The 2011 Summer Vacation Recap

After receiving some grief from people about not updating the blog, I am going to warm you that this post is A) long, B) a recap of the fun-filled, end of summer adventures, and C) filled with perhaps too many photos. 

In July and August, we had our master bathroom redone. It was a typical remodel headache, but in the end we are loving the new bathroom shower and finally having some storage space. During this ordeal, the kids and I made numerous trips to the home depot. They were good sports about it, but it was starting to be a too-frequent errand for them... Until the day we happened upon some kid-focused fun in the parking lot!

The Home Depot race car was there; they had a build/hammer project with aprons and "real" hammers; and lots of free stuff to take home. The kids were so excited! 

The kids loved the race car. It was SO LOUD when they started it up to pull it out of the trailer. 

Just another Tuesday at Home Depot!

 At then end of August, we took our family vacation to Deep Creek, MD. It was the first two week vacation  Zack and I have had since pre-kids. We were mixing it up a bit by vacationing with our good friends from Baltimore for the first week and then having Ann stay with us for a few days of the second week. Plus, we had big plans for being on the water for two weeks. Fortunate to have friends with a boat and another friend's sister who had two kayaks, we borrowed them all and were poised for water adventures.

The Sequoia has never been so happy!

The view from the house down to our personal dock.

Food is always a cornerstone of a great vacation. 

 Because adventure never waits, after dinner the kids launched the kayaks and started to enjoy the lake.

 There were two boats of questionable condition at the house already. Nate was not afraid of the numerous holes in the bottom of this canoe and lack of oars. He crafted an oar out of something and duck tape and launched it. Thankfully, it floated!

Laura the Action Adventurer.

The Banana: Day One.

The boat (AKA The Limp Banana) played a leading role in the story of our vacation. It provided some of the most wide grins and exciting times of fun and then would quickly cause the most heart-break and frustration. More on that in a bit.

More eating. 

The Banana Boys: Day Two

 The boat had some issues throughout the week. First off, once it was in the water it wouldn't go faster than a steady putt-putt without stalling. The boys took an hour and half to motor to the marina and have them take care of a fuel filter/line issue. The next day when they went to get it, it had just thunderstormed and poured. Not deterred, they lit some stogies and zoomed back in 15 minutes. They both were so excited!

Alpine Slide rollercoaster: Wisp Resort

 One morning, we all headed to Wisp Resort for some rollercoaster/sled rides down the ski slope. It is such a fun ride, but I hate how expensive it is for those 2 minutes of whipping down the mountain.

The Banana: Day Two

 Coming back to the boat and figured out that there was some issue with the battery. Off to Walmart to buy a new battery and a charger for the other, Zack was looking like quite the boat owner.

The Banana Lives: Day Three

 Back up and running. The kids loved it!!! Until, the boat took on some water. Thankfully the six-pack cooler was a excellent baler.

 When the Banana was running, there wasn't a cooler boat on the water. Just look at it: Retro and rocking.

 Tubing on the back of the kayak isn't as MUCH fun as the Banana, but it will suffice.

 Everyone in water-action mode.

Laura and Wrenny

I love this picture. Wrenny, CJ, Alex, and VanPelt. They have such a fun together and the fact that they think they are cousins makes me warm and fuzzy.

 We took a hike down to Cunningham Falls State Park on day. It has a few waterfalls that you can "walk" into. This, of course, appealed greatly to the kids.

 The rocks were SO SLIPPERY from moss and general creek muck. Most people were crawling on their hands and knees to get up into the fall.

 If you look in the center of the picture, you will see Zack sliding down the rock of the fall. At just right of center, there is Nate, Wren and Alex maneuvering to get behind/under the fall at center.

Our Happy Family

When we returned from the all-day hike, Zack went down to check on the boat and get ready for a cocktail-hour cruise. Pulling the rain cover back he screamed to us all to bring buckets NOW! The water in the boat was up to the steering wheel and the back end was inches away from submersion. Sinking our friend's boat would have really been a horrible vacation story. Horrible. Thankfully, we saved it from sinking, but then the engine was kaput. Wouldn't start. Wouldn't turn over at all. Then a slick of oil started to appear. Our fun with boat had ended. Zack was done.
Early the following morning, Zack called the marina again and had them tow the boat. The end to a Banana Saga.

The Limp Banana getting towed. Day Five.

 Laura in her party organizing mode: this was the craft project of the week. The kids loved it, but I am not sure if they loved it as much as Nate did.

Nate's masterpiece.

Another hike. Don't remember where.

CJ on the kid-zip line, obstacle course.

Alex ready to roll.

Now Ann is here to enjoy the fun. My friend from high school (who has a second home in Deep Creek) stopped over and hung out with us on Saturday afternoon/dinner. That was great to see her and catch up/reminisce.
The week did start off a bit slower, since the kids were completely sleep deprived and rain showers had set up over us for two days. But we had fun with Aunt Ann playing games and hanging out. Once the sun came out, we headed back to the falls for hiking and since the weather turned much crisper, no swimming.

There you have it: Our two week summer vacation. I think you can tell from the smiles on our faces that we all had a wonderful time! Even with the boat debacle, the earthquake later in the day of this hike that turned all the water in the house black and slimy, and then finding out that the car battery was dead, we had a lot of fun. No really, we did!