Lake Arlan

What could be better than hanging out at the lake with your family?

Nothing, really - especially when you add in swimming, fishing, eating, visiting, laughing...

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family. 

 ~Anthony Brandt

We are so lucky to be surrounded by wonderful, loving family and friends.

Playing on Lake Arlan at Aunt Julie's house.

My lean, mean Fishin' Machine!  Makayla has learned the sport of fishing and she absolutely loves it!  Her favorite part of fishing is touching the fish (ICK!).  She immediately asks to touch the fish as soon as it is reeled up from its home and gets upset if she's not the one to throw it back.

While sissy is busy fishing, Mason enjoys apple juice on the dock and dangling his toes in the water, all the while making a friend in Tucker, the dog.

Of course, mommy and daddy forgot to bring swimsuits so Makayla had to swim in her underwear.  But, that's okay!  She loved the huge raft and slide.  She could slide down that slide over and over again from dusk until dawn. 

Besides spending time at the lake, we spent our weekend swimming, playing in the hose, swimming some more, and enjoying those yummy summer treats...popsicles. 

We decided to go out early in the morning to play in the hose and enjoy popsicles for breakfast.  This was Mason's first time for enjoying his very own popsicle all by himself.  It was a pleasure to watch!  Just watching his eyebrows lift and his lips pucker was great, but as soon as he started moaning after each lick and sucking away at the juice, I couldn't help but laugh out loud and give him a couple more.  P.S.  - Notice the tattoo on Makayla's arm.  It was her first tattoo and it did wonders on her attitude.  It was funny to see how much rougher, tougher, and "cooler" that tattoo made her.  I know she's looking forward to her next one!

 

Below are two pictures of why I love my baby girl so much.  As she fell asleep in our bed, I went in to carry her to her own bed and this is what I found all cuddled around her:  A huge hard plastic doll, a soft baby doll, a school bus, a puppy dog, a purse filled with toys and makeup, and a plastic Wal-Mart bag filled with toys and gadgets.  I couldn't help but smile.  The second picture is of her gum piled on a graham cracker.  As crazy as it makes me because I wish she would just throw it away, it still makes me laugh as the places I find her gum.  It's always a funny surprise.