Traditions

Every summer, usually on my Birthday we sleep out on the trampoline to watch the stars, and especially the Perseid meteor shower. This year, however, I still wasn't feeling great so we put it off a few weeks. Luckily, we still got to enjoy quite a few shooting stars. I'll have to say sleeping out on a trampoline with 6 other people while being pregnant is an interesting adventure. I was grateful for my bed the next night!

Party Time

We were invited to a Birthday party that was at a park. Piper was the only one who enjoyed the toys at the park, so everybody rallied around her and what she wanted to do. The kids really enjoyed following her around.

Shaved Ice!

Grant came down with a hankering for shaved ice. We heard about truck that drives around (like an ice cream truck) selling really good shaved ice. We were out on a date and saw it drive by. So we decided to chase it down. It was so good, and worth the chase and standing in the rain.

It was so good (and refreshing---I felt like this pregnancy thirst that seems constant was finally quenched) that on Monday, we suggested to Karmin, who was in charge of our treat, that the shaved ice would be so good to have for treat. We called the number and found the general neighborhood they were going to be in. We drove around for about 20  minutes and could not find any signs of the truck. Finally, Karmin said a prayer for us that we would find it. As soon as she was done, we decided to take a different turn, and there was the truck. The kids all loved it! It was yummy and an adventure all at the same time.

And there were sandcastles too

This week has been full of fishing and swimming, but there have also been sandcastles that the kids have enjoyed building. They have spent a lot of time gathering sticks and rocks to decorate the castles. A lot of work and concentration went into these masterpieces!

My Fishermen

Our kids love to go fishing. They mostly get it from their dad. They like to be in the boat too--which I love. I grew up on a lake and on a boat, so it is so relaxing to me to be out on the water.

The Fishermen's Tale

Grant really wanted to go fishing. Like fishing for big fish. Ben, Trevor, and Karmin wanted to go with him, so they woke up really early (at least it was really early for this pregnant lady) and went out on the lake with Grant's dad. Soon after I got up, I got a text showing a fish that Trevor pulled in. Then soon after that, there was a text of Ben's fish. Once they got back, we spent the rest of the day (or so it seemed) dealing with fish--weighing, cleaning, etc.

Trevor's fish weighed 15 lbs, and Ben's fish weighed 10. Karmin was less than thrilled that they actually kept the fish, and didn't just throw them back. But the boys were super excited, and Grant was beyond thrilled. 

Swimming Fun

The water has been so nice, and so the kids have really enjoyed swimming (and so have the parents).

Our Little Fisherman

Karmin loves to fish. She could spend most of her time our fishing. And this is what she pulled in today.

 She was so excited! It did have the hook in pretty good, so she had to keep it in the water while Dad found some tools to help get the hook out. But eventually they got it and so she was able to throw it back in the water.

Twinkies

I love a messy bun. It is the easiest way to do my hair on these crazy days of not feeling well. Last night, Lydia brought me all the supplies to have her hair match mine. I think she can rock a messy bun way better than I can, but I appreciated that my trendy girl wanted to do something like me.

Cabin time

We went up to the cabin for the day yesterday. The weather was supposed to be great, but we had some weird weather. First there was this torrential downpour that Ben was swimming in. The rest of us found refuge in the boat house.

We got to play on kayaks, and Grant, Karmin and I got to use paddle boards for the first time. I had always wanted to try one. I love rowing. I could row forever and be perfectly content, so I was excited to try these. I think sitting and paddling is much more relaxing after the first use, but it still was a lot of fun!

The water was super warm, and after dinner I was thinking about jumping in one last time before we had to leave. But there was just enough lightening off in the distance, that gave me some pause. I finally decided that I would save swimming for another day, and I told Karmin to get out of the water, all of the sudden we could see a storm rolling it. It was crazy how fast it came. Grant and I grabbed everything we possible could and we all went running. By the time we got up the hill to the cabin, the winds picked up. It was crazy. And I was a bit nervous. The power went out immediately. Grant put my phone in the car, otherwise I would have gotten some pretty cool pictures. My Grandma wisely counseled us to wait it out before leaving. Before the storm calmed down there was crazy amounts of wind and I am surprised that Lloyd's boat made it through. I have never seen waves that big besides in the ocean. We lost the steps up to one of the docks, and a tree fell right outside the cabin and landed on the corner of the bunk house. It was a crazy storm. It was a moment that I felt completely helpless and just wanted my kids gathered around me. In the end, nobody was hurt--and that was what mattered.