This is what happens when you give small children shovels, buckets, & a beach!!

Today was a fun day--exhausting, but fun! My Aunt Colleen & I took some of the kids out to Big Creek Lake/Beach. We had Cole, Jackie, Cade, Zach, & Luke. We had a great time swimming in the lake & it was fun watching some of the kids get more brave (of course with lifejackets on) and go deeper into the water. Lukey wasn't about to have any part of the water without me holding him. I took him quite a ways out, but figured I ought not push my luck! Aunt Colleen got pizza & fun foods to eat at the beach & the kids absolutely LOVED it. We also had these really awesome water shooters that proved to be loads of fun and kept us quite cool in the hot summer heat. After we were finished with swimming, we wanted to dry off a bit. As I was laying on my towel, the kids had this genius (or so they thought) idea to build a sandcastle on my stomach...and of course, since I'm pretty much a kid myself, I let them! (SMILE) It proved to be more difficult than they thought because everytime I took a breath, it broke a bit & I wasn't quite willing to stop breathing for the sake of the sandcastle. haha. It was rather hilarious actually & it really was fun. Hey, I mean, I just got to lay there & knew they weren't running off anywhere because they were right there building on top of me! (SMILE) Aunt Colleen & I had a really good day with the kids, but the heat & the energy it took exhausted the both of us (in a good way)!!! After we finished a few hours at the beach, we drove to Quick Trip & got them all malts! They have wonderful malts @ QT. And we took them to a nearby park to drink malts & let them continue running off energy on the fun playground while we were able to sit & supervise! (SMILE) After the park we went back to Aunt Colleen's house & enjoyed more fun with the water squirters! The kids also thought it was a blast to 'wash' my car with them--so I let them. I think I'll need a real car wash tomorrow, now! (SMILE)

Though tiring, I was REALLY thankful for the awesome day we all had. There is something about the beach, water, & kids that gives mind, body, & spirit a boost!! I do not think I will have trouble sleeping this evening & I don't imagine the kids or my Aunt will either. Here are some pictures from the day:

Lukey loves diggin' in the sand on my tummy

Jackie & Luke continue working on a sandcastle...if only I would stop breathing, they wouldn't have had to work so hard! (SMILE)

Even hours of swimming, sun, & the beach didn't wear these kids out. Especially when we gave them a sugar boost with their malts!


Jackie was being crazy in the backseat.

Zach was half out of it, but too excited not to enjoy his malt!

Lukey was FULL of energy & had that malt gone in NO time!

It was a great day that reminded me of how many fun times we shared last summer together with Aunt Colleen. Can't wait for the next outing...

I am excited for tomorrow as Tutu suprised me with a massage (which is one of my most favorite things) & then we are both getting our hair done, mine highlighted & hers colored! (SMILE) It'll be a nice relaxing afternoon. She is way too good to me...to all her family!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day yesterday. We enjoyed a laid back day--but a good one! We had friends in from Nebraska...so we went to lunch with them yesterday. We plan to celebrate Papa's birthday (which is today--Happy 79th Birthday, Pops) & Father's Day as a family next Sunday, a week late, since my Dad had company & he left for Virginia for a tax conference this morning!! I spent some time with Dad, my Papa, & my Uncle Jim--they are kind of 'my 3 Dads!!' I'm very lucky & GRATEFUL!

Troy, me, Barb & Bob (from Nebraska)

Troy, Dad, Barb & Bob

Troy was driving my car...the first time I let him drive my new car (well, it's new to me anyway). (Dad got a new car, so I got his old car--& I LOVE IT)

Me...while Troy was driving my car! :)