A Meaningful Quebec Family Reunion on Lake Baldwin - Aug 2025

There are family gatherings, and then there are reunions that feel like they stitch together whole generations. Our trip to Quebec this August was one of those rare moments when everyone shows up, the weather cooperates, and the entire day feels wrapped in gratitude and joy.

This reunion was especially meaningful because we brought Bailey — Ben’s wonderful fiance' — and it was her first time meeting most of Serge’s extended family. Watching her step into the swirl of cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and Quebec sisters brought a new kind of sweetness to the day.

⭐ The Setting: Lake Baldwin

The reunion took place at a beautiful lakeside park on Lake Baldwin, where Lise and all the Quebec sisters had reserved a large private section just for us. The setting could not have been more perfect: warm summer air, sparkling water, tall trees, and enough shaded picnic tables and grassy space for a small village.

The energy of the day was pure Quebec joy — music, laughter, kids running around, aunts chatting in French, cousins catching up, and the unmistakable scent of BBQ drifting across the lake.

⭐ The Feast: Guy’s Pig Roast

One of the stars of the day was Guy, Linda’s beau, who took on the heroic task of preparing a full pig roast for the entire family. He manned the grill and roasting pit all day long — checking temperatures, basting, carving, and serving — with the pride of a man feeding the people he loves.

The food was incredible. He created a meal that brought everyone together, strangers and cousins alike, with plate after plate of tender pork, salads, sides, and the kind of rustic Quebec cooking that always tastes better outdoors.

⭐ Games, Kayaks, and Lake Magic

Lise — in true Lise fashion — organized games and races for the nieces, nephews, kids, and grandchildren. Sack races, relays, water games, tug-of-war, you name it. She had the whole younger generation laughing, competing, and bonding in the way only a big, boisterous family can.

We had kayaks rented for the day, and many of us paddled around the lake, swimming, exploring coves, and cooling off between games and meals. It was the perfect summer rhythm — paddle, play, eat, laugh, repeat.

The cousins were all there — a rare, cherished thing now that everyone is older with busy lives. Seeing them together felt like slipping back into the memories of earlier years while also creating new ones.

⭐ Our Cabin in the Woods

The four of us — me, Serge, Ben, and Bailey — stayed in a modern shipping-container cabin owned by one of Serge’s old high school friends. Despite being made from a container, the cabin was beautifully designed: sleek, quiet, fully modern, and tucked into the forest where the only sounds were wind and birds.

It was just a few minutes from the lake and the park, which made the whole weekend feel both relaxing and convenient. At night, it felt like we were in our own little sanctuary, away from the noise, wrapped in trees, recounting the day’s highlights.

⭐ The Long Way Home

Instead of rushing back to New York after the reunion, we decided to take the long, scenic route — winding from Quebec through Vermont and then down into New York. It added extra hours to the trip, but it was absolutely worth it. We passed through the small towns and villages we used to visit years ago when we lived nearby, and each one stirred familiar memories. Rolling hills, white church steeples, old general stores, mountain vistas, and quiet rural crossroads created a sense of nostalgia that felt like its own gentle adventure. The long route turned the drive home into something peaceful and soul-filling — a reminder of how beautiful this region is and how deeply our lives have been shaped by it.

⭐ Reflections

This reunion felt like a milestone — not just because everyone came, but because bringing Bailey made it feel like our family story is expanding in beautiful ways. She was welcomed with open arms by the Quebec sisters, the cousins, and the whole spirited clan.

The day held everything I love about Serge’s family: generosity, joy, food, laughter, effort, traditions, and a sense of belonging that spans continents and decades.

It was a celebration of roots, relationships, and the beautiful mess of big family life.

A perfect late-summer adventure.