Oh Lake Roosevelt, you have my HEART!!!! You are a little slice of heaven for our family and I love all the memories we make each time we are there. The days seems to last longer, the smiles seem to be bigger, the heart seems to be fuller and I just feel like when we are there, THERE is absolutely no other place I'm meant to be. I often say "God Only Knows" and for the time being I find this to be even more relevant, even funny, because truly, God Only Knows.
Opening up to what is to come, the lake is the place where Rich and I dream bigger together and often think up our next "hair-brained" ideas. Just wait to see what we are up to after this latest adventure...but again, God Only Knows but he is making a way for us to help many and we are so very excited!!!
So this trip to the lake was Millie's birthday and the hottest days on record EVER (like ever, ever) for this little tribe, but we celebrated, relaxed, boated and spent a good chunk of time in the luxury of AC.
1st stop...Banks Lake Brew for lunch and the birthday girl got a special birthday milkshake! This is one of our favorite stops on the way to the lake, home from the lake and even for a midweek break when at the lake. If ever by Banks Lake, go snag a wrap and go for the fries. BEST EVER!!!
When it's 100+ outside what do you request for your birthday....Mom's famous Pumpkin Pie, of course. So what did Mimi get....Pumpkin Pie.
Just because we are at the lake...we still pull out all the birthday stops. Cheers to 7 Millie...pretty sure she is 100% ok that we have celebrated half of her birthdays at the lake!
And then we were off of Day 1 adventures...
Life Vests one and ready to find some fish.....the biggest choice of the day is should we head upriver or downriver?!?
And the 1st fish of Lakecation #10 goes to LJ!!! She said it was a "baby bass" about 3 pounds...I mean, close, but the 3 pounds is definitely a fish story. Must get that one from her dad.
Meyer Bay or bust...in true Meyer fashion, we have to name each of our favorite places (so we can visit them over and over and over again)!!!
IT WAS HOT!!!! Like fiery HOT...so cannon balls were a must! It's not too often that Rich gets in and I'm pretty sure he was in the water more this trip than our last 9 trips combined!!!
Meyer Boating Rule #1018: If a nap needs to be had, a nap is to be had on the boat!
Yep...mom was in the water too, but that's my favorite place in the world and if I could just float around all day every day, my life would be even better.
Night walks are one of our favorites at the lake, but when it didn't cool down below 100 before 8pm most nights, they were a little limited!
Sunsets and swings!!! Much have only been 95 so we got out!
Another day, another beach. Big kids love the beach and sand, where LJ is a little more of a "sit in the boat and fish with daddy" type of gal.
Griffin entertained us with dance moves and jokes...he has a true gift to make us laugh.
Ahhhhhh, my mama heart is bursting!!!
And then we discovered a new part of the lake....and Griffin and I jumped off this dock about 150 times!!! Ok, maybe 15, but still, I love when I can be that mom. The fun mom who does all the crazy things!
We can't forget stinky boy...he loves the lake too!
A little trip to CDA and an amazing lunch and mini ice creams on the way home.
Look at this...another night for swings (or maybe this was a morning)...either way, these kids love the simple life at the lake.
Feeding apples to the deer. LJ would say "here deer, me have snacks".
And that's a successful trip when 3 naps happen at the same time...might need a bigger space for these kids, but until then, they can cram and cuddle.
Round 2 of Meyer Bay...it's one of the family favorites!
I mean, Daddy and LJ fishing is pretty darn special.
Life doesn't get much better...and if it does, God Only Knows!!!!
This trip, all the kids took some turns driving too!
Family selfies are getting harder...but I will never stop trying!
I mean, it's simple and fun! Sun, water, boat, fishing....and LOTS of boating snacks. Repeat!!!
Fish ON!!!! Mr. catch and release, but it's still fun to get some pictures of the BIG ones!!!
Captain Griffin while the girls cool off their feet...it seems like a blink and they will be out here by themselves...but when that happens, Mom and Dad will crash every trip possible.
Proof of parents!!!!
And this is what evenings look like...pretty close to back home, but without as many distractions (or pull to work).
And that's a wrap Lake Roosevelt...we will be back. Yep, we will and as of today it's only about 3.5 more weeks until we do it all again. And of course, the Woods was the first stop when we got back home.
Nothing like getting home in time to celebrate and LET FREEDOM RING with friends!
One of my favorite days of summer is the O'Stacey Family 4th!!! This year, E and LJ had a ball together too...no longer babies and mixing it up with all the kids.
LJ loves Baby FiFi!!!
Happy 4th of JULY!!!!
The Meyer kids can't leave Fiona alone!
Watching the BIG kids (the Dads) play some corn hole.
All smiles as these two get ready to watch some fun!
More YES...less NO!!!
And then she was 40...Happy 40th Erin! Celebrating with a fun night with the ladies in Woodinville wine country!
Summer is meant for all the fun...but let's be honest, I say that every season!!! The church that is linked up with HCA had a family fun night, so we brought our besties and had a fun night!
LJ was all over Reptile man...front row and everything!
A little face painting fun.
Brave little girls!!!
G man was all about holding ALL the creepy crawlers!
Kids only table at Julios....means that parents actually were able to chat a little too!
And the fun keeps coming with family movie night with the Gabriel family.
Give me all the late night trips to the park and summer schedule that is focused on family, fun and adventure!
And the yard projects...of course, the summer of yard projects! Up first...driveway!
Ahhhhh, this is the good life. Simple and sweet. Smiles and challenges! I'm sure not going to say that each day is all rainbows and sunshine, but we sure are blessed!!! I never want to portray our life as perfect, that does not exist...we have flaws galore and struggles a plenty, but we always come back to GOD ONLY KNOWS!!! So thankful for this little life that we have and so abundantly blessed!!!
