Sabbatical

Last year, one of my good friends from high school, Sheila, and her husband bought a lake house in New Hampshire.  They live in Arizona but had been searching for a place in New Hampshire, as they found themselves vacationing in the lakes region every summer.  This summer, Sheila is spending eight glorious weeks at Braggalope Bay (as it was dubbed last year by Lee, of all people) because she is on sabbatical from her job and on Sunday, she invited us to spend the day at the lake.  Despite the pouring rain, Lee and I packed up the girls and headed up to the lake to meet up with my three closest high school friends and their families.  We shed the rain about five miles from Braggalope Bay and spent a wonderful day with old friends.  For only seeing each other once or twice a year, our kids play very well together - although ours have the tendency to make themselves a bit too comfortable once they become familiar!  Everyone spent the day swimming, fishing, eating, kayaking, playing and talking.  It was a wonderful time!!  Thank goodness for sabbatical!

Owen 

We couldn't keep Emily from the water!  Two weeks at camp changed her whole attitude about swimming.

Lee hooks up a lure to Kevin's motorized boat. 

Kevin came up with the ridiculous idea of trying to catch a fish with his motorized boat.... 

Kevin and Owen 

Elizabeth goes off of the slide at the end of the dock. 

Juliet found a toad and the kids all crowded around to get a glimpse.

After Kevin got frustrated, Lee took over the fishing-by-motorized-boat - and caught THE BIG ONE!! Fishing by motorized boat was such an awesome idea!!

Okay, maybe it wasn't so big.... 

After Lee's unexpected success with the boat, the kids started following him everywhere. 

Travis (lady, why are you taking my picture?)

My sweet Elizabeth. 

When Kevin started fishing, all of the kids crowded around him. 

Travis, making waves. 

Annabelle, busy at work.

Travis 

Elizabeth and Ethan

Kayaking excursion.

Jen and Annabelle 

Owen 

Emily 

Annabelle, Juliet, Emily, Elizabeth, Owen, Ethan and Travis 

Jen and Greg, Lee and Maureen, Janet and Kevin, Sheila and Clint + the second generation.  This picture was taken just seconds before Emily unexpectedly landed in the water, fully clothed, ending our family photo session!