Lake life 2019

Labor day brings us to the cabin every year as it has for at least the last 14 years. This year we ventured back to the same place we went last year-Island View Resort on Nest Lake, with its amazing beach, swimming area and fun game room.

 

My brother definitely won uncle of the year, letting Lincoln drive the pontoon and taking him fishing from sun up to sun down every day. Hooks, worms, fish, repeat.
Thank you Ben!

 

 

Lincoln and Lila caught frogs and toads, bringing them to the fire at night. One poor frog was not so smart and leapt directly into the flames.

From the dock and from the pontoon, Lincoln certainly caught the most fish of anyone. One day alone he brought in 17 fish!



 

A little game room fun. It might have been missing a cue ball, and thankfully Grandma Jan brought her own ping pong balls, but it gave the kiddos a break from the water and another opportunity to have some fun.

 

We took lunch out on the pontoon one cloudy afternoon. It wasn't warm and it wasn't a great weather-day, but we had all of us together enjoying the lake and I knew my mom's heart was filled!

 

 

Lincoln learned to kayak and can cruise pretty fast in that little boat. He loved joining in with the big kids, doing all sorts of fun activities.

 



 

When my cousin's boat failed to operate properly, our kiddos sweet-talked the owner's son into taking them out behind his super fast speed boat for some tubing.  Boy did they have a BLAST going super duper fast!

 

From the boat or from the tube, they giggled the afternoon away :)

 

Lincoln eventually got brave enough to take the fish from Uncle Ben and toss it back to the lake himself. He'd always say something to his fish to wish it well back into the lake, then touch the fin one time and plop it into the water.

 

My cousin's daughters are just about the same age as our girls and all 5 of these kiddos hung out all weekend together.

 

 

In his glory driving the pontoon.

 

Regan wasn't too sure about swimming out to the dock given the temperatures were hovering in the 70's; but she looked pretty chill enjoying some sunshine out there.

 

"Ben, Ben, Ben"

He sure made Lincoln's weekend!

 

I challenged Regan to climb up this tree that hangs over the lake. She accomplished it easy and then attempted to hang her hammock from the branches. That didn't end as well and she eventually gave up; content to just sit on a branch.

 

I'm so thankful to mom for getting us all together every year to enjoy this annual tradition on the water!

 

Sun-kissed cheeks and boat hair, don't care.

 

Minnesota sunsets on the lake are amazingly incredible

We ended each night gathered around the fire, all 20+ of us. S'mores and pie fries and roasted starburst.

We had lots of laughs and made countless memories as summer 2019 came to a close.