam’s, and park play and woods exploration at Carter’s. Throw in some sleepovers in couch forts, a treehouse, video games, skateboards, water guns, bicycles, fudgicles, 100 episodes of Spongebob Squarepants on DVD, and that’s the makings of an awesome summer weekend.
And the aunties had a pretty darned good time themselves…
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