Annual lakehouse trip

Last week was my side of the family's annual lakehouse adventure.  My mom and dad(aka Poppa and Mom) always rent a lakehouse for several days and our large family piles in for swimming, fishing, playing games, and eating.  This year was particularly redneck.  Problem...due to years of near drought, there is hardly any water in most Texas lakes.  So, the boat ramp was actually dried up and dangerous.  Mom and Poppa have 2 old jet skis and the kids loved riding with adults.  Dillon actually enjoyed riding with Mike.  This is a big accomplishment!  The only negative of the trip was the fact that my sister Emily and her fam couldn't come.  Maddie, my niece was sick so they sent their 8yr old daughter with us but the rest of their family missed out. 

Below, I am holding the newest blessing...Katy and Kyle's 2 months old daughter, Nora.  

The house had a hot tub on the back porch and this served as a shaded pool for the youngers.  Below are my niece, Aspen, and our 2 little boys.

Here are Hudson and my niece, Lexi, sitting on the banks of a very suspicious looking "pond".  This pond behind the house was super low in water and had marshy areas.  Know what lived in there??  Lots of snakes.  Carter, Abby, and Mike had a blast shooting the snakes swimming on the water with a BB gun. The little ones also fished a couple of catfish.

Mom and Poppa have a canoe.  Here is Mom pulling Lexi and Dillon in the lake

The house was part of a really nice gated community.  We had use of the community pool-which was fabulous!  Trouble was, my mother found out that the dude she rented the house from was breaking the HOA rules by renting out.  He wanted us to tell people we were "guests" of them.  I dare say that 8 adults and 9children showing up at the pool, armed with pool toys, snacks, drinks, umbrellas(for my easy to burn skin) and baby paraphenalia looked rather obvious.  OH yeah, we didn't have the key to open the community pool and clubhouse area.  Didn't stop us...we used small children to climb over the fence :)
Below is my dad swimming with the grandkids and Mike playing volleyball with Abby.

We had a fun time.  We ate healthier than ever before(no red meat, lots of veggies, and such).  Carter was able to come for 2 days, an unusual treat with his job and church activities.  These children are so blessed.  Fun family memories are made every year.  I dare say that when they are grown and gone out on their own, they will sit around at holidays telling stories of fishing and playing with cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents..