Lake Tillery

We spent the day out on Lake Tillery yesterday with the Waneks again.  After being so consumed with the same routine, plus Bryan has been putting in lots of extra hours at work the past couple weeks, it was really really nice to spend some time just playing.

I wish I had thought to bring my camera, but it was out of batteries and by the time I thought about it there wasn't enough time to charge them.  It's ok, though, because it was all very hands on with the kids, and also Chase (and Michael) both love to throw things off the side of the boat, and I have a feeling that the camera might have been a target.

We spent a little time at the pool in the morning, which had a shallow end that was perfect for Chase to wade around in without assistance.  He, however, wanted to be just like Ian and jump off the side of the pool into the deeper end.  After many many jumps, we went back to the camper and had lunch and packed up for the boat.

Chase and Gavin took naps on the boat for a bit (who wouldn't fall asleep on a comfy lap with the wind in your hair?!?) and Ian and Emily knelt at the front of the boat, looking out over the water, sometimes Titanic-style.  I will never get over how adorable Ian is with his blonde surfer hair, especially when it is all windblown and almost white in the high sun.

We dropped anchor in a calm cove and spent the next few hours swimming...something I thought that I wouldn't enjoy all that much, truthfully.  Lake swimming, honestly, with all the living things in it and not being able to see what is on the bottom kind of gives me the heebie jeebies.  BUT- the water was warm, but nto too warm, and the sun was hot, and the kids were having a total blast, and even I have to admit that floating on a noodle in the lake was very very close to heaven.

Ian and Bryan rode the Jetski a BUNCH, and the rest of the time Ian and Emily just goofed off while they floated in their life jackets and jumped off the boat repeatedly.  Chase discovered that jumping off the boat is just as fun, if not more, than jumping off the side of the pool.  I wish that I could have videoed him- he would count, then launch himself off the side, go completely underwater, and come up laughing hysterically with a wide open mouth grin.  Every time.  He LOVED it and was fearless.  Even Gavin loved it, not jumping, but floating around, as long as we didn't try to put that pesky life vest on him.  Then he would scream.

We drove home with three very very exhausted kids, two of which quickly fell asleep, and one (ahem, Guy) who refused to give in and close his eyes.

All in all, a lovely day to share with good friends and family...we need to do more of this whole 'play' thing.  Life is too short.