Family Vacation!

We've just returned from a wonderful vacation with my family. It started out with a big picture of all the family on my side. Scott has never been in one of those pictures (unless you count the one the day we got married) and so was excited to finally be included. The weather kind of cooperated in that it wasn't hot, but it was slightly windy. The photographer can photoshop to make the best faces put together in the same picture. I'm excited to see how it turned out!

We then all drove down to "the big lake," as Richard called it, for a few days of sun and water. The kids seemed to have a great time playing with their cousins.

They loved what sand there was to play in. With the rapidly rising waters to levels that have been dry for years, the plant life is right at the shore line. We had to battle thorns and crappy beach. Alas. We did manage to find an area that appeared to be mostly rock but had a sandbar right next to it. So, there was a small amount of sand for the kids to have fun in.

I worked hard to keep me and the kids from being burned. Audrey wore this sunsuit thing to keep her well protected so I only had to put sunscreen on her feet and face. I admit it wasn't her favorite thing in the world, but she tolerated it pretty well. Scott didn't come off quite so well and got some massive burns on his shoulders.

My parents also brought a huge inflatable disc thing we called the island. The kids both had a lot of fun in that. It had a small area with mesh and so you could be in the water right there. Audrey really liked that because she could have some freedom to play in the water but not have the waves to fight.

We brought noodles to play on, because Richard really liked those at his swimming lessons. He also was a lot more confident because of those lessons and would swim around the houseboat in his lifejacket. It was so cool to see him!

We tried having the kids sleep in one of the bedrooms on the houseboat the first night. It was HORRIBLE! It was so HOT! I "slept" with them so they weren't alone, but it was miserable and I was awake most of the night. So, the next night, when Richard woke up crying, drenched in sweat, we decided it just wouldn't do to be inside. We woke up Audrey and moved the kids and set up everything out on the back deck of the houseboat. We slept so much better! Audrey woke up in the morning and stood up and said, "Wa wa!" because I guess she didn't realize where we'd moved her. You can see Audrey's foot poking out from under her blanket on the far right of the playpen. That's how she covered herself.

Scott was able to go out and water ski, wake board, and go on the Super Mable. I was able to get a picture of him while I stayed with the kids on the shore.

Richard had a blast on the Super Mable. We had little kid runs and he just had a grin on his face the whole time!

Thanks Mom and Dad for a fabulous trip! We all had a great time!