More On Kentucky

As our vacation in Kentucky continued on, so did the fun and, unfortunately, the exhaustion.  However, we trucked right on through it with more swimming and boating.  There were moments that I thought my kids might pass out right there in that lake.  Luckily I held firm to my rule of life jackets at the lake. So had that happened, I'm thinking, surely they would have floated. 

And although no one passed out bobbing around the water, I had them passing out right and left on the boat.  This one even dozed off while reaching her hand in for a snack.  And mind you, these are the kids that don't sleep in the car.  This is a picture of utter exhaustion.

I just absolutely could not let this reunion pass without a picture of GG with her GREAT grandchildren.  Look at that beautiful woman.  She is as amazing as she looks.  It's hard for me to believe she is a great grandmother.

Ironically her grandchildren complained about having to stop for a photo more than the littles did.  I know they will thank me one day.  I'm certain I will cherish it.  Some of my best childhood memories are those spent with my Grandma and Grandpa.  Many at this very house on that very lake.  

And that's why I had to snag her for one with just me.  He oldest {and I'd like to think} favorite grandchild.

I'm hoping my little Mags will have sweet memories with her Grandma just as I do.  So far so good.

We capped off our last evening with a family dinner.  Our party was so huge they gave us own room.   Good thing because I am most certain that the other patrons would have struggled to enjoy their dinner with the bouts of over active children intermittent with whines and cries.  To put it lightly my kids were toast by this point.  

Most definitely a bittersweet evening.  But, oh how I loved being surrounded by this crew.

It's not often enough that my kiddos have their GG and Grandma in the same room.  So I had to take advantage of that photo op.  As you can see Jack was thrilled.  I think I had to wake him up from my lap to join us {and more importantly eat}.

I let him escape to capture one of three generations of the women on my side.  It's mind boggling to me and a sweet reminder of how incredibly blessed us girls are.  Lucy even took her fingers out of her mouth for this one.  Unfortunately, that seems to be her infamous picture move these days.

So there you have it.  Our fourth weekend...sleepless in Kentucky...surrounded by fabulous family...and oozing with love....and some whining, if I'm being completely honest.

xoxo Dumbacher family

The Fourth

We celebrated the red, white and blue at GG's lake house in Kentucky this year.  I'm finding that our visits to the bluegrass state are all too bittersweet.  On the one hand, I've got the absolute sweetness of seeing my family, reuniting the kiddos with their cousins, and reliving many glorious childhood memories at my grandparent's house.

But, painfully there is the bitter part.  This stems from less than desirable sleeping conditions {I mean seriously how can you adequately house 12 adults and 5 kids?}.  And this my friends, leads to very overtired and whiny children.  I mean really whiny.  Did I mention my kids were overtired and whiny? Well, they were.  Ask anyone who was graced with their presence.

And just like the rise and fall of the beautiful lake we were visiting, so were the moods of my trio.  There were some high highs and some low lows.  I thank my lucky stars that I took lots of pictures of the highs and none of the latter.  {Not that I could have if I wanted to...I was too bust trying to keep the peace.}  But these pictures are a sweet reminder of the real reason we keep going back...sweet times.

We started the morning of the 4th after our first fitful night of sleep.  All was well until my little ones realized that waking at 5 am with the sun wasn't such a good idea after all.  But, up until about 10 am they were loving their time with cousin Halle.  The most entertaining three year old I think I've ever met.

I brought each of the kids a festive bucket filled some 4th goodies.  These mustaches were part of the loot.  I was laughing my tail off through sleep deprived eyes as they tried everything on.

We spent much of the morning outside playing the Stomp Rocket we brought Halle for her birthday.  It is my go to gift.  I swear every gender, every age, and every kid loves this thing.  It also proved to be a nice way to keep the kiddos outside while the rest of the family rolled out of bed and others arrived.

By mid morning the family was awake and my kiddos were ready to hit the much anticipated lake.  After a few strokes and a boat ride my trio {yes, all three of them} were ready for a nap.  Before lunch time, mind you.  I imagine you are starting to get a visual of the exhaustion that was ensuing.

I'm pretty sure my kids never really ate lunch that day.  I think they may have slept right through it.  And for that I was grateful.  But they awoke to more patriotic outside play and of course, a traditional 4th cook out.

When Uncle Joel wasn't at the helm of the boat, he was manning the grill.  We owe him dearly, not only for an entertaining couple of days, but also for organizing this whole shindig.  We would have probably been lounging around our hometown pool if it weren't for him.

Uncle Jon brought his new girly.  Well, new, as in the last year.  I can FINALLY say I approve!  Can we call her Aunt Bailee yet?

We ended the longest day of my life with some tubing and fireworks.  I have to say I was bursting with joy when Jack actually asked to go tubing.  My cautious kiddo just keeps getting more and more adventurous.  Go Jack!

And somehow I got conjoled into doing the same.  It seems I have become "boring" in my old age.  So I had to prove them all wrong.  I don't call it boring, just wiped out times 3.  I didn't see any of them up at 5 am.

I threatened Joel that if he threw me off that thing, he was spending the evening washing and straightening my hair.  {my most dreaded task}  Luckily, I stayed on and my "boring" status was lifted.

Uncle Joel, the maniac he is, could not be thrown off this thing as hard as Jon tried.  He even went as far as to do his Marine salute without so much as a wobble.

Come dusk, we lit up the sparklers.  My girls thought they had seen the fireworks so I took them off to bed shortly after.  Jack knew better.  So he joined the crew for a firework viewing boat ride.

I don't know what Maggie liked better the "sparkle wand" or spending time with her girly cousins.  She was beyond fascinated with Morgan's "long hair".  Who needs fireworks when you can admire your cousin's golden locks?

And as for Lucy, she was not at all interested in holding a sparkler.  GG's arms and her glow stick suited her just fine as she looked on with intrigue.

I would like to say we caught up on sleep from here on out.  Not so much.  But, as I must remind myself, the fourth with my family was beyond sweet.  And the sleep deprived days that followed were filled with more fabulous highs.

So many that I think it would behoove me to do a second post and carefully leave out the low lows.

That being said, Happy Birthday America!  And most especially thank you to all who have served to protect the land of the free.

Happy 4th to all!

Summer LIsts and Cousins

We are making some serious headway on our summer lists.  Good thing too because summer vacation is nearly half over.  Ugh...I can hardly believe it!  And more importantly can hardly stand the thought of sending this trio off to school.  Yes, the trio.  All three will be going in the Fall.

But before I start sobbing, shall we focus on our summer fun?  So, we ended June with a zoo visit.  Lucy was definitely making progress in the feeling better department, but I'd have to guess she wasn't 100%.  There were still quite a few "hooolllddd meeee"s going on. 

And unbeknownst to me, I was coming down with her "can't get an antibiotic" virus too.  Needless to say, it wasn't exactly our happiest day at the zoo.  But fun, and deserving, none the less.

Lucy discovered these "stick your head in" wooden signs at the zoo.  And she seriously could not get enough of them.  She had me rolling down the zoo pathway with laughter.  She was way too cute and willing to duke out her big brother or sister if they got in her way.

And might you be wondering why our littlest Lu came down with a virus in the dead of summer...this might explain it.

It seems when the going gets tough in our family, this one gets angelic.  And that is just why she is my little sunshine.

After a weekend of fighting a flu symptom virus {yuck} we were graced with a last minute visit from our Cibula cousins.

In case you haven't gotten the message, my kids are Obsessed {with a capital O}, with their big cousins.  Last minute...planned two years in advance...whatever...my kiddos will take it anytime.  And with a giant smile plastered across their faces.

The cousins wanted to visit the Fernbank.  It happened to be on Jack's summer list so we happily obliged to a switch-a-roo on our calendar.  Certainly having Whit and Larkin made it super enjoyable, but sometimes I have to wonder...now why is this on Jack's summer list?  Honestly I find parts of it to be snoozeville.

Now, I must admit the Nature Quest upstairs is great fun.  Lots of hands on and climb on for the littles.

And Lucy was once again smitten with the "stick your head in" wooden signs.

The current exhibit was whale related.  The skeletons and what not were fascinating, but challenging to actually "learn" about with these wild ones.  However, they were totally digging this photo op where they acted out a bit of "whale watching".  I'm thinking Lucy was getting in the act.

The rest of the visit from the cousins were the basics.  Like squeezing Dawn dish soap all over the trampoline and spraying it down with the hose.  Doesn't everyone do that when they have family in town?

Jack was beside himself with excitement over this newest activity.  And luckily came out unscathed.

I even found myself kidless during their visit.  Seriously, that never happens.  Many times, Maggie and Lucy would be hanging with Larkin and Jack with Whit.  I was dumbfounded and at a complete loss as to what to do with myself.

But, all good things must come to an end.  And so they did.  We sadly waved goodbye to the cousins and then I put my littles to bed very early.  They have a lot of catching up to do in the zzzz's department.

And when that finally happens...we will be on to our next summer adventure.