Last Sunday we went to the lake. Joe Wheeler State Park to be exact. Please forgive me for the number of pictures, but we had a great time!
It was Christians first road trip!
This was the cabin our family stayed in. We had to rent two others to accommodate all of our family.
This was our back porch...where we spent lots of time! It overlooks the lake.
Here is Gi Gi and Papa enjoying their new grandson on a beautiful morning. Some of our mornings were actually chilly.
This is our living room. I told Kevin, this is what I want our house to look like one day.
Here is Emily enjoying the living room and reading her little Bible.
All around the park, you could drive up to deer. They were very people friendly.
Our first morning at the lake, Kevin, Emily, Dad and I decided to go for a hike. But only after we enjoyed our back deck.
Here is Nana Mac who shared a cabin with Mom, Dad, Kevin, Emily, Christian and I. Emily has fondly begun calling her "Mac"!
Aunt Mindy came down for a visit before we set off on our journey.
And we deemed her co-babysitter for baby Christian. Gi Gi, Ty Ty and other cousins helped also. Such a sweet boy needs lots of love!
Emily started off wanting Papa to hold her, but she actually walked quite a bit of the trail. Here we are setting off on our adventure.
This is a family picture. I think Emily really had a good time. Kevin and I also enjoyed the chance to talk and dream in Gods Beautiful Creation.
We actually came up on a deer. You can hardly see him in this shot, but Emily was super excited.
After our hike, we set off to the pool.
There were water guns...
And more water guns!
Christian even joined us for this trip!
And Emily...as usual...enjoyed a "nack" (snack)
Here is Mindy and Dad enjoying the pool.
Here is Mindy and Dad trying to look Buff!
Here is C.S and his Papa
This is a group shot! Aren't we a good looking group!
Check out this video to see Tyler's Amusement!
Here is Christian on his way home. He loves to laugh and smile!
After Dinner, we went to the lake for swimming.
Emily knows no fear!
Here is Dad looking buff again!
The kids had a great time!
And Emily sported a new swimsuit!
Tuesday, we rented a pontoon boat for the day. This picture was taken at the loading dock which was right outside our cabin.
This is my beautiful sister Mindy.
These are the "older cousins". Starting from the left Tyler, Owen, Noah, Olivia, and Caroline. They are the "older cousins" coming from the older brothers and sisters. Emily will be the oldest of the next clan.
This is our pontoon boat taking off into the lake.
Here's our little Emily on her first boat ride.
She even helped her Papa drive the boat!
Here is our handsome Tyler. Everyone (except for me and the old people) jumped off of the pontoon boat into the lake for some good old fashioned lake swimming. (I didn't want to get my hair wet!)
Cute little Owen
Emily and her Daddy had a great time.
Check out this video to see Kevin's handy sportsmanship when it comes to boat activity.
Mommy even joined the trip!
Emily didn't last the whole trip and fell asleep on our way home.
Here is Tyler and Noah. Aren't they handsome!
Here is Owen, Caroline and Olivia after some hard swimming in the lake.
Here is my cousin Alisa and her cute baby Owen.
Here are the two latest additions to the youngest cousins. Christian and Kaitlin enjoying their vacation at the lake.
Here is my cousin Chad and his beautiful wife Chrissy. They are the proud parents of Kaitlin.
Isn't he wonderful! Here is Christian sitting so content in his car seat.
"Ah Mom! Another picture!"
Here is Emily and her new found friend Olivia. Olivia was our flower girl in our wedding. I tried to con her by telling her that flower girls have to change the diapers of the kids that come from the wedding. When she saw Emily's diaper, she said "No Way!"
The kids made hats as an art activity. Christian is borrowing Olivia's here.
Here is Kevin borrowing Emily's hat.
In the evenings each cabin took a turn cooking dinner. We had Mexican, Bar B Q and Spaghetti. Here is Emily enjoying her dinner. I decided to take her shirt off...
I figured things would get pretty messy!
Here is Emily's Papa enjoying ice cream. Kevin and I wanted to keep sweets from Emily until she had a well established diet...
But with my Dads appetite and my Moms cooking ability...
It was hopeless!
Here is a group shot of all of us on our last night there. Can you believe there were this many of us...and we all love each other!
On Thursday we left the cabin and headed for Birmingham. We stopped to visit with my roomate from college Cindy Self. Here she is with her niece Anaka. We went to the Birmingham Zoo and rode the choo choo (as Emily calls it). Cindy became aunt ci ci!
Here is Emily and her Daddy riding the choo choo.
Even Christian had his first choo choo ride!
A group shot. You can see Emily is starting to get a little tired.
Cindy and Baby Anna again.
And another group shot of us at the zoo.
That night we went to The Cheesecake factory. Yummy!
And after dinner we walked an old trail I use to hike when in Birmingham. It was so special to walk the same trail I use to walk as a single and now as a wife and a mom.
Our final stop was in Opelika to visit with our cousins and Aunt Christy and Uncle Allan.
Allan willingly volunteered to hold baby Christian. I think he might want another?
Unfortunately our trip ended with two ear infections, blistered throats and and nebulizer for breathing treatments! Both kids are doing much better now and taking their breathing treatments well and their antibiotics. I am especially proud of my husband who has been super during this time! I just hope we don't get sick next too!
Stay tuned!
