Only four

 Sophia, Tova, Zadie and I (Jakob) spent three weeks with family and friends in Canada before Tamar, Aurora and Levana joined us. The girls were super patient and positive the whole time, and it was lovely to see them spend time with their cousins and family friends in Montreal and Ottawa.

Our week in Montreal was a brief but torrid love affair. We scored free chouquettes and honey crisp apples at Jean Talon Market. We rolled our eyes with delight as we snarfed down St Viateur's bagels. We went to playgrounds, skate parks and ice cream shops with our Montreal family. We visited with friends, went 7/7 on our one-week bouldering membership, homeschooled in cafes and libraries, swam in a pool and river, and lost things. 

In Ottawa life got even more social. All three of my sisters and many from their families were in town, so my parents were back to 1990-style having their hands full. There were museum visits, mug painting, giant family dinners, sibling walks through our childhood neighbourhood - it was great fun. It was a challenge to squeeze in the chores of passport renewals, tying up work, etc. but all got more or less done. We've stayed at my sister's house, which has been such a lovely way to spend time together. At the cottage, Tova paddled to a distant island, then sank her yellow kayak (which, to be fair, did have a hole in it); so she had to swim for half an hour, towing the submerged kayak behind her. 

When Tamar, Aurora and Levana arrived we were so excited to see them. As much as we enjoyed our fortnight of spending time with family as "only" a foursome, life's always better when we're together.

Homemade strawberry shortcake

Stepping into the unknown

Sisters on a seaworthy boat

Zadie coming down the fast way