High Rock Lake 2014

For the past two summer, we have had the opportunity to visit High Rock Lake with the Abates.  We had a really great time with all the kids and really got a treat with Carol and Rick coming to take us all out for a boat ride.  Enjoy!

Here is Carol sitting so sweetly with my Lindsay Jane.  Lindsay sure knows a grandma when she sees one and was happy to have the extra snuggles from Carol.

Meanwhile, Allison and I were trying to wrestle these three rattlesnakes into their life jackets!

Sweet picture of the four older kiddos waiting to get on the boat.  Little stair steps for sure...wish Lindsay Jane would have added the 5th step, but she was overdue for a nap and was not very cooperative...

Look at those precious little faces!

Finally on the boat with Mimi and Pop!  Those are some happy smiles!

Here is a close up so you can actually see Nicholas. :)

See...Lindsay Jane was not quite as happy as she was last year.  She was very ready for a nap and I thought she might take one on the boat. Not so much.

Pop gave Landon a chance to steer the boat!  He actually really enjoyed it and did quite well.  It sure was nice for Rick to let all the kids steer.  :)

Allison and her baby...she was hoping little Nicholas might take a rest too.  He was with Lindsay Jane...no go.

Looking out over the boat's edge with Mimi. :)

Connor's turn to steer.  He was not as interested.  He was too busy looking at every thing else.  He is my daydreamer!

I just love moments like these.  I love watching my kids with Allison's kids and parents. It is a special type of relationship and I am so very thankful that our kids get along the way they do.  I am also very grateful to have special people like Carol and Rick in my life, who take the time to get to know my kids too.  They certainly were my adoptive parents in college, so no surprise they are like second grandparents to my kids!

We got back to the lake house and the kids were all ready to swim!

"Nicharoni" even went down the slide like a big boy!!!

Connor's turn!

And...Landon refused to go...until his daddy went with him...and bribed him...a lot!

Little rascal! But...this was the first step in getting him to put his head under water.  It was a really huge accomplishment for him.  He went off the dock about 15 times on Saturday and was geared and ready to go off on Sunday.  He went off several times Sunday as well!  We were sure that he would go off the diving board at the pool...he was saying how ready he was.  We will finish the rest of that story another time.  The point is, that this was the first step in getting him to his goal...he DID eventually go off the diving board and we are so so very proud of him!

The littlest of our crew.  So so sweet.  :)

And the crazy big kids...

I absolutely adore this picture.  One of my all time favorites.  It is so hard to believe that Allison's and I's friendship started back in 1996...now, lots of "old boyfriends", 2 husbands and 5 kids later (that took a lot of work to get here...), we are still the best of friends and can share in special times with these little munchkins.  Life has certainly handed us some twists and turns, but looking at that picture, makes it all seem worth it and certainly confident in God's perfect plan in it all.

Now!  On to golf!  We went to Dan Nicholas Park and had a blast.  They boys really enjoyed a game of Put Put with their daddy.

Lindsay Jane had a little mama, Caroline, helping her out around the play ground.  Little girls just gravitate towards my Lindsay Jane and it is so so sweet.  She absolutely loves it!

Here we are.  What a treasure this girl is to me.  We have been through life together and I feel so honored and blessed that she is in my life.  We are more like sisters in a lot of ways...and I can't imagine my life without her.  I thank God that he put her in my life 18 years ago!!  We met in the middle of a hurricane (Fran).  Guess that should have been telling for what we would go through in our special friendship over the years! Ha!

Sweet Lindsay Jane enjoying the swings with her daddy. :)  Love.

Landon and Caroline.

Lindsay Jane posing with her sweet daddy.

Web climbing time!  The kids were awesome at this!  It is amazing what difference a year can make!

Sweet mommy and son shot...

Sweet daddy and daughter shot.

The highlight of the trip to the park for me...Lindsay Jane absolutely loved the carousel.  Neither of the boys really liked the carousel at this age.  I just soaked up every minute of watching her little face.  She was absolutely elated to wave at her daddy...which is why he got so many pictures similar to the ones above.  I treasure this little memory.

Gem mining!

Lindsay Jane's turn in the lake!

Stan brought his kayak and pulled Caroline and Connor around a bit.  Caroline and Connor were literally in the lake for no less than 3 hours straight on Saturday!  To say they were worn out by the end of the day is an understatement!!

Stan got to practice his rolls in the lake.  Makes me nervous, but really does Stan's heart good!

Mike and Allison had some down time...

Our little fish!

Sweet smiles to end a cold  morning swim on Sunday.  Who would have thought it would have been chilly in July?

And...goodbye until next year!  We had such a blast with our dear friends and look forward to many fun adventures ahead.  What a gift God has given us in special friendships like these.