Last week our family along with the Ellis family, took East to Oroville for some relaxation and play. The car ride over was uneventful with a few roadside stops for bladder release and snack grabbing. Once we made it to Big Time Lane the fun was instantly had with floaties being blown up, swimsuits on and kids itching to get on the boat. Baylee was quick to drop a terd in the lake which made a great first impression. This was our first time vacationing together, but with the natural ease of our families you would have thought it was a yearly event. Such grace was given for many occasions.
Lord knows we all needed the down time and we got it. Having a normal size kitchen to feed our tribes was a huge blessing and especially the option of having a quiet space for the younger ladies who at times need to find silence. Not to mention the three showers to rinse the stink off all the littles being a bonus that came with the house.
Thank you to Tim who did almost all the breakfast and dinner making for us and most often the clean up too. I am so blessed.
Hakuna Matata. Yeah right. Easier said than done.
So, I'm out doing my thing training for my big race when at mile six, on a slightly down hill part of the main road which is much like a highway, I step down to only realize there is a RATTLE SNAKE a foot from my shoe half coiled, cozy on the white shoulder line of the road. Yes. I hate snakes. Even the God created gentle Gardner Snakes. They serve no purpose especially when surprising you while on your long morning run. After I jumped some three feet in the air and yelled back at the snake, I sprinted the next mile ahead thinking the beast was after me.
It was three more miles ahead another beast came out of the grass to once again get me to jump in the air and grab my chest making the rest of my run home jittery, eyes open and trying to run the center line at all times far away from the shoulder of the road.
I don't want to know what my heart rate was at that morning. Unhealthy high. I don't do surprises.
I'm not sure how these kids don't have whiplash, back pain or twisted bodies from all the time spent on the tubes being pulled around Lake Oyosoos. At one point it had started raining hail size rain drops and they still were asking for more! Just sitting in the boat it hurt from the rain, but these kids wanted all the fun they could get. The three girls, Addison, Eve & Pearl, were always tubing buddies giggling, laughing and making some of the best facial expressions when being thrown from one side of the wake to the other with most times bumping into the boys tossing them overboard. The more speed the better!
{ Crash & burn. }
{ Addi busy behind the camera at sunset. Stunning talent. }
Myriam LOVED the boat rides and LOVED the tubing rides even more. The first ride I could hear her giggling as the sounds of laughter could be heard traveling across the lake. If allowed, Myriam became the flagger when a tuber went down. Such a thrill seeker!
Back on the shoreline, Baylee posed for a potential advertisement as the house we stayed at is for sale. How could one resist with those chunky rolls and piggy tails smiling back at you?!?!
It might not have been an actual paddle board, but it worked for many enjoyment rides and cruises. The first time I took Myriam out on the board we sat and paddled together then she changed positions to paddle like a surfer girl, laid down to soak up the sun, ran her fingers in the water and back to helping Mom paddle back to shore. Baylee quite enjoyed the rides too!
I never did fall in standing up on the board thanks to leg and core strength, but the lake tried many times to toss me in with the ski boats creating such wake.
James and Charlie watched from the board as Lance did his thing on the wake board after attempting giving Tim lessons on how to managed the sport. It was a failed attempt, but good effort was given.
{ Melt my heart. }
{ Shhh...Daddy's sleeping. }
{ Practicing her surfing skills, water fights and beach life all made for good times. }
{ Front porch games. They also spent close to four hours the next day on the back porch playing a variety of board and card games. These kids got along so well. }
{ S'moresma's }
Myriam kept busy playing in the sand box. With the other kids tubing, she had much of the beach to herself and with that space she created something quite special. Myriam calls it as she sees it; says it how she thinks it. Lately, she's been talking lots about "Auntie Traci's dead spot." And that you see is what she made on the beach. These "mud pies" were the dead spots, the straws breathing tubes and decorations and rocks people who came to celebrate. Yep, she celebrated on the beach with a bat tapping beat and humming walking around the shore. A beach side celebration for Auntie's dead spot. Love how this one processes and remembers.
{ Addison and her creativeness. }
Thank you Jesus for getting us back home safely...even if Baylee did cry for an hour to "help" her and get her "out" of her carseat in disgust for the stationary ride home. Not even the red vines distracted her long enough to stop her crying.
Thank you also to our friends allowing us to borrow their row boat for the week!
Summer vacation success.
Thank you Jesus for getting us back home safely...even if Baylee did cry for an hour to "help" her and get her "out" of her carseat in disgust for the stationary ride home. Not even the red vines distracted her long enough to stop her crying.
Thank you also to our friends allowing us to borrow their row boat for the week!
Summer vacation success.
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