My Blue Eyed Babes: Deer Lake 2008

We spent a long weekend at the lake this year. It was a packed house with Great Grandpa Ray, Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle David and Jenny, Uncle Patrick, Auntie Sarah, Ari, Auntie Meg, Great Uncle Brian, and Great Aunt Boo.

Due to the price of gas, we decided that we'd sacrifice some comfort for a little savings: we carpooled. Grandma and Grandpa graciously let us pile into their Hilander for the 8 hour drive. The girls were packed into the third row and we were packed into the middle seat with all kinds of bags around us. The girls were champs despite Jana not napping and Kara only getting about 45 minutes of sleep. All I can say is thank goodness for DVD players.

The girls loved spending this time with everyone and thoroughly entertained everyone for the entire weekend.

Jana has a wonderful attachment to her Aunts and Uncles and they are so wonderful in helping out with her - Dada and I both felt like we got a bit of a break with so many willing hands around to help keep the girls happy.

Here's Jana spending some quality time with Auntie Meg.

We blew up the baby pool and put it on the beach, but Jana had other ideas for its use: a boat.

She insisted on Uncle David and I taking her out into her lake in it. The funniest part of this, as we were pushing her back and forth, was that she asked for us to push her in a triangle, instead of back and forth.

It was very nice that there are "Cabin Rules", so Jana was very agreeable to wearing the lifejacket on the beach. Here she decided it was time to go in the water, but wanted to wear the ring... too. Goofy girl!

For years we've heard the stories of the infamous turtles in the lake, but have never seen them. Uncle Dave managed to reach down from the dock and catch one. Jana quickly named him Mack (the plain little turtle named Mack at the bottom of the nine turtle stack in Yurtle the Turtle - one of Jana's current favorite stories).

Jana was so excited to tickle Mack's tummy. :-) Mack's imprisonment only lasted a few minutes and Jana was very insistent that he was able to go home to his mommy.

Here she is watching to make sure that Mack made it home to his mommy.

Jana and Dada then went for a little ride on the jet ski. She had a wonderful time, but when she came in, she declared "I cried." She got a little freaked out when he had to go fast enough to get it to plane in the water.

Jana loved going out in the boat.

Here we are heading out for our sunset boat trip

Jana mesmerized by the sights.

Kara enjoying some cuddle time with Grandma on the boat.

Once Kara got used to the life jacket, the boat was quite soothing for her. Here's our mellow girl!

Mama stealing snuggles from Jana on one of our trips out to go swimming .

The three girls, all snuggled in, on the trip back to the cabin on our sunset cruise. Jana (wrapped in the towel in the very back) was excited to cuddle with Uncle Dave; Kara enjoyed hanging out with Grandma, and Ari was having some quality time with her Daddy.

Auntie Meg and Jana

Mama and Kara

Ari - all save and secure!

Jana also enjoyed swimming - mostly. Considering we have been doing Parent-Tot in water that was around 90 degrees, we were impressed that she went swimming in the lake - especially impressed that she jumped in the water from the boat, repeatedly.

Jumping to Daddy.

Swimming with Daddy

Taking a break from swimming and hanging out with Corrina.

"Safe toes!' (She decided to share with everyone that they needed to have their toes on the edge before they could jump.)

The water was a tad cold. Can you tell?

She relaxed a bit, but had more fun jumping in, than staying in.

Right now, Jana enjoys anything that has to do with water. Carrying buckets of water from the lake to the bucket on the beach was great fun... for quite a while too.

She loves pools, too! So much so that she wasn't willing to wait for Auntie Sarah to get the pool down to the beach before climbing in.

Kara was quite a character on this trip. After not saying anything other than "Dada", the occasional "Mama", and a very rare "uh oh", she decided to share the things that she's probably been saying in her head for months. We got "good job", "get down", and "more banana." Look at this face and tell me that this kid wasn't scheming and waiting to share what's on her mind.

We pulled the car seats out of the car, after needing the space for a trip into town. Both girls found great amusement in climbing in and out of them while they sat on the floor. Jana even strapped herself in.

And finally, here are just some more fun pictures.

Aunt Boo, spending some quality time with Kara

Aunt Book taking advantage of some cuddle time with Ari.

Jana being a goof and wearing Daddy's hat.

Grandma and Ari

Tell me that's not one tired toddler! She was sacked out like that since I put her down for her nap 3 hours earlier. We opened the door and she proceeded to sleep through all the noise for another 45 minutes