lake time

After two years away from my grandparents, I was so excited to visit them at Lake George! Even though we were constantly busy with kids, we had lots of time to visit and relax throughout the week. We played lots of cards, did a few puzzles, and ate almost every meal together out on the porch!

We spent much of the week at the little beach. The kids kept themselves entertained with just buckets, shovels, and trucks! With plenty of sunshine and relatively warm water, they didn't get cold even after hours splashing around in the lake looking for snail shells and pinecones.

Christopher and Oliver built an elaborate canal with pools and sand dams and filled it with water from the lake. Colin loved splashing in the little pools... and in the big buckets!

Kelsey and I shaped mermaid tails for Mae, Oliver, and Archie. This might be Mae's favorite beach activity.

Our sandbox and our trip to Brigantine beach this summer prepped Colin well for a lake vacation. He loved playing in the sand, and seemed to have gotten over the impulse to eat it. He was very clingy and scared when we took him down to the water on the first day, but he quickly adapted to the gentle lake waves.

Kelsey, Christopher, Dan, and I took turns on the paddleboards. The older kids had fun going for short rides in the shallow area of the lake and then hopping off and swimming back to shore in their puddle jumpers. Even Colin and Lillian tried it out for a second!

Mae had fun practicing casting with her fishing pole. After she lured the fish close to the dock with her red bobber, Mom and Oliver had fun feeding them with bits of leftover salami.

When Colin wasn't at the beach, he was playing with this hose reel. I'm not sure why he was so obsessed with this thing, but we could not keep him away from it!

While Colin napped in the afternoon, Dan and I had time to visit, play cards, and do puzzles. I could sit and play ten-to-one all day. We even had time to read! Real books!

Of course, we did have a few rainy afternoons. During one downpour, we went outside for a good, old-fashioned puddle stomp. We stayed outside until everyone was soaked through. I think Colin lasted the longest. He was having the time of his life chasing the little popsicle stick boats around in the water. He toddled around in the water more than he's ever walked before!

Our visit wouldn't be complete without a trip to Pirate's Cove. All the kids enjoyed their first attempt at mini golf. They also loved all the pirate-themed displays, especially seeing the treasure inside the cave behind the waterfall. (Colin's face in the stocks is cracking me up.)

I think I will remember this visit as "the one where I woke up really early," but not in a bad way. With Colin getting up sometime in the 6 o'clock hour almost every day, I spent my mornings taking quiet walks with him in the front carrier as we waited for the rest of the house to wake up for the day. The mornings are so pretty and peaceful, and I love how chilly and dewy everything gets overnight. Even though our visits now are fairly different to the camping trips we took there as kids, the feeling in the morning always brings back such vivid memories. I'm climbing out of my sleeping bag, pulling on my windsuit to shield me from the brisk air, and wandering out of the tent to hunt down some cinnamon pop tarts warmed up on the propane toaster. Even at home, we refer to those rare, cool summer mornings as "Lake George weather."

I'm glad I was able to find a few peaceful moments during this vacation! Thanks for a wonderful time, Gramma and Grampa!