Lantermans, We Live Laugh & Love: When life has other plans....

We have a lot of little trips planned this summer, nothing huge or far. Weekend trips and small family outings that I have really been looking forward too. High on my list was our "use-to-be-annual" trip to Sylvan Lake. I have SO many fond memories of Sylvan lake. It was the one place a year I got to be with my cousin closest to my age and play, we got to boat, fish, play in the creek. There were no showers or cabins like there are now. It started out as a small dirt campground and has grown huge just like our family. I remember my grandma would pack the best candy for Sylvan. We would play cards until our fingers were about to fall off, make s'mores, catch bats, walk around the lake by the beaver ponds, play, play, play. My grandparents have stopped going, it is just too much work for them now, but my aunt still goes up every year and I try to make it a point to go too. It is my "happy" place. I think of it and it makes me smile. I haven't been the past few years. Our anniversary and the 4th of July make it tough to get there sometimes, but this year we planned to go. BUT, life had other plans. Brian and I were up in Eagle at the grocery store getting ice and dinner before heading to the lake and he got a call from my mom that their motorhome had the same problem it was earlier in the day and something was wrong with the electrical causing a short. It was so bad the ground wires were melted coming from the battery box and going far into the electrical panel of the RV. Exhausted and a little scared of the situation despite my stepfathers total knowledge of everything cars, we decided to bag the trip and head home. I think I was more bummed than my 4 year old. I handled it well though, I only pouted for a few minutes ;)

My mom still had my nephews until Wednesday evening, so we decided to get a good nights sleep and start the next day as a "staycation" at home. Here is a look at some of the fun we had! There was still fishing, playing outside, movie nights in the camper, board games and fun! I am still hoping for a trip to Sylvan this year..maybe even a day trip with my and the little's?! I feel like I need to go.

Day fishing trip to Arvada Res. Fun, the boys were glad to get their poles in and we caught a TON (of crawfish)

my handsome nephew, Mr. Tyler

hmmmm, mom knows me too well ;)

sister wanted to fish too!

they LOVE to buckle!

following in daddys footsteps to go catch some crawfish at the dock

finding something tiny to play with (as usual)

EW! baby one...

ALL the boys LOVED them!

and Tommy, the oldest, was brave enough to grab them and throw them back

big daddy crawfish

DUCKS!!!

the boys playing in the biggest sandbox at grandmas (the volleyball court)

and attempted to make sand volcanoes

of course, a little wrestling with gpa

LOTS of food!

bike ride to see the neighbors horses

neighbors horse ;)

Movie night in the camper!! complete with hot cocoa and popcorn!

day trip to the swim beach

nice, B

tommy out deep

blake was HUNGRY at the beach!

cousins <3! (right after piper pushed him down)

helping gpa and gma pick up apples for chore money

lots of trampoline fun

gpa taking the babies to the top of the playset

some down time

day at Lakeside was a HIT! Rollercoaster and the frog hopper were the favorites!

and, no that is NOT piper in the second seat but man it looks like her from afar.

kenny with his armies up!

tommy and his buddy

frog hopper

she LOVED the rides she rode on!

one complaint - buckles and seat belts on the cars that are welded to the circle they ride around but NO ropes or belts on the BOATS on top of water?!?!?! Really?