Ozarks 2014

Last week we spent an amazing week at the lake!  This year Keeta found a house that was back at the end of a cove.  It was perfect!  We had plenty of room for everyone, our own boat and swimming dock, and it was very private.  We had such an amazing time and the week went by very very quickly, but we made lots of memories!

 

Bryce was really into playing with his tractors and pickups.  He always wanted someone to play with him, and most often Old Papa was the chosen one...

Some coloring fun

Mason fishing

Catch anything Zane?

3 generations of Baker fishermen

Our littlest fisherman

Our house for a week. 

At Dogpatch.  Found his seat!

Sorry this video is sideways...no way to change it...but this made me laugh!  While we were waiting for everyone who rode in the boat to make it to the Strip, Bryce got some candy and then heard the music and started tapping his feet!

 

Bryce playing with Nate and Marcy

A "prize" Mason won at the arcade

A nice lady at the arcade saw our boys and gave them all of these tickets! (But Matt wants you to think he won them)  Haha!

So this is becoming a tradition...in the arcade there is this punching game.  Matt was sure he was going to beat his score from last year, and more importantly his little brother's score.  Well...that wasn't the case.  And I'm not posting his score because he didn't even want me to save those pictures!  :)

Winner winner, chicken dinner!  (And before you wonder about the strange mustache...it was a running joke.  He began the week with a full beard and each day came out with a different part shaved.  Kept us wondering!)

Another one of our favorite places to visit at the Ozarks is Frankie and Louie's.  We spent quite a long afternoon there...the kids loved it!

Grandma and Grandpa claiming their piece of the shade on the beach!

Beach time!

Meeting of the minds...

Playing in the sand

Papa fell asleep in the chair.  His right leg was a little red when he awoke.  I guess we should have woken him up!?!

So relaxing!

Building a little lake

Ice cream break!

Fun in the sand

Our little fishy!

Such a great place to spend the afternoon!

BLISS!

Papa and Bryce worn out!

We never really had the chance to have Zane's birthday party this year.  Thankfully he didn't mind.  But I felt bad.  So we decided to celebrate at the lake.  He still didn't want much "to-do" so we just had him open a few gifts.  Legos!  He was in Heaven!  And immediately wanted to know if he could put them together!  We let him do one since we were worried about them transporting home without breaking.

Lego Heaven!

Jodie helping Mason fish

We had a fire pit at the house and wanted to have a fire with S'Mores one night.  So we tried, and the first night was a bust!  The firewood was too wet from a previous night's rain.  So we waited a couple of nights and tried again...and it was successful!

Bonfire!

Bonfire

Madison roasting a marshmallow

Bryce fell asleep and Madison was messing with him!  He barely moved!

Fishing with grandma!

Catch anything?

Silly boy

"Fishing"  (We didn't give him a hook)

Our last full day there was also Grandma and Grandpa Baker's 60th anniversary.  Matt's Aunt Sherri, Uncle Dennis, Cousins Ty, Mindy, Porter and Tate, all came down that day to surprise grandma and grandpa!  They had no idea they were coming.  So we had fun in the water, eating dinner, and spending time together.  We did take some group photos, I'll share those with you as soon as I get them!

Grillmaster Matt grilling burgers and dogs for the whole crew (and it just happened to be the HOTTEST day we were there...he was drenched in sweat)!

Mason, Porter, Bryce, Tate, and Zane.  They had such a great time swimming!  And Bryce keeps pointing to Porter and Tate and telling me "These my brothers!"

This is how a redneck tubes...haha!

Lots of "throw me the ball while I jump in" happened.  At first Mason didn't get it and would jump in also!

Paddle, paddle, paddle your boat!

Catch!

Here ya go!

Zane on the raft

Mason posing for me...silly boy!

All the leftovers one night together in one bowl.  No worries, Matt didn't eat them, just posed for this picture!

The day after we got home...we were just driving around town and looked back to see this!  Bryce was the only one awake!

This week has been pretty crazy.  This was the first year we were not on vacation the same year as our Vacation Bible School at church.  My friend Mary has taken her kids the last few years and she is always telling me just how crazy it is...and she wasn't lying!  I was excited the boys would get to go to it since it's our home church.  I was asked to help and was put in charge of one of the stations, so I taught lessons to the kids in 5 rotations per day.  I felt like I was back at school!  It was quite exhausting!  Probably a good reminder for what's to come in just a few short weeks!

Bryce found Zane in front of him as we were singing!

Bryce eyed me in there as well...

Mason singing and dancing.  He would stop if he saw me...so I had to be discreet!

Zane and Madelyn.  Zane was "too cool" all week to stand and dance/sing.

Nora & Mason

One day we watched our friend Jaxon while his mom had a meeting.  Here are the boys jumping around acting silly!

Bryce found and lined up all of these rocks while waiting on the older two to finish swim lessons

There's a new trail close to us.  It super nice and a really nice place to walk/bike/run.  We checked it out this week on foot...

Statue Mason

We found a vine hanging down and Bryce went up to it, but wouldn't swing

Tarzan!

Tarzan Jr.

Hey mom, look at me!

This summer has been so crazy for tee ball!  Originally the schedule had the games finished up by July 1st.  However, the rain kept deterring us from having games!  We were supposed to have one while we were gone on vacation, and it was also picture night, so I was bummed we'd miss it.  Turns out that one was also rained out so we ended up being around for pictures and the last game!  Even though Mason won't always admit it, he had fun playing and he is now asking to play basketball.  But he wants to play it now...and keeps asking...should be a fun winter activity!

Coach Derrick talking to the kids after the game

Team huddle...go Blue Sharks!

Mason getting a hi-five and medal from Coach Derrick!

Our Little Slugger!  He was so proud of his medal!  He said "Mom, I think he gave me this one because I had a really good catch during the game.  That's why he gave me this one with the baseball."

This weekend we decided to take Bryce to the movie theatre for the first time (okay, not really, he went when he was a couple of months old...but that doesn't count).  We weren't sure how he'd do but he loves airplanes and it was Planes Fire and Rescue, so we thought we'd give it a shot.  He did a lot better than we expected and we were able to all stay the whole time!  It was fun for all of us to go, since Mom and Bryce usually stay home on movie nights!

Popcorn!

We've had a great couple of weeks!  I'm starting to get really sad about our summer ending and the madness of school starting!  We have accomplished many things on our Summer Fun list, but not nearly all of them.  I don't know where time goes!  I always start summer thinking we have so much time ahead of us, and then BOOM it's almost the end of July!  So my quest is to just try to make the most of the time we have left!