Granite Shoals Family Vacation 2011

I'm going to try to fit this all into 1 post to get it out of the way!  So warning:  LOTS of pictures.


I had worked the night before.....so we worked it out that the girls would ride with Gramma and Poppa so that Geoff could drive our car and I would be able to sleep in the back seat.  We only stopped twice.....once for a restroom break, and once to eat.  I was able to sleep pretty well and the trip seemed to go fast (because I was asleep for the most of it!).  We made pretty good time though....5 hours....and I think if we would have driven straight through it might have taken 3.5 hours.

So.....we got there right around 3 in the afternoon on Friday.

Brian pulled up in his new Harley about 5 minutes after we pulled in.....

Arriving at the lake.  Just checking things out.  It was a bit cloudy and there was thundering and lightening right around where we were.  It didn't last long and passed right by us.

This is a really neat cabana area for grilling.  It also had a sink, utensils, bar stools.  Only problem.....the grill didn't really work properly.  So by the last night....Geoff was grilling with charcoal.

Grace had just woken up from a short nap....and I think when she saw me she started to whine a bit.

Then she saw the lake and enthusiastically said, "Wah-wuh!!!!"

A few views from the balcony....

Getting geared up for our first swim.....

Grace loved the water.  Parker did not.  Hence- no pictures of Parker in the water.  ;)

Terry grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone that first night.  Everything, of course, was delicious.

So glad that my great Aunt Pauline and Granny were able to come with us.  So good to visit with them.

S'mores for dessert!  (made in the microwave, though.  much too hot for fire!  ;)

They had a neat little game room in the downstairs part.  The guys played ping pong that first evening.  I think they had a good time.

Playing hide and seek with the pole.

Grace thought she'd play some ping pong, too!

Parker did play with Geoff for a bit....and she did a pretty good job, in my opinion!  You could tell she felt so special and proud.

Grace found entertainment under a table and chair.  ;)

When I peaked out the window and saw that the sun was near setting, I snuck out by myself to hopefully catch a few shots.  The crew shortly followed suit.....and for some reason- Parker was so scared to be near the water.  She was crying here because she did not like how close Grace was getting to the water!  We had a close eye on Grace, though,.....at times she is fearless and we would not have put it past her to just walk right in.  She loves the water (but doesn't really like her face wet).

The next morning.....we had scheduled for a pontoon boat to be brought to our house to rent for the day.

Watching the boat get pulled in....

Little sister could get up....but couldn't see over the rail.  ;)

Eating Daddy's breakfast.....

Getting ready for out boating adventure....

Everything was going ok until Terry started to slow down and bring the boat to a halt.....the front end of the boat dipped down about 4 feet.....the water was pouring over the top rail.  Luckily- he pulled back quickly and the boat when back up.  We were all fine (just kind of scared everyone and resulted in startling the kids a little, too).....but decided to take the boat back and get a different one.  They didn't have anything else available that day, but we set up for them to bring us a speed boat the next morning.

So we came back....let the kids play....had lunch....attempted naps.....and lots of entertaining.  The guys went ahead and played a round of golf that afternoon because they had originally planned on playing Sunday.....but now that the boat was coming Sunday.....we just did some switching.

We brought this blow up pool thinking the kids would love it.  But, of course, they spent maybe a combined total of 5 minutes in it!

We made snow cones....

Let them have candy we probably shouldn't have....

Don't know why she was upset here, but included this because it really is a good picture of how she is duringt his season of life.  Don't get me wrong.....I think she is a happy kid.....but at the drop of a dime she goes 90 to nothing and is so dramatically upset!  I'm not sure where she gets this???  ;)

Kristin brought squirt bottles for the girls to play with...

Off the subject....but sometimes.....Grace seems to have some pretty tight curls, but then at other times, she doesn't.  I need to give her a trim.

"Miracle Bubbles!"  They really don't spill out.  And no- Payton didn't drink the bubbles.  But they had a good time playing.

Parker was very interested the goldfish the guys brought back after golfing to fish with.

I took several picture to get this shot.  Grace will make a fish face when we ask her what a fish 'says'.  It's so sweet.

I think Geoff was the only one that ended up catching a fish (correct me if I'm wrong, it was hard to keep up with everyone!).  He didn't keep it though (I don't think he did?).

The next morning......our new boat!

The girls didn't last long on the boat.  We ended up taking them back fairly quickly.  Then Terry, Phil, Kristin, Geoff and I went back out to do some tubing.

I didn't realize this, but this was Geoff's first time to do something like this.  I got (or potentially could have gotten) a really good video that I was going to post.....but the part where he flew off the tube and flipped around (that he said he would never forget that feeling because he felt like he felt his insides move)......the boat was bouncing around so much and I wasn't watching him through the flip that I didn't get that part on video!  Bummer.  I can still play it over perfectly in my head.  I'm glad he was all right!

The girls were very happy to see us once we returned.  They were all crying when we left!  ;)

Later that afternoon....after lunch and nap....we went back out for a bit.

As I had mentioned earlier....Geoff grilled steak and chicken for everyone (Phil grilled beef and chicken fajitas for everyone Saturday night, but I guess I didn't get a picture of that) on the charcoal grill once we finally established that the grill did not work.

Monday morning....our final morning.....Parker was the first one up (typical).  She and Poppa did a little fishing.  She had so much fun on this morning doing that because Poppa had put the plastic fish on the end and she'd just drop it in the lake all by herself, then reel it in, then repeat.  She was so proud of herself.  And I think these pictures are sweet, too.  She's getting to be such a big girl.

Moving forward a few hours later....we were all packed and ready to head out.  I realized we had not gotten one single picture of our family of 4.....and although I was looking really nice....I was adamant on getting the shot.  Parker was not giving in without a fight.

And even still....Grace started to get upset because she wanted me to hold her, too.  So here's the series of shots that we went through to get the 'winner'.  Haha!

The 'winner'....

I snapped this shot of almost everyone else that went (minus Brian [who had left the day before] Kristin, and Phil].  Next year....for sure.....we are just going to have to suck it up and set up the tripod and get the whole group shot on the first day.  Otherwise....we get too busy and de-motivated!

And this last shot.....taken by Parker.

We had a wonderful time.  Thank you Mom and Terry for treating us to this wonderful lake house and all of your help with the girls.  Thank you, thank you Kristin for getting all of the food and the meal planning......food is the most important thing of vacation, after all.  Ha!