memorial weekend, 2014

Memorial weekend at the lake…so much has changed…from our usual party barge rides and wake surfing adventures while blaring loud music like Kid Rock "All Summer Long" or Doobie Brothers, now it's quiet evenings in the pontoon while singing Disney Frozen songs and kid-friendly tubing…and I absolutely LOVE it! Memorial weekend is usually our first weekend staying at the lake for the summer, so it's work hauling all of our stuff over. I try to take everything we need and keep it over there so it's easy to go back and forth all summer without packing every time. Loading and unloading, cleaning and re-arranging clothes/drawers at the lake house, and organizing all our gear usually takes up most of the weekend. It was cloudy and rainy most of the weekend, so I had plenty of time indoors to get all of our things situated for a fun, relaxing summer! Jeb worked on cleaning the decks, boats, and downstairs patio room while Reid fished…and fished…and fished. Jeb put out some trot lines by the dock and they caught several big catfish! We even had a "mini fish fry," as Grandma Lucy decided to cook Reid's fish for lunch on Sunday! LilliAnn enjoyed jumping on the trampoline and playing with her pink Pottery Barn kitchen. Sunday night we cooked some burgers and watched the Thunder game outside on the deck with Kari and Steven. The sunset was gorgeous, and a Thunder win was the cherry on top of our perfect evening! Monday evening the weather was beautiful so we loaded up in the pontoon for some time on the lake. Rush had his very first boat ride…and he really like it! 

…..

…..

 Kass was our captain! He was looking fly in his soccer jersey and leopard swim trunks! 

…..

…..

 Kisses for daddy!

…..

 Reid had tubed quite a bit by this point and his neck was starting to hurt. We tried our hardest to get LilliAnn on the tube, but she just wasn't having it. She kept saying, "It's scary!" Hopefully, she'll get on in the next couple of weekends if Jeb gets on with her. 

…..

…..

 What's not to love? A beautiful evening, snuggled up in a blanket, and Nana holding you while the waves gently rock you…perfection! 

…..

This little boy LOVES the lake! 

…..

This was the look on their faces while watching LilliAnn sing the Frozen song, "Let It Go" (or in her words, "Snow Glows White"), complete with her own made up moves! 

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

Discussing what the next song will be...

…..

 Almost 7 years of marriage and this guy is still rocking my world! 

…..

…..

…..

Rushton is checking out the big kids' dance moves! 

…..

He thinks they're pretty cray cray! 

…..

 Cutest daddy I know! 

…..

 song choices… "Fancy" or "23"?!?

…..

…..

 I absolutely love this. Reid and Rush. My baby boys.

…..

…..

soooooo glad to be a college graduate and have so much freedom! 

…..

sweet summertime...

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

 I didn't think my heart could get any fuller…and then he was born...

…..

…..

…..

…..

 My cup runneth over!

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

 silly faces! 

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

This little guy would seriously fish forever if we'd let him! He was on the dock fishing from sun up to sun down! I am amazed at his patience and how well he can change out lures and get his pole all rigged up! 

…..

View from the side of the dock

…..

…..

He would catch little perch and put them in that bucket/tank for trot line bait. 

…..

…..

This is why my kids LOVE it here! This is the view from our lake house looking up the hill at my grandparents' house. The kids can run around on this beautiful grass, jump on the trampoline, play basketball, sidewalk chalk, play on the swing set or in the playhouse, or ride their Power Wheels around everywhere. It's simply wonderful. 

…..

…..

It was the perfect beginning to our summer. We're geared up, cleaned up, organized, and ready for a fun-filled, relaxing summer at the lake. As soon as dance is over and t-ball ends for the year, we plan on staying at the lake for several weeks. We'll have to come make to Shawnee intermittently for swim lessons, gymnastics, and my appointments with Reggie, but hopefully we can stay at the lake most of July. This means fishing, hiking, evening runs, lightening bug catching, boat-riding, learning to ski, breakfast at Mimi's, afternoon naps, steaks for dinner, morning coffee on the patio, and rides in the Ranger. Bring. On. SUMMER.