Labor Day Weekend

Last weekend we were invited to join our friends, Hunter and Blakeley and their kids Jude (2.5) and Jasper (13 months) at their family's lake house on Lake Martin.  We were thrilled when they invited us to go with them, and we knew we would all have a great time!  And we did!!  On Friday we loaded up the cars and caravaned to Lake Martin (near Auburn, Alabama).  All the kids did great, and we only had to make one stop on the three hour drive down! 

We had been telling Dawson for a while that he was going to get to go to the lake with his friend Jude, ride a boat, and swim in the water.  Dawson could not wait to get there!  As soon as we got the cars unloaded, Jude, Jasper, Dawson, John, and Hunter went for a swim while Blakeley and I took care of dinner. 

Saturday morning all the boys got up early ready for a fun day at the lake.  Before even getting dressed for the day Jude and Dawson had fun swinging on the tire swing in their pajamas.  While they were swinging the two boys were making up tall tales about all kinds of animals that lived in what they were calling a forest (it was a little wooded area next to the boat ramp).  They said there were tigers, skunks, and several other animals.  John assured them that none of those animals were in the "forest," but the next day they actually saw a small black snake slither out of the "forest!"  Haha!

After breakfast and some time on the tire swing we went for a morning ride on the boat.  It was Dawson's first boat ride-EVER!  He wore his life vest like a champ, and LOVED being on the boat.  Lake Martin is a very nice, clean lake with a lot of cute lake cabins, so we enjoyed riding around on the boat checking it all out. 

When we came back to the house Blakeley's Aunt Sandra stopped by the lake house for a visit.  She was so sweet, not only did she bring gifts for the boys-including Dawson-she also brought treats for the dogs.

During nap time Sandra listened for the kids while the adults swam over to a nearby sandbar and back.  When first asked if we wanted to try to swim there we said YES! and I even challenged them to a race, but the distance was definitely deceiving!  Whew!  John rode in the kayak w/ life vests in case anyone needed them or a ride.  We all made it there and back, but I definitely did NOT win the race!  It was much, much further than it looked!  Haha!

After the kids got up from their nap we took another boat ride, did some swimming, and then had dinner on the screen porch.  The house itself was wonderful, and we loved being able to eat almost every meal on the big screen porch! 

I should also mention that not only did Dawson LOVE playing in the lake, but Bentley had  blast!!  She is a water dog!  We took her tennis ball and would throw it REALLY far out in the lake, and she would swim way out and bring it back.  I think she would have done it for hours if people would have thrown it for her that long.  Luckily for Bentley, Hunter and Blakeley enjoyed having a dog that would fetch, so she got a lot of attention.  Bentley also got to ride on the boat.  She has slept A LOT since we got home, and I think she's exhausted from playing ball, swimming, and playing with our friends' dog, Tessa.

Sunday morning we woke up to rain.  :(  We were all disappointed that we weren't going to get to go out on the lake.  After the boys were over being cooped up, Blakeley did some research and found that there was a museum open on Sunday mornings in Montgomery.  So we headed to the Mann Museum!  The boys did have fun looking at all the animals, but possibly the best part for them was just being able to run around in an open area since we were the only people there!  After the museum we had lunch at McDonalds and decided to head back to the lake house since it looked to be clearing off. 

I'm so glad we did because we were able to spend the entire afternoon on the lake.  We went on a boat ride, and then we got out the tube!  Blakeley and I loaded up in the tube first with Jude and Dawson, but that lasted about 30 seconds before Dawson was terrified.  We were going extremely slow for the kids, but it was still scary to Dawson.  When we stopped both Jude and Dawson got back on the boat, and Blakeley and I rode.  Then I hopped on the boat with the boys so John could have a turn.  I felt bad Hunter didn't get a turn, but he was our faithful captain! :)

We got back to the house and had dinner.  Every night we let Jude and Dawson take a bath together, and they had so much fun splashing and pouring water on each other!  After the kids went to bed on Friday and Sunday nights we played one of our very favorite games, Catch Phrase!  We ended the weekend in a tie between couples!

Unfortunately, on Monday morning it was time to pack up and clean the house.  Now that we're home Dawson thoroughly misses Jude and Jasper and being able to play in the lake all the time!  He has asked what Jude is doing only about 100 times since we got home yesterday afternoon! Haha 

We had a wonderful weekend, and we're so thankful to have such great friends who invited us to join them for Labor Day!

Enjoy the pictures from the weekend below...

Since we knew we would be in swim

clothes all day Saturday, the day

of the UT game, we all wore our

orange and white on Friday in the car.

We got Dawson this jersey a while back,

and we have could not wait any longer for

him to wear it!  It's still a little big, but

he loves it!  He calls it his Smokey shirt

since it's what Smokey wears in "Hello,

Smokey."

We were singing Rocky Top, and he

even put his arms up at the appropriate

time!

This is his "I'm going to tackle

you" face!  :)

Dawson, Daddy, and Bentley on the boat

for the first time!

Jude, Blakeley, and Jasper on the boat.

Captain Hunter let Dawson have

a turn driving the boat.

John and I took Dawson for a ride in the

kayak.  It's obvious who is doing all the work,

since I don't even have a paddle.

Dawson and Jude swimming in the lake.

Saturday morning the boys wanted to swing

on the tire swing while they were still in their

pajamas.

More swinging.

A little later Jude decided to get

the kayak with us too!

The boys being wild and getting out some

energy on Sunday morning at the Mann Museum.

Dawson and Jude checking out a rattle snake.

The boys touching some antlers.

Dawson and Jude smelling the skunks.

The museum we visited in Montgomery.

Blakeley and I tubing.

Blakeley and John tubing.