Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Fourth-ing at the Lake

Yesterday I shared about our annual Fourth of July BBQ which was followed by a trip to the lake.  Well, today is all about the lake.  We've been going up for years and years and it's always great family time.  It's always highly enjoyed and great memories are always made there.  In addition to our family and Sam, who was still visiting with us - we had aunts, uncles, cousins there to celebrate with.  Summer is always busy so there isn't time for endless trips to the lake but we're aiming for a few more before summer is over.

I've been trying to narrow down pictures and use less but there are just too many to pick from so this weekend so an overload is ahead… 

We loaded up the car (full to the brim) and took off to meet everyone there.  The weather unfortunately wasn't perfect on the Fourth but it wasn't terrible either.  Once we got everything unpacked, we all lounged around and relaxed to get ready for another Fourth of July feast that night.


Nash LOVES the lake house - he knows immediately when we pull in that we're there and he's always itching to get down to the water first thing.  This was Stella's first trip and we we're so excited to see how she liked it.  The verdict is - now BOTH dogs are lake lovers.  Stella was a little iffy about the water at first but with Derek's help she gave it a chance in little bits - mostly she loved to be able to run free on the landing.

Plus, how cute is she in her pink polka dot life jacket?!




Other than dock time and boating (which we clearly did without either for the holiday since the weather was overcast) everyone's other favorite activity is porch time.  Once 5:00-6:00 hits, everyone grabs a drink and a spot on either the rocking chairs or the couch and gathers in for a long night.  Another highlight is a big display of appetizers which we graze on for at least a few hours.  Dinner this night was hot dogs and all the Fourth of July fixings which we didn't eat until way to late because we were having too much fun.


Another reason the pups love the lake? They are never laking for attention.  They even got to come out for the fireworks show.


Once it got dark enough everyone (there were about 15 of us) set out on the front lawn and watched the neighbors put up a very impressive fireworks show that kept going and going so we held off on ours until that was done.


I was a little skeptical of setting off our own fireworks at first but they were much more than I even imagined. I guess I was always farther back when they were being set off but I was so impressed with what we had.



My favorite highlight was when my uncle brought out a large sparkler for some of us to use and when those were done my aunt had a small sparkler for each of us "kids".  They were a blast - I had the best time running around the big front lawn lighting up the night.



As the years have gone on, we've all had many many friends at the lake house - on this night there were six cousins and four friends to celebrate. One little pup went missing for a little bit and was found under one of the beds - her first Fourth of July got to be a little much for her and she preferred to be held.  After the fireworks displays we ended out the night with a little more porch time.


The weather cleared up for Sunday so we were able to log in a little dock time and a few more swim sessions for the pups.  Stella was starting to get the hang of it today and I think in a few weeks when we're back she'll keep getting better and better. It was another great weekend for the books at the lake house filled with great company.


28 comments:

  1. It looks like the perfect weekend get away, especially for the holiday weekend! Stella is so cute in her little polka dot life vest and how great that she is also a lake-lover! What a great trip overall :)

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  2. What a fun weekend!! Your pups swimming together is the cutest thing!

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  3. Looks like such a fun weekend! I am lovingggg Stella's pink life jacket - adorable doesn't even do that justice!!

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  4. What a fun getaway! Love that your pups are such water lovers (and that life vest is too cute)!

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  5. It looks like you guys had a blast! Stella and that pink life jacket is the cutest thing I've seen all morning! So precious! :)

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  6. Oh my goodness - that doggy life jacket is too precious! Looks like you had a fabulous holiday weekend, and especially loving your shorts on the fourth! :-D

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  7. Stella's life jacket is adorable! Those sparklers are outrageous! I wish would have had some like that! Looks like you had an amazing weekend!

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  8. It looks like y'all had a blast at the lake! It's always so much fun to see how dogs react to the water for the first time :)

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  9. Stella was clearly the star of the show at the lake!! Looks like a really great family tradition! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  10. Looks like you had a great time! And I'm so glad you found an adorable life jacket for Stella!

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  11. Can your family please adopt me? Ha! You had such a great time at the lake last weekend! Finley had his first trip to Ryan's family's lake house, too, but he didn't get to wear a super cute life jacket since his daddy said no. :) Also, those giant sparklers really are huge - I had no idea that you could buy such a thing!

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  12. ahh looks like such a fun weekend! love all the outfits and such.and that life jacket is adorable!

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  13. Love Stella's polka dot life jacket!!! So cute. Love the sparklers too. Looks like a wonderful time with some delicious food too! :-)

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  14. Looks like a great time! Stella is beyond adorable in that little life jacket - I die!

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  15. Looks like so much fun, especially all the food and sparklers! You have such a cute little family!

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  16. Looks like such a fun time and memories that will last a lifetime!

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  17. Looks like you all had such a fun trip! I hope you get to enjoy some pretty weather at the lake the rest of the summer!
    Kelsey
    www.thepeacockroost.com

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  18. Looks like you guys had a great time! And don't feel bad about the picture overload... I posted a bazillion from this weekend, too! Oh, and Stella in the life jacket? STOP IT!! TOO CUTE!!

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  19. Yay for the lake! I love how all the puppies get it to play, too. Great weekend, girl!

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  20. This would be my ideal 4th! Away from huge crowds and with people you love! That picture of Derek kissing you on the cheek is precious.

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  21. Awwwwww your pup is so stinkin precious!

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  22. Lake trips are so awesome! I great up going to the lake and love it. There's nothing like going back home and heading out in the boat. Glad you had fun!

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  23. What a fun weekend!! Stella is way too cute in that pink polka dot life vest! Those giant sparklers are insane!!

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  24. stella is adorable. she needs to come meet luna!!!!!!

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  25. I love that you have a place you go to year after year and that you got to spend time with extended family!! That pink life jacket is killing me!!

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  26. What a fun weekend, although a bummer about the weather! We've been at my parents lake house for the last week and have had many porch drinks as well!

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  27. Stella is so cute in that jacket!

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