Summer Travels

This year when Kent and I flew east, we left behind a few things: diapers, pacifiers, sippy-cups, and strollers. Whoo hoo!!!! We haven't been able to do that for seven years! Traveling by plane is so much easier, especially now that the girls can take their own shoes off when going through security. What a difference! Anyway, this year we rented a house in Bumpass, Virginia with my side of the family which included seven adults and six kids. The house was situated on about an acre lot right on the shore of Lake Anna and came with two kayaks, a canoe, a paddleboat, and a swing set. The kids were easily entertained leaving the adults plenty of time to enjoy conversation, beer, and Aunt Jessie's now infamous summer brew . . . more on that later. The house also included 3 t.v.'s, over 200 videos, and a pool table for entertainment on rainy days, of which we had none!

View from house:

Kent and Madeline out in a kayak:

Sophie and her cousins Dagney and Paige going out in the canoe with my brother, "Uncle Josh."

Madeline fishing:

Crabs for dinner!

My mom and Maddie relaxing:

Madeline and Emmet fishing:

Not for the squeamish. Kent stepped on a hook, and as we were in the middle of nowhere without cell phone service or internet, I ended up driving him 45 minutes to the nearest emergency room. The doctor had to advance the hook through to cut the barb off. Fun, fun.

Sophie fishing:

Proud of her fishies!

Madeline lost her third tooth while in Lake Anna, and the tooth fairy found us!

Madeline with her cousin Lillian:

Emmet had fun burying Sophie:

Brotherly Love:

Uncle Josh with his 2 oldest, ages 3 and 2. I would like to nominate him for "Father of the Year."

Back to the summer brew. Jessie was queen of the mixed drink making and served all of us from this festive bucket. I don't know the exact recipe, but it goes something like 4 coronas, a can of vodka, and some lime-aid concentrate. Delish. Summer brew, the root of everything good and everything evil. . .

My family. Love them.