The post in which I force you to sit through an obnoxiously long virtual slideshow of our vacation.
Every year we go to a lake house with a passel of family for 9 days of relaxation and all around gorging ourselves on horrifically awesome junk food.
I was actually GIDDY to eat something green and healthy when we got back.
The week was filled with water fun of all kinds.
A blow up pool on the grass was a big hit with the kids.
This girl LIVED in the pool.
No, really.
Hours upon hours of splashing and dunking her head under the water.
Who knew little Jilly Bean knew how to hold her breath?
I’ve rarely seen her happier…makes me wonder if water therapy might be a good option?
We also brought our slip n slide.
Kinda made me wonder why we packed up and drove 8 hours…
But there was fishing for the boys.
Off the dock with a new Transformers pole.
Henry even jumped off the dock.
Or maybe I threw him off as he screamed.
Same diff.
Being silly in straw hats and our favorite green shirt that I can’t possibly wash fast enough for him to wear it again.
This is the face I get every time I ask him to smile for the camera.
Head up, eyes closed, and CHEEEEEEEESE!!!!
But at home we can’t tube off the back of the boat.
Lucy means business. No smiling. This is serious stuff mom.
I can almost hear the background music from The Right Stuff playing here.
Ah, there’s that grin!
This girl had me laughing so hard.
She has no fear.
Ever.
Of anything.
Then it was brother’s turn.
Henry is much more cautious than his sister.
He whines and complains, but once he realized it’s safe and fun, we couldn’t keep him off the tube.
Dad blaring Metallica during the family fun is normal right?
Your kid “headbanging” to the music?
Every family does this, right?
Right?
Next it was Jilly’s turn.
Waving hi to mama in a lifejacket about to swallow her bitty self up?
I die.
It’s a tough life to have to wait for the ride to start.
My kids are so deprived.
And then terror.
Shock.
Horror.
I’m certain that if Jill could speak, she would be saying something like “What THE…???!!!”
Her face CRACKS. ME. UP.
And Lu?
Literally fell asleep sitting up.
Napping is for losers when you’re on vacation.
But skipping too many days in a row makes for sleepy babes.
Old school Nintendo.
Every year. Tradition.
And only one game is played.
Super Mario Bros. 3.
For hours and hours and hours.
You can’t play it any other time than at the Lake.
It’s jut not nearly as fun.
And on our second to last day, I looked up at a nearby hill to see this.
Flames.
Smoke.
I even called 911.
You’re welcome California.
I just saved your life.
(Nevermind they were already on their way…details.)
Somehow, this was the highlight of our trip.
Getting to be this up close and personal…yet, being safe.
Seeing these guys in full gear…
Near a burning fire…
On an already hot day…
Makes me hyperventilate just thinking about it.
Hats off to you Mr. Firemen.
The water bucket helicopter was so cool to watch.
The boys hopped on the Sea Doo and drove over to get a closer view.
And at one point, apparently got too close and the helicopter actually beeped? honked? sirened? at them to get back!
Nerds.
Picking up water from the lake!!!
Coolest thing ever.
Flying right over?
Henry was dying.
So, there you have it.
Lots of water.
Lots of sillyness.
Lots of family.
Lots of relaxing.
Lots of lots of just fun.
Do you take annual family vacations?
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Looks like fun! Jill is getting so big! I hope, hope, HOPE our kids are little headbangers one day… my husband might die if they aren’t ;)
what a happy time, minus the horror of riding that inflatable tube of course. ;) that photo is hilarious!
p.s. i think your henry and my henry are cut from the same cautious cloth.
3 Things!
1. Our kids head-bang too. Cutest thing ever.
2. I read Jilly Bean as Billy Jean and broke out in a little Michael Jackson, I guess I got distracted by her super cute, but terrified face :)
3. No annual trips, but thinking of starting the tradition at Siesta Key, Florida.
Happy Wednesday!
what a grand vacation!! just my style — water fun. Your kids are just precious. Memories made for sure. Our weekend/holiday trips/vacations are spent on the water, too, with our grown kids and their little families.
I love looking at pictures! And their faces while tubing, priceless!!
Once my daughter got old enough to play soccer seriously, we never really had time (or $$) for true family vacations. We were always off on weekend long tournaments or paying for weeklong soccer camps. We finally took a family vacay this summer. It was just for 4 days, but it was oh, so, nice! :)
OK, those are some really great pictures. I was laughing through half of them. It looks like you guys had a really great time. I don’t know if it’s just a boy thing or what, but my 4 yr old would have loved all that fire action. He’s always been into any kind of transportation (cars, trucks, planes, trains, you name it). And lately he’s all about firefighters.
We usually go down to Miami once a year to see visit my husband’s family, but it’s pretty boring. I always say Miami is only fun if you have money and lots of it. You’d think my husband having been born and raised there he’d know all the cool little hideouts….yeah not so much.
yes yes yes on vacation fun! my parents have a lake house TWO HOURS away from us and the same distance for my sister and her family. we head down with the children every other week ~ both of our husbands come down on the weekend. (we only go back to make sure daddy has ironed shirts and enough food to last the following week!) the children (12, 9,8,7,3) kneeboard, ski and love all things that go behind the jet ski.
several years ago there was a fire in the wildlife area nearby (4 miles away) and they dipped in the lake also. planes circled during the night to make sure the flames did not get close to the houses. cool to watch not cool to smell!
i dread the start of school in a few weeks because we always have such great summer fun! oh, and beside gas for the water toys and a few groceries the best part is that it is FREE! well, for us not our parents :-0
Metallica… head banging… YES YES YES. I actually got mad that Rhianna’s S&M song was on the radio when Aidan was in the car and changed it to Metallica… much more suiting for young children! hehe
And Jill’s face. Oh priceless! So glad you were able to capture that sweet little girl’s terror. I’m glad she was ok and I’m kicking myself for giggling in spite of her fear… but goodness she’s cute!
And lastly, I absolutely adore that you can clearly see every single one of your children’s personalities in these photos. You can see they are all so different and beautiful and glorious in each their own way! CUTE KIDS!!!
Can I be part of your family? :) Your kids are going to have so many wonderful memories. Love the Henry “diving” into the water part. And my girls loved their pools, too. Glad you had time to get away for a little while. We used to go on annual church trips which were fun because it was with families whose kids were friends with our kids. Summer and Winter trips – Skiing, tube runs, water skiing, hiking, etc. I miss those times. Wish we would have done it even more while they were growing up. Thanks for sharing your pics. And I never feel forced to read about your NONobnoxious slideshow. ;)
Love the shot of Henry jumping/being thrown in the water and the dogs swimming around. Super cute.
It looks like a WONDERFUL vacation. Awesome. Right down to the old skool nintendo.
My parents live on a lake 30 min away, so my kids get the lake experience all summer long. Love it!!
First pic I love is Henry “jumping” in w/ daddy and your cute doggies swimming too. Second is Lucy’s expressions, her serious and then adorable smile. Third Jilly’s not to sure what to expect to “HOLY COW”!!!
Glad you had a nice time, looks like a blast! :)