Braggalope Bay 2019

Last weekend, the girls and I made our annual trip to Braggalope Bay to visit with Sheila, Clint and Travis, as well as my other high school friends.  Jen and her family couldn't make it this year, but Janet, Kevin and their boys were there to round out our day.  The kids were in the water from the minute we got there, and we had a really great time.  This is one of my favorite traditions.

Kevin paddle boarded an oar to Emily, who was adrift in the middle of the lake.... 

Elizabeth and Ethan 

Missing Jen this year. 

The kids. 

The thunder and pouring rain toward the end of the day forced us to take our annual photo inside.

Braggalope Bay 2018

The last Saturday in June, Elizabeth and I got together with my high school friends at Braggalope Bay.  This is an annual tradition that I just love so much.  We graduated from high school 25 years ago, yet we still are able to make time to be together each year.  Emily and Lee were unable to make it - Emily was at Choate and Lee was busy working on a complete re-do of the girls' room (in extreme heat!) - but Elizabeth and I had a wonderful time.

Elizabeth and Ethan 

Mrs. Crawford purchased this float and it kept the kids entertained all day. 

Forever friends 

Annual photo 

Elizabeth and Ethan - these two first met 14 years ago this month.  It makes me so happy (and Janet, too, I know) that they are such good friends, always picking up where they left off, no matter how much time has passed.

Braggalope Bay 2017

Last weekend, the stars aligned and the girls and I were able to make the trip up to New Hampshire to visit with my best girl friends from high school, spending the day at Braggalope Bay.  The kids enjoyed an afternoon on the water, swimming and kayaking, and the moms sat around and caught up on life.  With all of the changes going on in life, it was comforting to be with people that I've known for so long and who are some of the greatest friends I've ever had.

I don't know what's going on here, but Emily's face is priceless. 

The Boucher Boys and the LeBlanc Girls took off in the kayaks. 

Kevin and Clint. 

The kids swam out to the raft and had a great time jumping off of it.

Goof ball. 

Thirty years of friendship. 

Annual photo (sans Lee, who was home with Baxter).

Friends

There is nothing like vacation time with old friends, which is why we were so delighted that Ethan and Owen (and their mom) were able to make it for a visit again this year.  The tide was perfect the day they came, so Lee and the kids started their day in the tide pools near Ordiorne Point, where they found all sorts of creatures, and the we headed to the beach.  The waves were the best of any day that week and the kids spent all day in the water.

Way out in the tide pools. 

Beach bums. 

Braggalope Bay

On Saturday, we made our annual trip to Braggalope Bay to visit with my best friends from high school and their families.  Our visit this year was a bit abbreviated, as we were hampered on the way up by heavy traffic and road work and arrived much later than expected.  The kids were still able to get in their swim across the lake while the adults chatted away.  I love that we always pick up right where we left off the previous year, as do the kids! 

While waiting for lunch, the kids played frisbee.

The overcast skies didn't stop the kids from jumping into the lake.  Here they are, waiting for Clint to escort them across the lake for their annual swim.  This trip used to involve just Elizabeth and Ethan, but the crowd grows bigger every year.

Elizabeth and Emily, waiting for the rest of the pack to jump off of the raft.

Annual group photo.

The kids (missing Spencer, who only wanted his mother!)