Higgin's Lake 2008

I love vacations. I mean REALLY love vacations. We're a travel'n sort'a family. Lots of travel'n. Lot's of vacations.


But ya know what I HATE about vacations and traveling?


Coming home to the "return from vacation chores".....the unpacking, the restocking of the groceries, the sorting through of a weeks worth of mail, the checking and replying to telephone messages....and OMG the laundry.....I'm on laundry load number 35....and still have 259 to go. There's sand in my luggage, there's dirt in my van, we still haven't been able to locate my son's sandals, and I feel completely out of touch with all my bloggy friends. I tried to read a few from my phone while on our vacation but found it incredibly frustrating as it would take 15 minutes to open each page. I eventually gave up. And quite frankly it may take me a few more days to get caught up with everyone's blogs. With school starting IN 34 HOURS!!! I'll have LOTS of time on my hands....=)


We returned home early Saturday afternoon from our week at Higgins Lake. We had a fabulous time. I posted about last year's Higgins Lake vacation a couple weeks ago. We took this same vacation and stayed in the same 2 houses, with the same families at the same time in August Last year. And it was a miserable week.

This year was a drastic improvement.

We arrived there last Saturday during a horrible thunder storm with torrential down pours but never saw another drop of rain the entire week. High seventies all week. AND all our water sport "toys" remained in perfect working condition all week. Major bonus.

So here's a recap of the week....

4 families

8 adults

10 kids

We spent lots of time on the boat. Taking turns skiing. Hefty Smurf got up on water skis on his first attempt. Was even daring enough to try to ski outside the wake....succeeded....but couldn't get himself back INside the wake without wiping out. Did a few face plants. And then came up laughing and got right back up to try again. At'a boy!

Papa Smurf discovered that skiing is a lot like riding a bike. Once you learn you never forget! Got right up after not skiing in over 18 years.

I on the other hand (those following me on twitter are already aware of this) only succeeded in getting a (not so) refreshing enema. Gave it a few attempts and gave up in frustration (and pain)...pretty sure I pulled a groin muscle trying to obey my ski instructor. In the photo below our friend L was giving me last minute instruction...... "whatever you do....keep your toes together...."

yeah....right....

Gave it 3 or 4 attempts and then handed the skis over in frustration.

The kids had a blast playing on the beach and in the lake. According to National Geographic, Higgins Lake is the 6th most beautiful lake in the world. This is a spring fed lake and so is exceptionally clean and clear.

We played a little tether ball....

And did a little fishing....

Took some breaks from the fresh air to squeeze in a video game.....or two.....or 500....

Did a little canoeing

And some more fishing

Played some baseball, football, and catch

Thing 3 learned how to blow her first bubble gum bubble

Did a whole lot'a jet skiing. This is my friend and running partner, T, and her daughter, T.

I rode a jet ski for the first time ALL BY MYSELF. I'm feel'n all growed up and stuff.

My back and arms were ridiculously sore from jet skiing.....I could barely lift my arms above my head the next two days. I had no idea I was getting a work out at the time. Who knew?



We spent the evenings by campfire Roasting "weeners" and marshmallows for smores, blowing up bottles with fireworks (we're good parents like that), melting glass and generally turning our kids into pyromaniacs.

The adults played a lot of euchre, a little volley ball, drank a lot of alcohol, and lounged on the beach.

I read two books. The first was a total smut novel....one of those historical romance novels (one of my guilty pleasures) with a dramatic photo of a couple in the throws of passion on the front cover. Can't even tell you the title or author. But It was good. Just ask my husband.



The second book, The Bride Stripped Bare, was a very strange and disturbing book. My dear friend K liked it. Now I know why. LMAO!


Every stink'n picture of me on this trip looks like the one below. I look like a deer caught in headlights. My husband has a horrible habit of picking up the camera...saying "hey, hun"....click....



Smurfette was in all her girly glory with her 3 friends on this trip.

The kids all had lots of fun taking turns on the swing

Hefty and Dreamy Smurfs caught their first fish....rock basses. But I wasn't there so of course there were no photos taken.

T, M, and I all got a few runs in this week.

OH!....And I certainly must not forget to mention the highlight of the week....Hefty Smurf was throwing a rock at a raccoon that had run up a tree after getting caught in the garbage. One of the rocks landed on our friend's sunroof. The sunroof shattered into millions of tiny shards of glass into their SUV. Unfortunately, I have no photos of this as I was a little preoccupied with beating my child....jk....notifying social services is not necessary....yet....

Our first experience with a broken window *sigh* Isn't this like a parental rite of passage or something. I feel like I've just graduated and entered a whole new level of parenting. I always imagined our first broken window to be from our own house....not a friend's car.

And here's the group photo taken just before departure. We had a blast and the kids are already asking if we can go again next year.

And now I must return to my chores.

Did I mention school starts in 34 hours folks!

Giddy with excitement....

I promise to get caught up on everyone's bloggy lives once I drop kick my kids out the front door to school see my children safely off to school on Tuesday.

Actually, scratch that....have to spend the first day with my daughter in her class room. Will catch up on Wednesday!

For sure!

Thirteen years and counting.

Thirteen years ago today Hubby and I were married. At the risk of being gaggingly (Yes...that's a word....a Mama Smurf created word) cliche..."time sure does fly by when you're having fun."

He forgot.

I debated for quite awhile this morning on whether or not to remind him. I thought maybe I could milk this for all it's worth (in most women's eyes anyway). I could play the "I can't believe you forgot our wedding anniversary" card and maybe walk away with a guilt diamond.

But I didn't....play the guilt card that is. Because that would require me going out and getting him a guilt present. And I just don't have time today.

This post makes it sound like we're pathetic.

We're not.

We are still hopelessly in love.

But we don't celebrate our anniversary the way most couples do. It's pretty much just another day around here.

We are leaving in four days for our annual Higgin's Lake trip with three other couples and a total of twelve kids. So I've been busy trying to prepare for that. Grocery shopping, cleaning out van, making doggy daycare arrangements and such. We will be on vacation from Sat. to Sat. without internet. I probably won't get a chance to post again until after Labor day weekend.

Here's a recap of last year's trip. Ten adults. Twelve children. Rained 6 out of 7 days. Never got hotter than 70 degrees. Boat broke down twice. The ONE day that the sun came out and we were able to take the boat out....the power steering went out on the boat and it had to be towed in. Sleeping arrangements for Papa Smurf and I: 3 out of the 4 sides of our mattress were touching walls (no I'm not exaggerating).....and there was one foot of clearance on the fourth side....just enough to open the door a bit and SQUEEEEEEEEZE our body's in. It was a LOOOONNNNNNNG week.

I refuse to look at the forecast any more because as of yesterday morning they were already predicting rain for the first 3 days of this year's trip.

Pray for us.