On the Saturday of Fathers' Day weekend, Richie decided that he wanted to do something besides work again. He's been working so hard for six long days each week, I was glad he realized he needed more than a one day break. So he and I went to a garage sale while the girls decided where we were going to go for the day. And they decided that we were going to go to Park Lake. For once it wasn't raining so that made it a "nice" day, even though it wasn't very warm and was rather windy and overcast. So we packed up a few things and were on our way!
Just arrived and set up and now the girls are exploring the beach.
Watching the minnows.
Richie picnicing! This was our annual visit to KFC.
More exploring on the dock and watching a huge boat get launched.
Katia and a robin. I'm excited about this picture because I've finally taken a few minutes to read parts of my camera's instruction manual - I actually zoomed and cropped this picture on my camera!!!
Time to pump up the rubber dingy. We realized that we'd forgotten the oars again! We do that a lot!
Everyone takes a turn at pumping.
Katia's working hard - you can tell by her pony tail.
Speaking of pony tails - Jenna's is flying as she jumps out of the dingy.
Mackenzie didn't like the dingy. She sat there with Jas and didn't more - wouldn't even eat her potato chip!
When Carlee started dragging her down the beach in the dingy she started to freak out.
So the good sister Carlee lifted her out.
She's trying to get away from that thing as fast as she can.
Then she came to a little sandy bank that lead up to the grass and couldn't make it up and stood there crying, still clutching the same potato chip.
Good old daddy to the rescue! She's double checking to make sure that dingy is far away.
Safe in daddy's arms and now noticing, "Hey, I have a chip!"
And Carlee, looking pretty comfy, sets herself adrift a few inches from shore. Carlee has a stick for a paddle.
Look out! Here comes Jordyn carrying a short shovel to use as a paddle.
More girls on board now and they're trying desperately to paddle away from Jas.
But Jas comes running out and catches up to the boat!
All aboard! In a shallow lake like this, that stick made a good paddle!
Canoe, kayak and dingy - such a busy lake!
Katia comes ashore ladened down with everyone's valuables - must be time for some serious boating!
Looks pretty intense! Jordyn with the spy glass scouting out the enemy. (I think the enemy is right behind you Jordyn. Carlee is just about to push you!)
And down they go, but no one fell in. They got back up again, and the next time . . .
. . . they all fell over backwards like dominoes. You don't want to be the person in the back of the boat when that happens! Poor Jas toppled right in to the lake. She took a breath and prepared herself to go under, but instead her hinder hit the bottom and she didn't even go under.
Seems to be ball time now.
And Jenna gets the ball first!
And Carlee gets the ball first!
Time for some serious sandcastling now.
Everyone was so focused and worked hard to create a masterpiece.
Back on our grassy knoll, some people are enjoying watermelon.
Awww, daddy daughter time.
The construction continues!
Daddy taking a much needed nap. He was on the blanket that I was snuggled under for most of the day to keep the wind and mosquitos away. So I went back to the car to keep warm. Some dark clouds were starting to roll in. After absorbing some much needed warmth into my bones, I went back to the beach to discover this masterpiece . . .
Wow - that's quite the creation Jas!
And these are the general moat builders.
The final view, including a flag and a little army guy they found guarding the gate.
And then it started to rain so we packed up at lightning speed and were on our way, and the storm moved in behind us.
I delight in watching my family play together and seeing the love and enjoyment and fun and laughter they have with each other. I'm so delighted that these are the people I get to spend eternity with because I just love them all so much! And the only way the day could have been better was if Chelle had been there with us too.
