Our Second RV Adventure - Halfway Lake Camping

Well what can I say, we decided early in the year that we were going to use the Travelaire this summer and boy are we. We have returned from our WEEK-long camping trip at Halfway Lake, just north of the city. As every trip we seem to go on, there was never a dull moment.

Day 1 - Site 173



We arrived at 5 pm, Jason set-up in record time while Auntie Shannon & I fed the kids. With an extra-large site we could have housed more than 3 TravelAires, but I wanted to make sure there was plenty of room for the dogs to mill about as well as store Grandpa's truck/kayak who was scheduled to arrive on Wednesday. And what would every Simpson vacation be without Riley either vomiting from a chocolate over-dose or getting a hideous bum rash, or Presley running away at least once, however this time he fell out of the TravelAire and caught his toenail in the step thus resulting in a minor injury or so we thought.

Day 2 - Beach Day

The first night went well since we already knew how the kids would sleep from our previous RV adventure. With our bellies full from the bacon & egg breakfast, we loaded up and headed for the beach. If I had known how much beach crap was required for 3 babies we probably would have driven to the beach. But Auntie Shannon was our resident pack-mule, and managed to carry all the inflatable toys, beach toy bucket, and a few other odds and ends almost every time.

The kids had a blast at the beach in their inflatable crab, turtle and car. We stayed in the water for almost 1.5 hours.







Once everyone was dried and changed we had a few snacks and beverages until we were ready to leave and noticed Everett had fallen asleep on the blanket.

When we returned to the campsite, I noticed Riley limping slightly.

Day 3 - Moving Day

After an restless night (the second night is always the worst) especially when it was my turn to get up with the kids, and the vomiting dogs (Presley, who felt the need to each peaches, funny coloured berries, and lick the spilled bacon grease from the gravel) I was up a good portion of the night. Which wouldn't have been so bad had we not slept on the bed/dining table.
After breakfast Jason had to perform his RV-owner duties and do a poop/water run, Shannon & I had decided to take the kids for a stroll around the campgrounds. Jason & I had done some preliminary campsite investigative work and knew of a couple of water-access sites that had some potential. So off we went. 2 hours later we were moving to site 127.

We decided to move at noon and by 12:45, we were settled at our new location, set-up and ready to feed the kids lunch.I have never seen as much stuff as we had, torn down packed into the back of the RV in less than 20 minutes since it took us 5 days to meticulously pack everything.

Since Grandpa was scheduled for the Wednesday arrival, and was unaware of our site relocation we had Shannon perched up on the top of the RV holding her phone to the sky like a new-aged ET looking to phone home.

By this time Riley was dragging himself around the campsite with an exaggerated limp. His toenail , I swear to God was 6 inches longer than all the rest. During is uncoordinated exit from the RV he had managed to pull the nail out from the root. All I could think of was it was going to get infected, and he would get gangrene, it would have to be amputated, we would have to buy him a prosthetic so he wouldn't have a bad self image. By that evening we (me) had decided to take a trip into town and have him checked by the vet.

Day 4 - Vet Visit

With tensions running a little high in the morning (mommy & daddy not getting along), we managed to shove off around 11 am. Our first stop the vet. She managed to take us right away. Well he avoided amputation, but his treatment was not much easier. She trimmed to the nail ALL the way down and cauterized it. Now if anyone has had anything on their body cauterized knows that this is frickin' painful (I know)
This poor bastard had it done not only once but twice during the same visit. The vet accidently cut another nail too short so she cauterized that one too!. By this time Riley is losing his mind, trying to bite the vet, while I am trying hold him steady so she doesn't cut all of his nails too short. And in the end it only cost us $23. While I am paying Jason walks in with 3 bottles asking to use their microwave. They oblige only if they can come to the RV and have a look. So here we are parked in the tiny little parking lot, engine running, feeding kids and Jason asks if its wrong to have a beer. At this point I would have gladly had a beer.

Day 5-7 - Finally the days of relaxation

For the next couple of days we laid low spending our time drinking beer, BBQ'ing, going to the beach and taking walks around the campgrounds. Grandpa Howatt had arrived with kayak in tow. Everett discovered his feet had a purpose, Avery developed a drinking problem, Grace discovered her 2 new bottom teeth and Shannon never got out of her PJ's.









A pretty successful trip I would say.



I am posting this picture of a loaf of bread on the site because Shannon cooked this bread over a fire and it was the best damn fire-cooked bread I have ever eaten.

The First Head Injury

Since Everett's newly found crawling talent, he has been motoring around the playroom. With this, comes the first of many head injuries, scrapes and bruises. We have decided to purchase him his very own protective head gear. I am not sure he would ever

forgive us if we bought him one of these.

On the Move!

Well its official, Everett is now crawling. He has been trying for about 2 weeks or so, but now its an official crawl on all fours. Now its a whole new ball game. The gates are going up faster than you can imagine.

Our first Travelaire adventure

Over the past weekend we ventured to Chapleau to visit The Martels. Always wanting a challenge we decided to take the RV. And what a great time we had. Jason set up the forward-facing seats in the RV leaving 1 spot for mommy to be the main source of entertainment. Loaded to the gills we set off Friday afternoon by Chelmsford (only 15 minutes away) we already had to make a poop pit stop as well as food stop. 40 minutes later we were back on the road. (I am still timing the stops, I don't know why) We took the watershed shortcut (a logging road) and what a good/bad decision it was. Bad for 3 reasons, 1 it shook the beejesus out of Avery which caused a barfing incident, 2 it shook the poop right out of Everett (literally), and 3 we lost two more hub caps, which Jason was quick to point out how expensive they were at $50 bucks a pop.

We arrived safe and sound and was eagerly greeted by Tracey and Phil. The most gracious of hosts we were welcomed with open arms at not only Phil & Tracey's but Phil's parents as well. The first day all the kids stayed in their respective groups but by the next morning everyone was intermingling. It was a melee of babies and toys.

Growing like weeds, the Martel triplets are moving like lightening, pulling themselves to a stand and cruising the furniture like pros. We had a leisurely day on Saturday, a fantastic but loud (thanks to the kids) home-made pasta dinner at Phils' parents camp, topped of with a fireworks display that would most certainly shame the July 1st fireworks at Science North. We cruised the lake in their boat, and Grace even got to drive.

The kids slept in the double bed, and Jason & I slept on the top bunk, and it worked great. They slept all night, and seemed to have enjoyed their first RV experience.

Avery, my have you grown some hair!

Is that Avery in the bed with mommy, Grace and Everett? Oh no wait, that's the 6th baby Presley. We are definitely going to need a bigger bed.

The New Swings

We have installed 2 new swings off the pergola so the kids have a place to swing without being interrupted. We are hoping they all don't want to swing at the very same moment. And they all enjoyed themselves but 1 more than the others (Grace) Always wanting to go higher and faster.

Muscle Man

This is how we keep the kids in top physical condition. We make them do push ups. Everett has developed quite the set of pecks because of it.

Still prepping for clown college

Most nights we sit in our family circle, and learn our animals. Nanny Di gave the kids the Baby Einstein Discovery Cards, and they have been enjoying them looking at the pictures and listening to mommy try to make the sound of an elephant. Grace is more interested in the photos than the other two as you can see in the video. Enjoy.

Daddy's Girls

A few weekends ago Jason woke up in the morning with the memory of a dream from the previous night. He very rarely remembers his dreams, and most often his dreams recently contain the kids. This particular dream was about Avery and how the bond between them was quite strong. Jason was in his 60's and Avery was in her 30's and they went to play squash at the local rec center. Upon their return, I told him their relationship was weird, that it was unnatural for father and daughter to be so close. But Jason simply explained how it was perfectly natural after all these years for them to stay so close. And that was all he remembers. It warms the cockles of my heart to hear him speak so fondly of the bond he shares with both girls and Everett. And I really think he will remain close and share a bond that will last forever. Mind you I don't think he will be playing squash in is 60's but that's a different story.

A new take on the rocking horse

On one of our most recent shopping outings we found this rocking horse, which was actually a caterpillar. Luc Leafwalker is his name, and I couldn't help but buy it. The kids have Auntie Shannon to thank for the purchase, so they had better start rocking. Everyone had their chance to get on but it was Avery who enjoyed it the most, with all the squeakers, and not to mention the baby caterpillar who comes equipped with his own diaper.

Always the dainty ladies

Avery & Grace have recently started crossing the legs at the ankles every time they sit on the floor. I am sure its more for balance but they have certainly taken after their mother with the real lady-like behaviour.

So long kiddie pool, hello big pool

We have recently graduated from the kiddie pool to the big pool, and what a blast it was. After suffering from hyperventilation inflating the countless pool toys in the sweltering heat, we most certainly took a dip in the pool. Donned with their new life jackets and hats we floated about the pool for about 20 minutes before everyone had enough. They seemed to enjoy themselves, so now we just need the nicer weather to try it again. Avery is in the car, Everett in the turtle and Grace is in the crab.

Renovations Completed

After 3 weeks of hard work (well not by me anyway) the basement renos are finally finished. And I couldn't be more pleased with the results. Its so nice in there I might even claim it as my own.