canoeing // 2

We recently went out to campus beach and spent the afternoon/evening canoeing and swimming. So much fun for everyone! (Here is when we did this two years ago, I don't know why we don't go more often!)

lake morning

It was a beautiful 70 degree Saturday here last weekend. We went to "climb a mountain" (as G says) at the the dikes and enjoy some time outside. It's inevitable that if we are near water, that the boys end up in it... even if it's February. It's so fun to watch them dig and play!

afternoon by the lake

We spent a fun, relaxing evening by the lake last Friday. The boys love to dig and get dirty, and this occupies them for so long. I did not think they would swim, but the cold water didn't seem to bother them. Next time I'll bring them bathing suits even if it's March. We love this little spot that also has a playground and picnic tables. 

escape

It is soooooooo nice to be on Spring Break this week! It was much needed. Chad got back from Haiti late on Saturday night and we spent Easter with family and then headed up to Hyco Lake for a couple days of relaxation with Marshall and Rachel. The Craigs so graciously let us use their lake house (yet again) and we had been looking forward to it for weeks! We love how disconnected we feel from the rest of the world up there. We were able to spend lots of time talking, laughing, fishing, sleeping, reading and laying in the sun.

Of course the boys fished the entire time we were there. Which is a perfect couple of days to them.

 Chad's wedding ring also decided it wanted to go for a swim...

...and now it will live peacefully at the bottom of the lake. 

You may or may not know this, but his wedding ring was on like its ninth life. He has lost it so many times where we should have never been able to get it back/find it. (You may remember this time while snorkeling with the shark in the Carribean). He lost weight after we got married and since then it has always been big on him. He has thrown it in trash cans and we have had to dig it out, he threw it across a grocery store one time and he had to crawl under the cereal shelves to find it, the list goes on and on. I have looked for sizers but never found one. ANYWAYS, it flew off his finger while he was fishing and it was a goner. 

It was so nice to get away with friends. We are so very thankful for the friendship we have with the Harpers. I know it is a rare thing. It is just incredible to me how much we have been through together over the past 10 years. From proms to weddings to surgeries to trips and everything in between. 

It was a little bittersweet for me while spending these days together because I know that this phase of our friendship is coming to a close fast. We have lived life right alongside each other from highschool to college to seminary and jobs. We will have to find a new normal in the upcoming months and change is not an easy thing for me. Nevertheless, we were so grateful and blessed to have a few relaxing days together to escape to the lake!

Lake Day

We headed up to Hyco Lake yesterday for one last Sunday School lake day. The Craig's were wonderful hosts (as always) and we had a blast.

The boys started this jumping challenge game (maybe last year?) and of course it made an appearance yesterday.

This is the game that led to Ben breaking his foot yesterday. He felt/heard the pop as he jumped off of the dock.

Brooke, Rach and I tried to all stand up on the tube. It was harder than it looks in the pictures, it took a lot of balance but was so much fun.

Ben caught a catfish

Chad caught a tilapia

It was a fun day and we were worn out by the time we left. Thanks to the Craig's for opening their home to us!