Lake Trip 2011 Part I

Our beloved lake.

We spent a glorious week at the lake, Lake Chautauqua in New York state.  It is one of our favorite places, we truly love it there.  I think a sense of true serenity just drapes over us. I know that the boys will have fond memories of our summers spent by the lake and that is so  important to us!

Things we loved about the lake this year:
1. swimming at Mayville Beach and spending the 4th of July there at a small carnival that was going on.  It was so much fun to be right on the end of the lake, swimming, tasting yummy food, dancing, playing on the playground, listening to live music and being together as a family.

Being cute

Tom riding on the train at the 4th of July carnival

Charlie playing games with Dad at the carnival

Dancing at the 4th of July carnival

*playing on the "Train" playground, even though the train was under construction.  But the tug boats were a second favorite.

I love this boy!

 *Ice cream at Bemus Point, except for when Penny decided that it was now a good time to break her week long hiatus from her normal plumbing routine and I had forgotten the wipes.  Lovely :)  But the ice cream was good and we always enjoy Bemus Point!

*visiting with family

Spending time with Great Grams

*Traveling around to all of Trent's old haunts.  I think it is so cool that we get to spend our summers where he spent his first years as a small boy.

T1 Our Lake House

 *nightly fires making smores with Daddy

SMORES!!

*spending lots of time with Daddy, such a treat!

Our annual wooden model extravaganza with Daddy

View off the porch, the lake is beyond the trees

*watching the boys finally sleep in the same room together without trying to kill wrestle each other to sleep ;) (and they are now going to sleep at the same time in the big boys room at home!!! Halleluiah!!!)
*going to bed early and the feel of cool sheets from home while laying next to my sweetie!

Early morning breakfast and crafts!

*having meals out on the deck, especially early morning breakfasts with the kids as Daddy caught some extra sleep
*having that feeling of not needing to be anywhere at any certain time
*spending time as a family.  It doesn't matter where we are or what we are doing, as long as we are together!
*doing one of our favorite things as a family, going for a hike in the woods

Thanks Baby for working so hard so that we can enjoy this time together at one of our favorite places!

  

Fall Hike

Lake Chautauqua Summer 2010

We had a great time at Lake Chautauqua, Ny on our annual summer lake trip. The first few days it was overcast and rainy, but that didn't stop our troops from having a great time. We found plenty of ways to enjoy the water. Charlie and Tommy waded in to their tummies, Charlie even lots a shoe but Daddy came to the rescue and fished it out of the mucky bottom of the lake:)

Charlie loved digging in the sand. He made a really cool sand "attraction", that had several tunnels and pathways, moats around castles and stone walls. He and Tommy had a great time filling up their buckets and letting the water rush through the chambers.

Tommy and Daddy had fun fishing on the docks and catching minnie perch. He loves to fish and it is a great tool in teaching him patience ;)

We also spent a lot of time painting rocks we found as well as a few wooden kits that I had picked up at the art store. Who would have known that 49cent wooden trains and boats would have kept us all busy for hours?

Daddy and the boys on the rocks (that Daddy use to play on when he was little) outside of the Casino in Bemus.

We spent a few days on Lake Erie and Grandma Pam and Grandpa Brian's new house. The boys had a fantastic time running on the beach and playing in the water.

Tommy cutting the grass with Grandpa Brian

Grandma Pam kept the boys busy having fun playing golf in the backyard.

We spent some time at the Choo Choo playground at our lakeside resort. They have an orange train (can you imagine the excitement???!!!!), tug boats, swings etc. It is really a cute set up and the boys LOVE it!

A visit to the Bemus Point Fire Department. Tommy was in Heaven!
Having fun in Bemus Point in front of the Lenhart Hotel. I think the bearded lady was all our favorite :)

EARLY morning snuggles.

We went on lots of rides, played a lot of games and rode the train as many times as we wanted at Midway Park.

And we walked the entire trail through Panama Rocks. Trent took the boys through all the caves and in all the nooks and crannies of the huge rock formations. This place is so beautiful and amazing. I can't wait until the kids are older and we can really explore all the caves and fun hideaway sites this place has to offer. It was a great hike, but I literally thought I might die by the very end. I am pretty sure that not many other ladies have attempted to hike the rocks at 8 months pregnant....anything for my guys!

Arent' these fellas just the cutest?!
Charlie loves to go into this tree each time we are at the Rocks. I am not sure if he and his little side kick will fit in it next year.

Once again the Lake provided us with a great week full of fun and adventure. We make so many great family memories there and love to visit all of our family and friends when we are in town.