Weekend Get Away

Maybe it was my birthday and time to celebrate. Maybe it was me getting older and wiser. Maybe it was feeling the young folks growing up too fast and soon leaving the nest, so I want to have them to myself. Maybe it was a need for adventure. Or a need to get away. Whatever it was, our family went away for a quick weekend trip to a cabin on a lake. Ahhh...lovely!

Our family on the lake. 

 We piled in the car and headed out through rush hour traffic.   Beautiful blue bells and wild flowers were blooming on the side of the road as we left the city behind and drove on country roads. 

The cabin

 We headed right out to the fire pit for some brats and s'mores. The temperature was perfect, the fire did NOT smoke (unbelievable but true), and the company was "off the elevator." (equivalent to "on point" or amazing for those not up with the times. 

Give me s'more!

Little X-man eating s'mores. 

A's s'more got a little toasty! 

 A. reading and relaxing by the lake.

 I thought the color of the photo was off until I remembered she got a little too much sun. 

 T and J

 Buddies.

Xman and L loved the water and played around it. It was too cool and a little murky to swim in. They tried devising a fishing pool with a stick and grass they tied together. They found some old bobbers to add to the invention. Unfortunately, the fish were not fooled and did not come near.

 Breakfast the next morning. 

 A and L smirking about breakfast. 

Hey! Enjoy those Poptarts, because Mom isn't known for buying cardboard with frosting much!

 The next day we went to a nearby state park to try our hand (rather our legs) at paddle boats. 

 After a few pedals, sweat was already making an appearance on our brows!  Whew!  We were only a few feet from the dock and our legs were dying, but being the women we are, we kept on paddling.

 B, A, and I taking a break to breathe and get a photo.

Those clouds only shaded and cooled us! Perfect.

 T and the boys. 

In the faster boat. Really.

We wanted to trade boats and pedaled after them thinking we'd catch them and persuade them to trade boats...until L. saw a tiny snake poke it's head out a hole in the boat near his feet!  He was all for trading boats; we were NOT!  That snake kept popping it's head out of different holes all along their boat.  We never traded boats. 

 B was quite a wonderful paddle boat pedaler!  

 A. resting near a green and lush lagoon. 

She'd prefer to try a kayak next time. 

 My little women and me.

 The whole gang.

 Swinging at a nearby park. Xman squeezed himself into a toddler swing and weeeeee! He was off.

We were glad to see him up and about. 

 Whoa, man!  Mr. L.

 Lovely B. swinging.

 Saturday we went into the town of  Gun Barrel, deep in the heart of Texas. We saw several trucks showing their state pride with flags flapping.

Sunday we attended church at a local ward. We might have been in a different building with a different bishop and a different ward, but it was the same sweet, peaceful truths and kind people.  I loved it!

Then the weekend was over. I think I loved the whole trip the most, but my little family was so sweet and loving. I am one lucky and blessed mama and wife to have the family I do.