Back to Lake James

This time compliments of my dear friend Peggy. Maclaren and I enjoyed the weekend with Peggy and her family swimming, floating, tubing, skiing, eating (uh, Maclaren, how many Oreos did you just eat?), chatting, laughing. THE BEST! Here is our host Peggy...

Her twin sister Lynn... Her mom, Margaret... And the three of them because they are so beauty-ous!
Lynn's boys Patrick and Cole were great hosts to Maclaren and it is funny to see the boys vie for her attention (gummy worms and crazy antics usually do the trick). And I did sneak some shots of Don, Peggy's dad... Uncle Keith... And Aunt Rita (with the totally cool boat music...these folks know how to hang on a boat!!) It was a SUPER
FANTASTIC
TIME!

Memorial Day

...was rainy and gloomy. So we celebrated with a sleepover, a patriotic breakfast of blueberry pancakes with strawberries &whipped cream, and fun.

What's this kid smiling about?

Breakfast...

...Of...

...Champions! Sweet, sugary cereal straight from Cereal City, USA! A rare treat enjoyed during spring break at Lake James.

Flashback - Life Skill #1

Riding a bike. This past spring Maclaren ditched the training wheels. Angus is still happily chugging along with his. Here we are at my office park enjoying some beautiful weather and a mile-long ride/walk. At the end, the sun was blazing and the kids were sweating (and complaining). Thank goodness for free drinks at the Queen City Diner!

Great Friends...

...make great kids. Literally. Meet my dear friend Sarah's kids. They restore your faith in today's teenagers. Fun.
Sporty. (that's Maggie below, second rower in the green hat)

Generous. Thoughtful. And wearing age-appropriate clothing.

Anna and Maggie have rooms that are messy with clothing strewn about, unmade beds and last-minute homework. And I love that.

Andrew generously gives up his room for me when I visit and Angus was pleased to find over 200 trucks & cars, a Brio train set to rival Sodor Island and millions of legos tucked beneath the bed. Both kids are still talking about Andrew's "tractor pull" and the acres of yard (equals freedom).

Had to get a few extra close-up of Anna's choppers which were celebrating their first day without braces. Beautiful kids. Great parents. Best of friends. They make me feel lucky.

BFFs

There is NOTHING better than a BF and the unabashed confidence that they bring to your soul.

Maclaren celebrated her good friend Samantha's birthday today. In preparation, she pronounced that she was going to write "Sammi" a song. She was feverishly writing away when I accidentally walked through the room humming and she pleaded "Mom! Please don't sing. I am trying to focus!"

In the last minute chaos of getting her out the door, I totally forgot about the song (and so did she). Later, I found her "song notes."

Obviously she is inspired by her daily dose of K104.7 (which she became addicted to when it was all-Christmas-music-all-the-time) whose playlists feature tunes like "Escape" (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes and "Forever Young" by Rod Stewart. Move over Burt Bacharach!

Did I mention jelly beans?

Another fun Easter with our friends the Grimes during a weekend getaway on Lake James. Fun, that is, if you consider fun to be one kid puking in the car and another fracturing her collar bone after jumping on (and falling off) the bed. Well...Party on!


Click here to see the highlights (minus the puke and the tears)