Twins Lake 2011

This was my second year joining the Bruce Family Twin Trip. Shane and I didn't get to be there the whole time because our school schedules didn't allow for a whole week off from classes. The girls were lucky and rode up with Don and Debbie so they could be there the whole week. We worked plenty of late nights leading up to the Wednesday we could leave. This being my second year, the sight of the ferry marked the moment I felt myself take a deep breath and realize we were not at work (and thankfully NOT going to be for four entire days!).

Sigh.........deep breath........and another sigh.....ahhhhhh.

Our humble abode for the week, Cabin 20

Is it just me or is being on a boat, any boat, in the middle of summer, one of the most relaxing things to do? Even with excited, hyper kids begging to be pulled on the tube within 5' earshot, it is one of the best ways to spend a summer day. Apparently, Isabella feels the same, this is content if I ever saw it:

Can't you just feel the sun and cool breeze?

Nicole joined us Thursday night. Oh-la-la...what a pretty girl! We had a terrific time sitting at Cabin 20's picnic table under the dark sky laughing with Shane after the girls had gone to bed. We took a great morning walk along the lake and she spent the full Friday with us on the boat. It was so great to have her visit!

For some reason I can't get enough pictures of the girls with their goggles on! It just cracks me up to see them wearing them while they're walking around. What a fleeting period of time it seems that kids do this...it is only acceptable for so long and then the turning point where it suddenly becomes 'not cool' anymore. But until then, expect more Goggle Girl pictures! I love it!

Shane's Dad and Uncle Bob are infamous for their pranks pulled on each other. This year Uncle Bob towed Don's boat away from the dock and put it up for sale. Oh...I've been corrected...the kids put it up for sale :) He recruited help from 4 Bruce/Everitt kids this year.

I think Don took this really well.

One of the things I came to appreciate on my return trip to Twin was that nothing about Twin changed from last year! It seems like so much has happened in this last year, lots of change, crazy work schedules, and well, just life happening every day. We took a ride through the lily pads to Rainbow Beach to get an ice cream cone and I was surprised to see some of the landmarks last year that I found so beautiful are still exactly as they were.

Kennedy and Brady ventured out in the raft together with Belle as their trusting passenger. It reminded me of summers at Sandpoint learning to row a canoe. Derek and I would be brave and venture out beyond the docks, always staying near the shore for our safety net. I thought this was so great they wanted to row out by themselves, something they didn't do last summer. It was also hilarious to watch them each try to row individual paddles and not spin in circles!

Eventually, they figured out it was easier to have just one person row, and Kennedy got elected.

Isabella and I played Marco Polo:

And, she was really brave and "swam" in the lake:

Shane loungin:

I know you're wondering where the token bird picture is! Not to disappoint, here it is! Not sure if you can see, but there's a baby bird in this one. So cute, for part of the time this 'lil baby was riding on her mama's back:

Tyler and Heidi have a great tubing boat and the Brady and Kennedy couldn't seem to get enough of tubing. Sounds also pretty much like summers at Sandpoint!