Griffeth Family Reunion: Lake Wedowee

A week at the lake with these wonderful people who happen to be my in-laws is the BEST.  I love that everyone goes to great lengths to be here to enjoy one entire week together every summer.  It was FUN.  This year we had 10 adults and 11 kids [8 of which are 3 and under!]. 

We spent a lot of time on the lake and at the pool, playing games, eating delicious food, laughing & having a great time.  I love watching the cousins who pretty much are only ALL together once a year just jump right back in and have a blast together. 

 

THE LAKE

The boat and jetskis are always a blast.  Lots of laughter happens out on the lake.

They have a variety of tubes which are always a hit.

NATE wasn’t scared of anything except for the tube.  I told him I wanted him to just try it one time with me and then he never had to go again if he didn’t like it.  This was ride one.  He was scared at first but about halfway through he ride he said it was fun.  But then didn’t want to go again.

A day or two later he was ready to try again.  He jumped on with me and while we were riding he said I could let go of his hands and he was ready to ride alone just like the big boys [Trey & Spence].  He even started standing up like Trey!  When asked what his favorite thing at the lake was – he said the tube.

RYAN just wanted action.  He wasn’t a happy camper sitting on the boat in a life jacket.  He wanted to be on the jetski or on the tube!

Wes got up on a wakeboard!

They got out the blow-up jet skis for the kids to drive around by the dock on the lake. 

Olivia’s stopped working and she drifted to the edge of the lake . . . luckily Grant saved her!

The kids love to jump off the side of the boat and just swim in the lake.

 

THE POOL

Wes’ parents have a lake house in a great community.  There’s a clubhouse and a fabulous pool that overlook the lake.  We took the kids swimming almost every afternoon after naps!  Ryan was a crazy man at the pool.  For the majority of the week, he just wanted to run around all over the pool deck and explore.  Finally on the last day sand toys kept him in the water for a bit!

 

GO CART & GOLF CART RIDES

Thanks to Jeff & Alisha, we have the go cart and golf cart to haul us around and for the kids to go on rides.  Ryan and Nate LOVED the go cart.  We sometimes piled quite a few people in the golf cart – Nate fell out once and so did Olivia but both were tough and jumped right back on!

 

COUSIN FUN

    

These three little boys had a total blast together all week.  We rarely heard from them – they just played and played.  Last year Spence didn’t really have any interest in tagging along with Nate and Trey but this year he jumped right in and the three of them had a great time.  It will be fun when Trey/Spence are old enough to jump on a plane and come visit their cousin out West.

 

This week wouldn’t have been possible without these two!  Thanks Robert & Doreen for another fabulous week at the lake.  We love you guys!

   

Let the summer getaways and fun begin!

We’re back from Lake Wedowee, Alabama

We spent last week at Lake Wedowee [in Alabama] with Wes entire family.  It’s by far one of my favorite weeks of the year.  I’m already looking forward to 2012.

I have pretty awesome in-laws.  Seriously.  They are all fabulous.  Wes’ parents give up their Master Suite every year and sleep upstairs in the loft on separate beds so their kids/grandkids can be comfortable!  And after Ryan’s screaming episodes at night at the cabin over Memorial Weekend Wes’ parents even brought a crib for Ryan to see if that would help.  Like I said – they’re the best.

Before my big post about the entire trip – here are a few random things to remember . . .

. We were scared to death about Ryan’s sleeping.  Seven nights is a long time to be awake all night.  The first night he started SCREAMING at about 11pm and after hours and hours of screaming the weekend before Wes got him and he slept in between Wes and I on the king size bed.  Which actually worked quite well for about 4 hours and then all of a sudden Ryan was wide awake.  Wes managed to stay asleep but I was wide awake with Ryan – pretending to be asleep.  While I was frustrated with Ryan and wanted to throw him out the window – he was CRACKING me up.  While Wes was asleep he’d crawl over and stick his finger in Wes’ ear and just laugh.  Or he’d come up to me with my eyes shut and play peek-a-boo & poke my eyes.  This went on for about 3 hours before he fell asleep again.  Lets just say that was the last night he was in our bed!  We gave him the entire room to himself while I slept with Nate and Wes slept on the couch.  For the most part, Ryan did alright after that first night!  Nothing like what we experienced at the cabin.  Hallelujah.

. We pretty much didn’t see Nate all week other than meal time and bed time and a ride on a jetski.  He LOVES his cousins and had an absolute blast.  It really made me sad all of those Griffeths/Thorntons live so far away. 

. I need a KENDAL Thornton.  She’s Nate/Ryan’s 7 year old cousin and she’s fabulous.  She has a genuine love of kids.  She was constantly taking a baby away from a mama just to hold them / play with them.  She never needs a turn of her own – she is 100% there to make sure other kids are having fun.  She and Nate have always been buddies on these vacations.  Kendal was so cute with him.  She even gave up pool time to have quiet time with Nate every afternoon and watched a movie with him.  She’s awesome.

. I’m pretty sure every kid cried at least once because of Ryan!  He’s in a weird phase where he just can’t keep his hands to himself.  He enjoys pinching and pulling hair and everyone was a victim at least once.  Adison was smart and by the end of the trip she had her hands up blocking her face when Ryan came near or she’d just take off running. 

I’m missing the Griffeths and the lake – that’s for sure!  More to come . . .

Memorial Weekend at the Cabin 2011

We went to the cabin for Memorial Day weekend.  My whole family was there at some point - we spent the first half with my parents, Sam & Bert [Sam’s friend] and the second half with my parents & the Thompsons. 

Nate went up a day early with Aunt Sam & Grandma/Grandpa Marz.  When Wes, Ryan & I pulled up he immediately wanted to show us something in the cooler.  His fishies!  He went fishing with my dad and Nate caught three fish entirely by himself.  He was proud.  He really thought these fish were his friends.  One minute he’d say they were just sleeping in the cooler and the next minute he was ready to cook them up.  Almost every time we walked by the cooler outside he had to have everyone around say hi to his fish.

It was another fun few days at the cabin . . .

but the nights were awful.  Ryan is not a good traveling sleeper.  He pretty much screamed ALL night on Friday and Saturday unless he was being held.  Wes had  had enough so he drove home with Ryan on Sunday night!  The little stinker slept for 12 hours solid and then took a 4+ hour nap on Monday.  Seriously, Ryan?

Back to the fun-filled days . . .

. Before the Thompson girls got there Nate and Ryan played a little bit together.  They both loved digging in the big pile of snow that’s still next to the cabin.

. All of a sudden, Ryan just started screaming.  His poor little hands were freezing!

. As soon as the Thompsons arrived – Nate and his cute cousins were together the rest of the time.  One day Ryan will be big enough to play, too.  But in the meantime, Ryan actually likes time to just play by himself without any big-kids taking all of his stuff.

. We had our annual trip to the Duck Creek Dance Hall on Saturday night for a little dancin’.  The band, Muddy Boots, remembered Nate/Abbie/Daisy from the last few years.  All three of them love to dance.  Grandma is always up for dancing with them!

A group of ladies came up to do some line dancing.  Nate & Abbie jumped right in there.

Ryan was mesmerized by the band.  When my mom took him off of the stage for a bit he signed “more” and pointed to the stage.

. Grandma brought a new game – Corn Hole.  The kids thought it was pretty fun.

. And of course, lots of cabin car rides.

Grandma took the kids on lots of “green cabin car” rides.

Sam & Bert. We really like Sam’s friend Bert.  And yes, he’s just a friend.  But he’s funny & we like having him around.  He also appreciates a diet coke fountain drink so we made sure to get at least one a day in the Duck Creek Village. 

. It was on this ride that we got pulled over by the Sheriff for expired registration.

. A bedtime story.  Who doesn’t love the Care Bears?  My mom has a lot of the books from my childhood at the cabin so it’s fun to read them to Nate.

           

. This is a classic Nate face.  He was mad about something and I happened to capture it.

         

Another good time had by all at the Marz Cabin.