Up North for the Fourth!

So far our summer vacation can be summed up by saying that leading up to the fourth of July weekend, we had been home for a total of 6 days since school let out.  I had just felt settled post-Disney, the laundry was finished, the suitcases stored away, groceries in the fridge, and we found ourselves scrambling all day last Wednesday packing to head Up North.

Nobody was complaining about being gone from home again.  Not with this view for the next five days.

We left Wednesday evening around 7pm in an effort to avoid the traffic on Thursday.  Based on what the rest of Scott's family told us with their drives at different points Thursday afternoon, we made a great decision.  We got up at the tail end of a beautiful sunset and the kids jumped out of the car to run down to the beach.

The next morning we had the place to ourselves!  The kids were whining about going outside at some un-Godly hour.  It was a bit chilly in the morning, but sweatshirts over the bathing suits fixed that.  We took a paddleboat ride, played in the sand, played some beach games, and enjoyed a boat ride on the pontoon.

Everyone else started arriving around 3pm and up through 8pm.  Pops was ready to make a fire while we waited for the last few members to arrive and we all had s'mores and played hillbilly horseshoes.

Friday morning we spent the morning on the beach in the sand while the boys golfed a short 9 holes.  Later in the afternoon, the ladies got to escape to the outlets for some retail therapy.  We all were back together that evening to celebrate Adelaide's fourth birthday with chicken fajitas, cupcakes, and presents!

Saturday, on the fourth, the boys golfed again in the morning while the rest of us played outside.  They were back just in time for the boats and jet-skis to be allowed out in the water, so we went for a boat ride and decided to get brave and take the kids on the speed boat and tubing.  Sean wasn't a big fan since he remembered being thrown off it the year before, but Evan did okay.  They tried kneeboarding too (without the speed boat lol).

Saturday evening the lake put on a huge firework show!  The kids napped late in the afternoon in preparation to stay up late.  We BBQ'd hamburgers and hot dogs, made another fire with s'mores, let the kids do sparklers and whipper snappers, and enjoyed the fourth!

Sunday was another gorgeous day on the lake.  A few family members headed home while the rest of us stayed another night to avoid traffic.  More swimming, sand, and sun for all of us!  And we capped off our long weekend up north with a trip to the ice cream store.  Monday morning we packed up the minivan and hit the road for a very smooth ride home!  Everyone was sun kissed and ready to sleep in their own beds, but it was a great weekend spent with family!