Monday, July 30, 2012

Lake Conroe...again!

The weekend after Destin, when most people are ready to relax at home,  we packed up and headed back to the condo on Lake Conroe.  This little weekend getaway was a bit of a vacation crashing.  Our good friends Bobbie and Brian Hargrave (along with their kids Halle, Arden and Jack) were vacationing that week at Brian's dad's condo.  We decided that they couldn't possibly have a great vacation on Lake Conroe without the Burress' and the Collins family.  Our condo connection came through for us again and we headed out Friday night.


We had a blast!  Rusty and Aaron escaped Friday night for a couple hours to fish and it was so nice to be able to stay up late chatting with Amanda while all our kids slept.

Saturday morning, the Hargrave's took a boat ride over to us for breakfast.  We then all loaded up and headed over to Rusty's bosses AMAZING house on the lake.  


Not the greatest pictures of this house, but it is WOW!
This couple was more than thrilled to host us simply because of all the little one's that come along with us.  They have 2 grown children but no grandkids yet.  10 kids total between us 3 couples gave lots of babies to be loved on!




They had a boat launch we were able to tie up at while we took turns tubing and skiing, gorgeous pool for us all to enjoy and an outdoor kitchen nicer than my indoor kitchen where we cooked dinner that evening.










While Brian took Bobbie, Amanda and I (along with Arden) out skiing, Rusty and Aaron kept the remaining 9 NINE kids (including 2 nursing babies) behind.  I say that wins them DAD OF THE YEAR....well after looking at this next picture perhaps DAD OF THE DECADE is more appropriate.


This picture has to be large so you can see Rusty taking a crying Jack away from Aaron as he appears to be latching on to Aaron :)  Jadyn  in the far right side here is carrying a screaming Emma and Jackson and Rylee appear to be fleeing the scene.  Mass chaos.  Thank you to my babe and Amanda's babe.  You guys rock.

A funny story from the weekend....

Colton and Dalton were playing mom and dad Sunday morning.  When asked by Amanda who was who, Dalton responded that he was the mom (much to his mother's dismay) and Colton was the dad.  As Colton entered the room to talk to his "wife" he called out to him, "hey babe."  We died laughing.  It was so funny to hear that Colton believes correspondance between husband and wife begins with babe :)

Back to Saturday now.

Jadyn and Halle were both quite the fishermen this weekend.


iPhone pic sizes funny on here :/


Jadyn actually caught a catfish and a large mouth bass this weekend.  She was thrilled!!!

Now on to the real highlight from the weekend....


My first ski attempt!  As you can tell, I bit it first.  But, on my second try....




Bobbie is a FANTASTIC teacher!



And, just for fun...Bobbie going down now.


Amanda also gave it a shot, too.  She is very serious here as she takes her lessons.


She fought hard.  Really hard.  And was soooo close several times. 





And Miss Arden because she was a sweet co captain.

Weekends like this are making it so hard to see summer come to a close in a few weeks.  Someone please make August slow down.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

52 Week Photo Challenge Week 29

We spent this week getting Zapped at Vacation Bible School with our church.  WONDERFUL FUN EXHAUSTING week!

Kids had a great time!  Up on time every morning, dressed, breakfast, ready to go everyday.  They came home from VBS in the best moods everyday.  I am truly sad that it is over!


My heart overflowed this week watching the kids worship our God and serving others through letters and care packages to soldiers.  Amazed and grateful this week.

Our Days In Destin Part 8

Final vacation post!

The fourth of July was celebrated while we were in Destin.  Our day started off a little...well, off.  Visions of a gorgeous, sunny day spent at the beach ending with a gorgeous, warm evening at Baytowne Wharf with fireworks was overshadowed by the storm that trapped us under a overhang at Bass Pro Shops and sunny evening was replaced with umbrellas and wet children.



Knowing we couldn't control the weather and we needed to make the best of it, we released the kids.  Told them to run and play just the same.



They enjoyed themselves just the same.  A little Uncle Sam and balloon animals.  Face painting.  Video games.  All American fun!




And how could we celebrate our great independence without fireworks.  No matter what went wrong this day, this firework show more than made up for it.  We were almost directly under the fireworks, closest I have ever been to such a show.  


It was spectacular to say the least.  


My firework photography...not so spectacular.


My boy's face certainly backs up my feelings of the show though.



He loved loved loved the fireworks.  It was amazing to watch him watch.  Pure bliss.

Our Days In Destin, Part 7

No real stories behind these pictures.  Just I love these people.






Water was so clear that it confused Colton into thinking it was a pool.  Kid was swimming in the ocean, with his eyes open, like he was in the bath tub.







New favorite picture of this girl.







Wouldn't be a vacation if we didn't catch Rylee frowning.



Bored yet?  Almost done I promise.  To be continued....