Friends and the Lake

My friend, Irene's husband was supposed to be traveling to India for his work for 3 weeks, so we planned a getaway with our kids to the lake several months back so she could have something to make the time pass quicker while he was gone. It turned out his trip got moved to later, but her kids will be back in preschool then, so we went ahead with our plans to go to the lake this week. We stayed in my family lake house at Lake Palestine in East Texas.

My friend/neighbor, Karen and I took my van with our 4 kids and Irene took hers with her 2. So we arrived at the lake with a grand total of 6 kids ages: 4, 3, 2, 2, 2, and 1. I'm happy to report we all are alive and survived without any injuries.

Wednesday morning, we took out the party boat to tour around the lake. The kids loved it and it was the first time many of them had been on a boat. The kids danced to the radio and cheered when we went under the bridge over and over again.

Then in the afternoon, we swam in the lake, went down the slide into the lake, and played in a baby pool. After much hesitation by a few, they ventured into the lake water and learned that it wasn't as bad as it seemed! Growing up always swimming at the lake, it was commonplace to me, but I guess when you grow up only going to beaches and more clear water places, I can see how it would be kind of a different experience. Irene and I were the only brave souls that went down the slide. It was fun! The older girls did get on the end of the slide and drop down to us in the water, but they wouldn't go down from the top!

That evening, we had a birthday party! Karen's daughter, Audrey will be turning one on September 4th, so we celebrated early there. Karen made the girls all tutu's and the boys capes so they wouldn't be left out. She had a princess/ballerina themed party. The kids looked so cute all dressed up out by the lake. They enjoyed the pizza Karen ordered and the yummy cupcakes. I've never seen a 1 year old down a cupcake like Audrey either! Most kids on their first birthdays just smash it and play with it, but she inhaled that cupcake! ha ha...she is a doll!

It was a lot of fun, but we are all exhausted! We did manage to get the kids to sleep in the same room, but it was a lot of work and we didn't sleep all that well. It will be nice tonight to have them in their own beds and get some quality sleep.

Us moms had some nice evenings though when the kids did finally go to sleep. We brought movies, wine, and snacks to enjoy! It is always nice to have a girls night!

I'd be up for another trip in a few months, but resting is good for now! :)