Monday, July 18, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Aquapalooza 2011
Saturday was the annual Aquapalooza at Hart Miller Island. We headed out there Friday evening with Monte, Rosie, and baby Alex. It was Alex's first time on a boat and camping and he was awesome... Such a chill kid! The bay was a tad rough getting out there, and there were some biting bugs while we set up camp just as it got dark. But, we put some long pants and sleeves on and all was well with the world. Somehow we stayed up (Lucas included) until 12:30 in the morning talking!
In the morning, we headed up a nearby river to pick up Matt & Beth... Did some rafting and headed over to the island to anchor for the day. Lots of fun... Tons of boats, playing in the water, and snacking!
In the morning, we headed up a nearby river to pick up Matt & Beth... Did some rafting and headed over to the island to anchor for the day. Lots of fun... Tons of boats, playing in the water, and snacking!
Kerr Lake (finally!)
2 weeks ago, we headed south for this summer's 1st vacation! We went to Kerr Lake - a lake on the border of VA and NC - also called Buggs Island. It's 5x bigger than the Lake Anna that we frequent and is about 50,000 acres big. We rented a house on the lake (there aren't many rentals at all) and Tony's parents and sister (plus husband and 4 kids) met us there!!!
We got there a day earlier than everyone else and spent some time on the water. Did some swimming, cruising, cloud watching, storm escaping, and our first nighttime swimming. Unlike Lake Anna, there are NO restaurants on the lake (we didn't know). So, for dinner we heated up a frozen burrito in a marina convenience shop. Yuuummmm... But the kids loved the ice cream that followed!
Saturday morning we went by boat to Clarksville, VA (the only city on the lake). We had breakfast, hung out on the boat some more, and then after lunch ventured back to the house/dock to wait for Tony's parents to get there.
Lucas is getting really good at swimming (with the lifevest on!) He's actually pretty fast! And he's now jumping from the front and back of the boat with no prompting or bribing!
As for Charlotte, you'd think with as much as we're around water that she'd like it more. Nope! At the pool, she'd rather sit on the steps and splash her feet. On the boat, she'd be fine lounging on board for 8 hours. BUT, Mommy likes to swim and it's HOT! So, we decided she was gonna have to get in - like it or not... And that eventually, she'd like it...
Back at the house dock... Getting a "Lucapedo".
The house - "Hydrangea Cottage"
Trail down to the water
Sunday morning, we fished on our pier for a bit, then headed 30 minutes to the closest real town to go grocery shopping and get a new truck battery. It figures it would die on us as soon as we got to vacation... Then we headed out on the boat for the afternoon.
I LOVE this pic of Charlotte! She looks like such a little kid now...
Splashing with Grammie!
Fun on the boat!
Reading together at the house...
A little more fishing... Still nothing's been caught.
Taking a well-deserved bath...
Monday morning (around 4:00 am), Tony's sister and family finally made it in after their loooooong drive from Michigan. Once they finally got up, we spent some time playing in the yard and letting the cousins get reacquainted...
Poor Grampie is recovering from hip replacement surgery, so he couldn't do all the things he normally does with us... But the kids enjoyed his walker!
Then, out for some boating adventures we went...
Broke out the rafts for a bit... Lucas went on for the first time without an adult!
Then Aunt Tre and Keira took a spin...
During the late afternoon, the kids enjoyed some playtime inside...
Tuesday morning we spent some more time out in the yard...
Then, around 10:30 or 11:00 (as would be the case just about every day), we headed down to the pretty yellow boat!
Then, back to the house for more playtime, dinner, and a walk!
Wednesday morning, we spent most of the day on land! For most of the morning, we played in the yard and went to the pier to fish. Even Grampie got down there to enjoy it!
Then, to try something different, we headed out after dinner for some dusk/night swimming. First, we anchored between 2 islands while we waited for it to get darker...
Charlotte wanted NO part of this swim trip. She was perfectly content watching from the boat. And when she's happy, I'm happy :)
We attached glow-sticks to all the kids' lifevests so they'd be easy to spot in the dark water...
Then we headed to the Clarksville bridge. We read that at night they have neon green lights that attract fish, and thought it'd look pretty cool...
Do you see anyone?
Thursday was Keira's 5th birthday, so it was very cool to be able to celebrate that with her!!!
We spent some more time at the pier in the morning. There was fishing and exploring... Kiera and Charlotte were TOO cute playing together all week!
Then, out on the lake we went!
We came back mid-afternoon for some birthday fun! There were decorations, cake, ice cream...
A scavenger hunt for the birthday girl...
Presents...
Charlotte swinging Dex...
The cousins!
Minus the baby, all 5 kids slept in this bunk bed all week. The sleeping arrangements changed slightly each night, but mostly it was Max and Ty up top and Lucas, Charlotte, and Keira on the bottom... Here, Grammie was reading a princess book to Keira while the other 4 were climbing and yelling like animals. Too funny!
Friday began with smores for breakfast! It was sooo hot in the evenings that we couldn't bear to build a fire that gave off more heat...
Then, you guessed it, more boat action!
Lottie was enjoying the beach this day! There were dogs, and she did lots of "wimmin"
Ty was amazing in the water. At 2 1/2 he was totally self-sufficient. As long as his vest was on, he could jump off the boat and swim to wherever he wanted!
2 tired kids... Charlotte is the blob under the blue towel...
After dinner, we headed to town for a fireworks show that was actually pretty good...
Daddy and Lottie asleep on the couch afterward. She fell asleep in the car on the way home, but he just couldn't bear to put her to bed... Wanted to snuggle first :)
Saturday morning, we all packed up and headed our own way.
Our plan was to spend another day on the boat, then watch fireworks from the water, camp on
the boat, and head home Sunday. But, after a few hours of :
The kids were getting a little nuts and weren't napping, and after 9 straight days of boating we were getting a little burned out on it... So, we put the boat back on the trailer and came home in the evening. What a vacation!!!
Tre had a really nice camera that took some great pics (we all had family photo shoots too), so I'm sure I'll do another post with some of those when I get them... And I may need to get one of those cameras as well ;P
We got there a day earlier than everyone else and spent some time on the water. Did some swimming, cruising, cloud watching, storm escaping, and our first nighttime swimming. Unlike Lake Anna, there are NO restaurants on the lake (we didn't know). So, for dinner we heated up a frozen burrito in a marina convenience shop. Yuuummmm... But the kids loved the ice cream that followed!
Saturday morning we went by boat to Clarksville, VA (the only city on the lake). We had breakfast, hung out on the boat some more, and then after lunch ventured back to the house/dock to wait for Tony's parents to get there.
Lucas is getting really good at swimming (with the lifevest on!) He's actually pretty fast! And he's now jumping from the front and back of the boat with no prompting or bribing!
As for Charlotte, you'd think with as much as we're around water that she'd like it more. Nope! At the pool, she'd rather sit on the steps and splash her feet. On the boat, she'd be fine lounging on board for 8 hours. BUT, Mommy likes to swim and it's HOT! So, we decided she was gonna have to get in - like it or not... And that eventually, she'd like it...
Back at the house dock... Getting a "Lucapedo".
The house - "Hydrangea Cottage"
Trail down to the water
Sunday morning, we fished on our pier for a bit, then headed 30 minutes to the closest real town to go grocery shopping and get a new truck battery. It figures it would die on us as soon as we got to vacation... Then we headed out on the boat for the afternoon.
I LOVE this pic of Charlotte! She looks like such a little kid now...
Splashing with Grammie!
Fun on the boat!
Reading together at the house...
A little more fishing... Still nothing's been caught.
Taking a well-deserved bath...
Monday morning (around 4:00 am), Tony's sister and family finally made it in after their loooooong drive from Michigan. Once they finally got up, we spent some time playing in the yard and letting the cousins get reacquainted...
Poor Grampie is recovering from hip replacement surgery, so he couldn't do all the things he normally does with us... But the kids enjoyed his walker!
Then, out for some boating adventures we went...
Broke out the rafts for a bit... Lucas went on for the first time without an adult!
Then Aunt Tre and Keira took a spin...
During the late afternoon, the kids enjoyed some playtime inside...
Tuesday morning we spent some more time out in the yard...
Then, around 10:30 or 11:00 (as would be the case just about every day), we headed down to the pretty yellow boat!
Then, back to the house for more playtime, dinner, and a walk!
Wednesday morning, we spent most of the day on land! For most of the morning, we played in the yard and went to the pier to fish. Even Grampie got down there to enjoy it!
Then, to try something different, we headed out after dinner for some dusk/night swimming. First, we anchored between 2 islands while we waited for it to get darker...
Charlotte wanted NO part of this swim trip. She was perfectly content watching from the boat. And when she's happy, I'm happy :)
We attached glow-sticks to all the kids' lifevests so they'd be easy to spot in the dark water...
Then we headed to the Clarksville bridge. We read that at night they have neon green lights that attract fish, and thought it'd look pretty cool...
Do you see anyone?
Thursday was Keira's 5th birthday, so it was very cool to be able to celebrate that with her!!!
We spent some more time at the pier in the morning. There was fishing and exploring... Kiera and Charlotte were TOO cute playing together all week!
Then, out on the lake we went!
We came back mid-afternoon for some birthday fun! There were decorations, cake, ice cream...
A scavenger hunt for the birthday girl...
Presents...
Charlotte swinging Dex...
The cousins!
Minus the baby, all 5 kids slept in this bunk bed all week. The sleeping arrangements changed slightly each night, but mostly it was Max and Ty up top and Lucas, Charlotte, and Keira on the bottom... Here, Grammie was reading a princess book to Keira while the other 4 were climbing and yelling like animals. Too funny!
Friday began with smores for breakfast! It was sooo hot in the evenings that we couldn't bear to build a fire that gave off more heat...
Then, you guessed it, more boat action!
Lottie was enjoying the beach this day! There were dogs, and she did lots of "wimmin"
Ty was amazing in the water. At 2 1/2 he was totally self-sufficient. As long as his vest was on, he could jump off the boat and swim to wherever he wanted!
2 tired kids... Charlotte is the blob under the blue towel...
After dinner, we headed to town for a fireworks show that was actually pretty good...
Daddy and Lottie asleep on the couch afterward. She fell asleep in the car on the way home, but he just couldn't bear to put her to bed... Wanted to snuggle first :)
Saturday morning, we all packed up and headed our own way. 
Our plan was to spend another day on the boat, then watch fireworks from the water, camp onthe boat, and head home Sunday. But, after a few hours of :
The kids were getting a little nuts and weren't napping, and after 9 straight days of boating we were getting a little burned out on it... So, we put the boat back on the trailer and came home in the evening. What a vacation!!! Tre had a really nice camera that took some great pics (we all had family photo shoots too), so I'm sure I'll do another post with some of those when I get them... And I may need to get one of those cameras as well ;P
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