7.04.19

As always, July 4th was wonderful. We started on the third with some friends and a neighborhood party. Our friends bought some big big fireworks and lit them off with everyone. The kids ran around with friends, the grownups chatted and everyone had a great time.

The next we headed to Inkom for our annual festivities. We missed Grandma and Grandpa Packard, but still enjoyed the Candy Parade.

After the parade we tried for our annual family picture. It did not go so well. Ironically enough, as we were driving to Inkom I was thinking how easy the picture should be because our kids are getting older. Not the case this year. Scott had everyone worked up and the kids were not cooperating. 

All I wanted was one family picture!! 

So I tracked down all the kids, calmed them down and told Scott to stop talking and smile. Ha! We got our family picture and they started liking Scott again!

We spent some time helping Grandma and Grandpa Great around the house while the kids fished with homemade hooks. 

We stopped at my parents on the way home and headed up to the fireworks. They were great and the kids loved them. We payed for parking this year so we could get home quick. The plan was great until we ran into some friends with a dead car battery. We jumped their car and got out later than we would have liked, but it was a great service opportunity to share with the kids. Even though everyone was tired and thirsty, we were able to help someone that really needed it.

Arcadia Lake

Last weekend we experienced heaven on earth at Lake Arcadia. Our friends have some property in Ashton and were kind enough to let us tag along for the weekend. We rented a camp trailer and camped out with no screens and no service and absolutely no shortage of fun! We could have easily spent a couple of more days there.

There were tons of creatures for the kids to catch in the lake. We caught tadpoles, fish, frogs, turtles and even a shrimp. We saw a snake, but didn't catch it. Tayden was most proud of his turtle catch. He dove off his kayak into the lake and came up with a turtle. He waited patiently all day in the turtle hole waiting for this moment, so it was a big deal. Beckett was excited about the bare handed frog grab and Cache was just excited about every minute of every day.

Kyle insisted on Kayaking by himself, but I wasn't so sure. However, he showed me up and ended being a natural. By the end of the trip he could get in, push himself off, kayak around, come back and park and get out on his own. He was completely self sufficient.

We spent most the evening on the lake and finished the night off with s'mores. We slept amazing in the camper and woke up refreshed and ready for some more water fun. The day was full of snacks, chatting in the shade, kayaking, animals hunting and nature walks and adventures. Not only was it boy heaven, but mom heaven too. It was great to get away from the day to day and just be with family. Life is simple at the lake. Its getting back to the basics and enjoying life with the people that matter most. I can honestly say my family has not gotten along that well or had that much fun together in a really long time. Being out in Gods Country in good for the soul.