Port Hope Weekend

This past weekend, David, Mateo & I headed to Port Hope, the small town where David grew up so David could stand up for his long-time friend Andrew's wedding. We left Waterloo on Thursday, escaping our sauna-house. We spent the evening with Oma Ellen & Opa Gord, who so enjoyed seeing Mateo again. (It's interesting how you automatically fade into the background when you have children... ;)

On Friday, we went to Andrew & Danielle's farm for the wedding rehearsal, about which Mateo was unimpressed. He proceeded to have the greatest freak out ("freak show," as David likes to call it) he has ever had. He shrieked at the top of his voice, because he was completely exhausted and overheated. Unfortunately for him, he seems to have inherited my complete inability to cope with heat and humidity (sorry baby!!). After what felt like hours, I finally managed to get him to sleep, and then we headed back to Ellen & Gord's, whereupon he promptly woke up and continued his screaming. It was a very humbling experience for both of us, because there was nothing we could do until he finally calmed himself down. We now are filled with renewed thankfulness for his normally calm and happy demeanour. I am not sure how well I would be coping right now if he did that every day!

Mateo sleeping in Oma Ellen's arms

Gord hooking up an "irrigation system" in the greenhouse

The dog originally named Johnny, whose name includes new words since moving in with Ellen & Gord : Jumpin' Johnny Five. You can make up your own mind about that. ;)

It seems he got all of his screaming out of his system, however, and was extremely well behaved on Saturday, the day of the wedding. The wedding itself was beautiful, out in Andrew & Danielle's shady yard. Danielle made a spectacular entrance in a horse & carriage, even the horses in the paddock came galloping over to check things out. After the ceremony there were cocktails and games on the grounds (horseshoes, croquet, etc.), followed by a delicious meal in the refurbished barn. Andrew, who is a full-time fire fighter, redid the barn pretty much by himself, and it was decorated with lights and lanterns and flowers... just stunning. It felt like stepping into a fairytale. I wasn't able to take as many pictures as I'd hoped to, since I was holding on to a squirmy little boy most of the evening, but it was really a beautiful wedding. We wish Andrew & Danielle all the best... have fun at the Stampede!

Mateo in his wedding best (Ralph Lauren from cousins Liam & Caleb)

Mateo thinks Papa looks great in his tux

Waiting for dinner to start in the shade of the barn

The fantastic cake (I'm pretty sure the lasso was originally on the cowboy's foot, not his neck. Hmmm...)

Andrew Case, the newly married man with Dave & Mateo

Then yesterday, after a quick visit with cousin Vickie, we headed back home to Waterloo. It seems the weather has turned, and we are less in danger of melting. David will be starting his new (old) job at the Garderie des Lutins (Little Elves Daycare) at the end of July, so we will be able to spend some time together "holidaying."

We are going camping in Algonquin Park next week... camping with no mosquitos is great! (Although the Ontarians keep trying to convince me that the 5 mosquitos I see buzzing around me are "a lot".) It will be fun to go hiking & swimming in the lake with Mateo for the first time. We'll update on that as it comes.