trip to the Lake

The big kids finished up their summer programs last week,
so we were able to head up to the Lake for the day. We needed to get new 'noodles'
and we drove up through Napa so we could pick some up --

Just driving up to Napa, going the same way we used to always go, made me so happy.

Such great times -- most of the drives were of us singing
or talking
or with the kids sleeping along the way.
Only a couple were a bit panicky -- or really just once, with us driving down the hill to get DJ to the ER with him throwing up
(etc...)
the entire way!
Another time we couldn't even get down the hill. Napa was flooded and there had been a huge mud slide that washed across the road --

The big difference this time though, is that it was just for the day.
It didn't make it less fun,
just different.

It was a gorgeous day and we pretty much
had the whole lake to ourselves ~

 All of the kids had a chance to "drive" the boat, which is always a big hit. Once we were parked in our cove, they barely came out of the water to eat -- I think they each might have gotten a bit too much sun, but we all had a great time!

and Paige took all the pictures!

{love}

lots of fun

and just pure happiness

berryessa

I have the Lake on the brain today.

We took the kids out on the boat last week. It was Baby Mikey's first time. We all had a blast! All three of the big kids were jumping off the back --
(man, Kelly is fearless)
Mikey napped.

I am sure I wasn't the only one thinking that Robyn (my mother-in-law) would have loved it too.

But today I am missing our place there.
{sigh}
I miss the casualness of it.
I miss the kids feeding the deer.
I miss the dog running around (and the dog)
I miss the view.

Maybe I am just feeling extra girly today, because to me, it was a romantic place to be.

My husband is a romantic guy who doesn't realize he is romantic ~
He is always doing things for me and never complains about anything I do.
And he just loves me.
So yeah, he and I are never really alone. Like alone without kids. I mean, they are downstairs right now, but they are here, right? The place at the Lake was small, so they were even closer -- but the Lake always makes me think of us. Like us as a couple.

I even miss driving up there.
{sigh}

I guess that today I am feeling pretty bummed that our place is gone.

(I am crossing my fingers that Mike doesn't figure out how floopy and girly I am right now. If he catches on, the rest of the afternoon will be unbearable with his teasing!)