We decided to try something a little different this year for our summer trip to Georgia. We rented a beautiful home on Lake Lanier, which is about an hour north of where the Pop Pop and Nonna live. Rich had been there in high school but I had never been so I really had no idea what to expect and I was so pleasantly suprrised! It was beautiful and we really just had the best time! The home was right on the lake and we spent the majority of our time hanging out on its private dock. We could swim and fish right off of the dock and it came equipped with 2 kayaks as well as being fully furnished with lounge chairs on the top and a picnic table in the shade so it was perfect!
We were there for the entire 5 nights along with Nonna and Pop Pop and we were fortunate enough to have Gina and the boys, Anne Marie and the three kiddos, Katelyn, Greg, Jacq, Brent and Chelsea all come for different amounts of time.
This was the view from the house. It was beautiful. It had three different levels with balconies off of each one, so a great amount of space for our big crew!
The view walking down the steps to the dock.
So perfect and so easy being right off of our dock. So many memories made!
Chalortte loved ALL of it! The water, the boats, the cousins...she could have stayed for weeks!
Lots of fun on the top dock, too! They created some type of pulley system to bring things up and down, as well as took some time to lounge in the sun!
Ella lost her VERY first tooth at the lake!! She bit into an apple and it popped right out. She was so brave and excited about it!! Thankfully the tooth fairy found us, too!
Having access to the kayaks was awesome! It seemed as if someone always had them out in the water-normally just staying close to the dock but we made it across to the other side of our little inlet a few times. The kids loved swimming next to the kayaks and even tipping them a few times!
On the second morning we were there the kids saw the neighbors jumping off the top of their dock and asked to do the same. Our dock was a little bit sketchier than the neighbors since we didn't have a large space to stand but the kids were determined so we let them do it. Rich lifted them up over the fence and they jumped. They were SO brave!! Joseph and Ella did great and then Julia asked to do it. I was a little hesitant but figured she had her puddle jumper on and Rich went down to the water to be with her when she landed so figured it would be ok. I lifted her up and over the fence and then she jumped and about half way down I noticed that her little body had turned and she was going to do a belly flop. Poor sweet girl landed right on her belly. Thankfully her puddle jumper was on so it lessened the blow but she had a bruise on her legs from the impact of the water and was not happy about it. My heart sank but she was so good about it and so brave and was back in the water by the afternoon. I was just thankful that I didn't allow Charlotte to go because for a split second I had considered it since she was up at the top with us yelling "ME, ME, ME" but I don't imagine that would have ended well so glad I stood firm and carried her down crying. After Julia's jump, we decided that everyone was better off just jumping from the first level.
Fish were caught!! First one by Ella!
After catching the fish, Uncle Greg and Uncle Brent taught the kids how to skin it and get it ready for cooking. They then grilled them up and they ate them for dinner. Joseph liked it!
Fun in our giant jacuzzi tub!
And in the massive shower! We normally don't let Joseph shower with the girls anymore but with three shower heads there was plenty of room and thad to get a picture of them all in there together!
Sweet sleepy babies on vacation! Overall they did really well sleeping. We lucked out and got the master bedroom which was on a floor of its own and very big! Charlotte slept in the huge walk in closet and other than being up pretty early just one morning she did really well-I took her for a walk in the neighborhood that morning and got some some exercise so it worked out ok! She napped without a problem though and most nights stayed in the pack and play, although there were a few times she snuck into our bed!
We ventured out one night to a local carnival set up in an outlet mall parking lot and although the rides looked a bit sketchy the kids had a great time and everyone made it home safely. The best part of the night is when an employee found out that Brian was deployed and let all of the boys play the game for free and thanked Gina and the boys for their family's service and sacrifice. It brought tears to my eyes.
On Sunday morning we headed to church but we had gotten the time wrong so we made a quick stop to Walmart for worms and a few other items and the kids thoroughly enjoyed and entertained themselves with these honking pigs.
When we were inside the house the cousins totally entertained themselves and played so well together. They had all sorts of fun on the third floor and then would come up to the first floor and put on show after show for anyone that would watch! They were so great together and always included everyone-nobody once complained about feeling left out and we didn't have to talk to anyone about being kind or break up any fights. We are SO thankful for this amazing group of kiddos. We missed Max and Annabelle but look forward to October when we will all be together again!
Selfies with Nonna during the week!
And a big selfie with Daddy!
We rented a boat the last day that we were there and it was beautiful!! Rich, Pop Pop, Anne Marie and Gina went out with all of the cousins first while Charlotte napped and then Charlotte, Joseph, Pop Pop, Daddy and I had a special ride back to the marina, which took about an hour, and was navigated mostly by Joseph. He did a great job driving and loved it! Charlotte and I enjoyed the scenery and the wind blown hair look!
The kids were great travelers! I wouldn't say that any of them were looking forward to the airplane ride, since they have all decided that it is too long, but once we were on, they didn't complain one bit and kept busy with plenty of tablet time and snacks. I offered coloring books, regular books, activity books, games, etc. but I don't think any of it got touched thanks to their tablets-no tablet limitations on the airplane though-as long as they're quiet they can watch to their heart's content!! They all do love taking the underground train in the Atlanta airport and thought they were pretty funny meditating on the ride.
Charlotte being silly after a day of traveling!
I told Rich on the way home that we should definitely do summers in Georgia exactly like the way we did this one-it was a perfect trip that truly felt like a vacation. So thankful for the memories that were made and for this time together!
