Barren River Lake 2013

As I write these posts, I am realizing how much we traveled this summer! I feel so blessed that we have had all the opportunities to get away and enjoy family time. And I still have several more trips to blog about. 

After the Fourth, we headed to Barren River Lake in Kentucky to spend the weekend with Adam's parents and extended family. Adam's aunt and uncle have a beautiful lake house, where we have been graciously invited every summer. We have kind of made it an annual thing to go at the 4th of July when the rest of Joe and Linda's kids are their with all of their kids. It makes for SUCH a wild, crazy fun time with all the kids. This year, since the holiday landed in the middle of the week, we decided to go the weekend after. We headed up after Adam got done at work Thursday afternoon and headed home Sunday.

On the road again!! I am so thankful we have such an awesome traveler. Give her some food, a drink and a movie and she is set!

It rained the majority of the weekend, which can make for a crazy time with 7 kids 10 and under and 12 adults all stuck under one roof. But it was so much fun! Lyla had a great time with all the cousins and the adults know how to have a great time as well. I love how relaxed everything is. There is always a card game of some sort going, a drink in your hand and lots of laughter!

We caught a break in the rain and the kids had fun getting out and celebrating the Fourth with Sparklers and those pop-it things that you throw on the ground.

All the kids are seriously so sweet to Lyla. They all love her and Lyla adores them!! She loves spending time with them and following them around. They always make sure to include her.

Molly sharing some pop-its with Lyla.

The sparklers were a little bit smokey, but the kids loved playing with them.

Sam.

Katie.

Cooper and Molly.

Loves being one of the big kids!

The boys love having Adam around. He will get out and play with them and they think he is so cool ;)

Sam and Joshua.

Uncle Brian did a great job of handling the job of lighting the sparklers for the kids.

Sam, Dominic, Molly and Lyla.

With all the rain, there was some serious snuggle time on the couch. Cooper does not look too happy about being with the girls....

Cooper and Lyla are closest in age, so sometimes there is that competition between them. But really they are so sweet.

Giving the big boys high-fives!

Sam and Joshua are SUPER sweet with Lyla. Sam has an older sister, Cady, and Joshua has a younger brother Dominic. When I watch them with Lyla, they were both meant to have a younger sister. It totally melts my heart the way they are with her. Normally boys that age pay no attention to two year olds, especially girls....but these boys are so protective of her and love her to death!

I love the picture below of Lyla resting on Joshua. They sat like that forever. She adores those boys. I hope that their relationship will continue and that these boys will both be someone that she can look up to and rely on.

Next up, Molly's birthday celebration! Molly has a July 4th birthday, so we always get to celebrate with her when we come up. They saved the pinata, I think because of all the rain, so Lyla got to participate.

They all look so cute and grown up waiting patiently in line.

Birthday girl first!

Lyla's turn.

Cooper.

Joshua.

Sam.

Cady.

Checking out their goodies!

Ummm, SO CUTE! These boys really do melt my heart. I cannot say enough how sweet they are.

Dominic and Lyla.

Big boys playing a little basketball with Adam.

Helping Pawpaw out.

Going for a ride on the tractor.

On our last day the sun finally came out! It was beautiful and perfect and the lake was super quiet! Can I just say again, I love the lake. I am such a lake girl. Eventually I would love a lakehouse and a boat. There is just something so calming and relaxing about being out on the water.

We took the boat out and Sam, Joshua, Dominic and Uncle Brian stayed at the dock to fish. There were several times that weekend that they went out in the rain to fish. They ended up catching several fish and Joshua caught his biggest fish yet!

Ready to go. She is just too cute.

Lyla and Mommy.

Helping Pawpaw drive the boat.

Soaking up the sun.

"Let's go that way Pawpaw!"

We anchored the boat and got in for a swim. Lyla seemed to like the swimming part a lot more this year. She stayed in a lot longer and the life jacket did not seem to bother her as much.

Honey.

Goofing around.

It is so pretty up here.

We had so much fun once again. We are so grateful to Joe and Linda for being so gracious and having us come enjoy their home and the lake. We love being with them and all their kids and the little kids. Lyla loves spending time with all the cousins. Every time we leave, it does make me a little sad that she does not have that. Those built in friends that are also family. Thankfully, she has these guys that no matter how many months go in between them seeing each other, they get sweeter being together each time. We love them with all our hearts and spending time with their parents is quite enjoyable as well!! I love this family's bond and love being a part of it.