Weekend Wrap-Up

What a fun-filled weekend!!! 

We had plans to go to Minnesota with my family for quite awhile now, but the plans kept changing.  With all the summer things going on, I wasn't sure how to get us all there without someone missing out on something.  We decided to let Kylee stay home, send Kael up early with my parents, and have Kent and I go up with Kase after his baseball game. At the last minute, a few plans changed and Kylee decided she didn't want to miss it so we picked her up in Ames on Thursday night after volleyball camp and headed for the cabin. 

Kase had just finished a baseball game and Kylee's camp got done at 8:30- she was so proud to show us when we picked her up that she had gotten the Hustle Award for camp! Also she got a cool medal because her team had won their court. So proud of her hard work. 

Kael kept us updated on what was going on before we got there.  They had some rain so they took a fun trip to the Fish Museum!

What a view!

We got there pretty late Thursday night/Friday morning.  Everyone slept well and when we all got up, everyone was so excited and happy to see Kylee! She loved surprising them.

We spent the day fishing, swimming, hot dog-ing and tubing.  Kael caught a really nice one!

We had tons of fun at the swimming area.

One of the biggest highlights for Kael and Kylee was tubing together.  They loved going fast and hitting all the waves!

We enjoyed relaxing on the deck.  Kael is so proud that his feet are bigger than mine now and he is within an inch or two of catching me in height!

Can't get enough of those lake views and time spent with my favorite people.

Kylee did a little skiing but before she did, Kael gave it a shot.  I don't have any pictures because I feel like I kept jinxing him- every time I took out my camera he fell down! But honestly I was so proud of him.  He got up several times! His calm determination was so impressive. Kylee was his biggest cheerleader. So fun watching him succeed.

These three cute girls sure had fun together.

One of the mornings we set up a little pool and slip and slide. What a hit this was with everyone! Watching them go down the hill on tubes was so hilarious! It was a great way to spend the morning.  They had fun with squirt guns and also caught a frog too! Kael and I played some frisbee and he taught me how to do a little better at KanJam!

Breakfast buddies.

These three played a LOT of Beyblades and had tons of fun together.

More hot dog rides! Kylee was such a trooper- riding over and over again with all the littles!

Just love this photo of Kael.  He looks so grown up.  And he's getting to be a pretty good fisherman!

But still a totally funny teenager.

Kylee caught a nice small mouth bass!

One afternoon we had a really nice time out on the pontoon, just us four, while Kase was chilling at the cabin.  Being out on the lake is so peaceful.

Then, back to the beach!

Sister selfie!

We may not have had as much luck fishing as we wanted, but everyone who really cared did at least catch something! Kent just loves being out on the boat and is so helpful- always willing to drive the boat for fishers, skiiers or tubers.

We had a little excitement the last night while the kids were all looking to catch mama and baby turtle.  Tyson turned the corner to the other part of the dock and we heard a splash! He had fallen in while trying to reach a snail shell.  He was totally fine though and very calm about the whole thing but he did lose his shoe in the mud at the bottom of the lake! What a story.

Oh, these three boys.  Such different personalities and they got along great this weekend. It's been really fun watching them grow up together. 

On the last night we had a glow stick party!

What a crew!

Is there anything better than a summer lake weekend spent with the family? I came home feeling so thankful for time together and loved each little moment and memory made (quack, barbels!) with nieces, nephews, parents, sisters and brothers-in-law. We're so lucky that we all get along so well.  I'm so thankful for all the work my parents did (making sure we all had our favorite food and snacks, filling the boat up with gas, playing card games with us, helping watch the kids) to make it such a fun weekend for all of us!