Vacation!

We spent a funtastic week at Lake Norman this year. We rented a house and a boat with Jen's mom, sister and brother-in-law and his family (which we absolutely claim as our own!). There were 16 of us for most of the week - 9 adults, a 7 year old, 4 five year olds, a 2 year old and a 1 year old. Yes, you read that correctly, 4 five year olds - 3 of them being boys! We all had a blast...a noisy blast, but a blast all the same.

Here is a shot from the back deck of the swimming area and boat:

There was a wonderful swimming area that the kids and adults all loved to play in (that is, once we got past the nasty feeling of squishy disgusting sandy mud between our toes!). It started out zero-entry and got deep really fast. We were able to do cannon balls, can openers, pencil jumps, belly flops and dives off the dock. What could be better than that?! Well, since you asked...

Tubing on the boat (only 2 kids fell off the entire week!):

Driving the boat:

Learning to ski (courtesy of our friend, David Pharr!):


Movie night and slumber
party in the basement:

Hanging out with friends and family:









Oh, there was also the pinata, bags full of toys and games, the luau and treasure hunt, craft making, hand-painted t-shirts, donut making, and roasting of marshmellows (Katey informed us afterwards, "I have been waiting almost 8 WHOLE YEARS to taste a roasted marshmellow and it finally happened!! I love them!" We didn't know we were depriving our child, but apparently we were; at least according to her.). Most of the above was curteousy of "Mamaw Kathy" as she has a wonderful way of planning and making everything extra-special for the kids.

So we have come back tired from all the fun, but excited with all that we were able to do and try for the first time. I'm just wondering if I should be nervous...Mike confessed the other day that he was looking at boats on Craigs List. Bring it on, baby!