Memorial Weekend on the Lake

Isn't it a beauty?  I love sneaking out while the kids are eating breakfast and watching cartoons to catch a shot like this.  Not a sole is on the lake.  In fact, it sounds like nobody is outside period.  The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and it's absolutely peaceful.  For all 2 minutes in peace, I take a deep breath and reboot.

I know we are quickly approaching the end of the year and I'm grateful for the next few months off of work, but this time of year is so exhausting in more ways than one.  It's always a battle for Scott to talk me into going up north for the long weekend.  In my head I know we should be at home doing yard work, cleaning the house, and getting things on our to-do list done since every.single.weeknight. is overbooked this time of year.  But, when we're driving home on Monday and I'm thinking back on all the fun memories we made and the gorgeous weather, I'm glad we went.  Sometimes we just need to put everything on the to-do list on hold to enjoy this time together, away from it all.

Considering the forecast called for rain all weekend, we didn't get a drop.  Well, technically it rained for 10 minutes during our drive there, but cleared up as we pulled in the driveway.  The kids made a b-line for the beach and were anxious to get their suits on.

Our evenings were filled with a campfire and s'mores.  The adults played euchre while munching on cheese balls (hey, they're good luck) and enjoying some cocktails.  It was a weekend full of Jurassic Park movies at night, thanks to Pops having all the movie channels.  Jurassic World, Jurassic Park, etc.  I think I got my fill for a while.

It's always interesting to see what the boys are going to take interest in up north each year.  Two years ago it was jumping off the dock, last year it was the jet-skis.  This year it was fishing!  Sean was our big fisher and Evan enjoyed helping take the fish off the hook and put him in a bucket to watch them swim around.  I even found myself fishing.  Although, I wouldn't touch the worm or the fish...of course.

That picture above is reason #9,546 why I don't swim in the lake.  What in the world?!  They look big enough to be lobsters!!!

Aside from fishing, the boys truly just enjoyed playing in the sand, building sand castles and moats, and wading in the water.  No swim arms necessary this year since neither one of them wanted to go out deep enough.  Maybe they'll be like me and prefer pools.

My favorite part?  The boat rides!  Paddleboats or Pontoon boats.  I don't discriminate.  I love lazy Pontoon boat rides around the lake so I can gawk at all the beautiful homes and landscaping.  This lake even has playgrounds on these small islands.  It's so beautiful.  The kids are playing on a playground with the lake surrounding them.  Vintage horse swings for the win!  Both kids can swing on their own this year, which is an added bonus.

A new Memorial Weekend tradition is the ice cream social that the lake association puts on.  It's so cute!  Ice cream, bubbles, fire trucks, and story telling!  It makes for a nice evening.

It's amazing how fast these long weekends go by, but knowing we are this close to being done with the school year makes it a bit more tolerable to head back to work Tuesday morning.  This weekend gave us the chance to slow down and enjoy each other's company.  With soccer, swim, tutoring, school events for both Sean and for me, we've not had much time for board games or lazy mornings.

Cheers to the start of summer!  To the season for trips up north to the lake!  To making new memories with our family!