An Evening on the Lake

We recently…well considering how long it’s taking me to blog, not so recently…had an impromptu get together with my family on the lake.  My parents have a small boat, so we packed up our swimming suits, towels and some food and headed out to meet them.  There is a great spot we like to go in Wrightsville.  We couldn’t all fit on the boat but we had fun taking turns and cooling off in the lake.  This evening happened to be an “off” evening with my camera so the pictures aren’t the greatest…my apologies.

Rachel and Jessie were very excited to get out on the water, so Mike, Isaac, Jamie, Jessie, Rachel and I took the first trip out.  Jessie was all smiles on Uncle Jamie’s lap.  Rachel was a little more hesitant

Our little fish was once again in action, this time “driving” the boat.  Mike and his family had a vacation at Raystown Lake this past summer and had taken the boat with.  Being a now seasoned boater, Isaac was more than comfortable on the boat and the lake and I got a kick outta watching him in his “element”.  I’m amazed at how quickly they grow and learn.

Jessie was more than happy to “jump” in the water after Isaac, but Rachel was a little more hesitant.  It took Aunt Jess jumping in and a little encouragement from Uncle Mike before she finally decided it looked like fun.  Uncle Jamie stayed on the boat to catch a few pictures.  Jessie was all smiles and did great in the water, but she clung to me like a spider.  We all had a grand time swimming and splashing.

After the kids all went out and got a chance to get wet, Papa Smurf and the 3 of us kids went out together to try and water ski.  It kind of felt like the good old days at Raystown.  It took a little bit for them to get the rope untangled and a few laughs later and Jason was ready to try his hand at skiing.

We sure had a great evening for our picnic and boating and the sunset that evening was gorgeous!

Jason is an old pro at water skiing…that boy had got more skill at things like this…makes me looks like an idiot whenever I try.  Unfortunately the boat was acting up and although he was practically out of the water, there just wasn’t enough speed to get him out enough to truly ski.

Papa Smurf decided he needed one last swim before we called it a night and I sure don’t remember the conversation we were having but I do remember quite a bit of laughing.  Again it took me back to our summer vacations on the lake…we sure do know how to fun together!  Lastly, I had to include this one in here.  Jason unfortunately didn’t make the cut off for boating license age and is in the process of obtaining his license so this entire last trip out that evening was a rendition of everything he knows…he was in the process of telling Papa Smurf that the number on the side of the boat wasn't spaced properly…for crying out loud!

Bella & Company

I have a long way to go in the world of photography but thankfully I have friends who are willing to let me photograph their families.  I have had the opportunity to take photos for a few girls from work and I have really been enjoying it more and more.

My friend Jess asked me to do some pictures of her family and so they came over one afternoon and as soon as we started with her adorable daughter, Bella, I was hooked!  She is a beautiful little girl and a photographers dream…those big blue eyes and her baby smile…I was truly in heaven!  Thanks, Jess, for the opportunity!

 

Party at the Inn

Well seeing how I’ll never generate any blogging traffic if I don’t soon catch up with things I thought since I’m sitting here sunning myself on vacation it was prime time to get you up-to-date on Me and Him.  Much has happened over the past few months and *sigh* sometimes the thought of it all makes me think a week for vacation just isn’t long enough.

Jamie and I have been settling quite nicely into our home and although our lovely home does not have central AC we’ve kept cooler than expected this summer.  And to keep things cool
(both temperature wise and in the “fun” sense of the word) at our home we had to offer something any kid can’t resist…water!!

We once again celebrated July 4th in true Smucker style at our home this year.  (It is still a “pinch myself” moment for me whenever we do this and I’m so grateful God has brought us to this place.)  The weather was perfect for the water and the kids had an absolute blast!  I’m so grateful they enjoy coming to visit and we enjoy making it a fun place for them to come to.  I’m not quite sure if Jessie is working on her model pose in the above picture or if she is trying a new yoga pose, but it’s another reason I love photography….this kind of photo makes captions fun…feel free to add your own.

Uncle Jamie and Jessie were having a splashing contest.  I love to watch them play and laugh together.  He reminds me so much of Papa Smurf, also taking Jessie on in the picture below.  She may only be 2 1/2 feet tall but she ain’t afraid of Papa Smurf!

“I’m gonna git you!”  And if she could talk more than she does I’m sure she’d be saying, “Not if
I git you first!”

She also wasn’t afraid of the sprinkler we had set up.  She grabbed those little sprinklers like they were an udder and thought if she pointed it in your direction she’d get you for sure!  We had a good laugh over this every time…of course she had no idea how funny we thought she was.

Rachel, always the bug catcher, found herself a lady bug.  She is always on a lightening bug mission whenever it gets dark at our house.  My parents and Jason’s family spent the night at our house that night and Rachel had to sleep with her lightening bugs beside her.

And then the little fish arrived!  If you remember the pictures from last year’s July 4th party, Isaac and water become one in the summer.  That boy loves anything water and would splash from one pool to the next.

And then came the delicious food made on Jamie’s awesome homemade grill.  That grill I gotta say Baby, ROCKS!!!  He did an grand job putting it together and I’m sure if you’d like a custom made grill he could throw one together for a reasonable price.

We thought having 2 pools would be best since Isaiah also very much enjoys the water but not always the splashing from his cousins or siblings.  He also can make a splashing show like no other, so Isaiah got to enjoy a pool to himself…and enjoy he did!!  If the squeals and smiles he gave were any indication than we succeeded at giving him a good time.

And this post wouldn’t be complete with the sagging water filled diaper Isaiah had hanging off his cute little rear end after all that pool time.  He didn’t seem to mind in the least.  I was just waiting for the thing to slide off completely…I’m sure he wouldn’t have minded that either.

Daddy, looking absolutely thrilled, was chaperone to Isaiah’s party-for-one and Toby was more than happy to watch over the other pool as long as a refreshing drink from the pool was included.

Pappy and Isaiah sharing knuckles…

…and Pappy giving the kids a 4-wheeler ride around the farm.  The pools were cool but I think till the end of the night they thought the 4-wheeler was cooler.  Mike and Jason both enjoyed taking their families around for a spin.

Caleb was found chillin’ in his stroller for most of the evening quite content to suck on his thumb, share a smile when needed, and stay outta that hot sun.  That kid gets cuter every day!!

We rescued a small litter of kittens from the barn recently and we kept 2 of them.  I’m not a car person but these little guys were too cute…and Rachel thinks so too.  We have a male and a female, who we haven’t named beyond calling them both Squirt.  Rachel is holding the male and I think he’s hoping someone will soon rescue him so he can breathe again…from the point she met them they have been referred to as “my” kitties.

Papa Smurf is always snatching this little guy from me!  He likes to take him and then eventually find his chair and take snooze while Isaiah sits and plays on his lap.  Ya know Papa Smurf, if you’re just gonna sleep, you don’t need a lap buddy…baby snatcher!!

My aunt Betty and most of her family came down for the evening as well but as I was busy talking and entertaining more than I was snapping pictures, I don’t have pictures of them to share.  We don’t get to see their family often and it was so fun to finally catch up again.

Mudder Smucker has always enjoyed watching fireworks and unfortunately Papa Smurf just isn’t a big fan.  So this year we decided that Mudder needed a little fireworks display so we surprised her with a few colorful sparks.  They obviously weren’t anything to write home about but we enjoyed the little show.  And that concludes the party and another July 4th at the Inn!