August Long Week-end

Every August long week-end since I was a kid, my Dad’s side of the family has gone to the lake together. Jared + I skipped a bunch of years because we were having babies and the idea of going on a long(ish) drive to the lake with babies and toddlers, messing with their schedules and trying to enjoy our time there was daunting to us. Last year we went just for one day (it’s a 3 1/2 hour drive one way) to see how it would go. Our kids LOVED it and we all had such a fantastic time that we decided we would go for the week-end this year. I love how the scenery changes along the highway When we got there, our booking had been messed up (aka erased), so we didn’t have a cabin in the same area as the rest of the family.  THANKFULLY, there was one cabin available just a short drive away right on the water, so we took that one.  It was actually newer and more spacious than the cabin we would have had otherwise, so that was a plus.  It had a huge deck on it which is where we ate almost all of our meals. My Mom came out and stayed with us the 2nd night The view from our cabin Most of the week-end was spent with our Aunts, Uncles, cousins and the kids’ 2nd cousins by/on the dock visiting, sun tanning, snacking, swimming and going for boat rides. I think there was around 60 of us in total! SO much fun! Kiera and Haley got tube rides behind my cousin’s boat. Blake didn’t want to but was fine to sit in it by the dock. The kids tried to catch minnows throughout the week-end.  The water was very high this year, so we all had to walk on those boards to and from the dock.  It was a bit scary and several people slipped and fell in. My cousin on the left built the kayak on the right!  He showed us how he could flip himself underwater and then back up again. That guy has skills! The boys tried to all stand up on a tube at the same time which was VERY amusing! I think this was the closest they got Kiera’s (and maybe Jared’s) first time in a kayak We got introduced to the game of Sticks and we stayed up very late in our cousins’ cabin playing it the 2nd night. Blake and Haley ended up falling asleep, which is very rare for them to do when we’re at someone else’s place.

Haley fell asleep on my Mom’s lap and my Mom ended up falling asleep, too. Very sweet.

We transferred her to a couch and she didn’t wake up. I was fascinated by the lily pads the next morning, especially by the flower growing out of one close to the top of the picture. The beautiful drive home I love all the trees! I love the shades and contrasts of blues and greens Very tired kids We booked a cabin for next year and are already looking forward to it!  We LOVED spending the week-end with all of our family. I feel like between my Mom’s side and my Dad’s side I have the best family in the world! :)

The Month of June

I think is the longest blog absence I’ve had since I started blogging almost 7 years ago. Life has been busy and we’ve been enjoying summer to the fullest! It’s a short season so we try not to stay inside the house too much. :) Here’s a look at some of the things we’ve were up to earlier this summer: We went out for gelati Wore sundresses Saw the Stars helicopter take off Wore braids with sundresses

We went out on a couple of dates

The kids helped Jared assemble another dresser since the girls each got their own room Blake entered the police force

We enjoyed an indoor school picnic as it started raining right at lunchtime

We went to a few different community fairs

Enjoyed the summer sky

and a rainbow We went to our church’s annual picnic and Kiera got her very first horse ride They got their faces painted Kiera went ziplining as well as Jared and Blake and Haley who was 2 years old at the time 5027 Haley’s favorite outdoor activity: swinging

We celebrated the last day of school

This was technically in May but Blake graduated from Preschool :)

The kids demonstrated their artistry with sidewalk chalk

There’s been some bubble blowing and Jared with help from his Dad insulated the walls of our garage! My Grandpa hand built this grandfather clock…SO INCREDIBLE!!

I got to see him hold his newest great-grandchild

I got to see my cousin from B.C. who was out here visiting his fiancee and we had an extended family get together for lunch during that time. Blake was asked to be the ring bearer in their wedding next month which is exciting! :)

Driving down a familiar country road I hope to get to July and August photos at some point this year but for now we are enjoying the last 2 weeks of summer before school starts!