They got into swim trunks and raced down to the water first thing, they were all so brave trying to swim and splashing around like crazy. 

We made smores and the boys built a fort, then we sat around the fire telling stories.  Steve brought sparklers.

 Took the canoes out to one of the islands, Steve and Elvis were jumping off.  Eti and our Nephew Ethan spent the time throwing stones into the water on the other side. Coco kept coming up and taking my hand and saying "Explore with me Mommy!"

Elvis kept yelling things like "This is my island"  "I am a conquistador"

 Aunt Linda and Uncle Tom were there the first day and she let us borrow a  book called The Klutz book of paper airplanes.  Steve has read a bunch of these types of books and this one was the best.  The author times the flight (air time) of every airplane in the book cough*nerd*cough.  So that kept the kids busy while we fixed dinner. 

Elvis brought his little playstation and could only use it until the charge ran out ( 2 hours) so here he is squeezing in precious minutes with it.  Coco is trying to figure the thing out, her expression cracks me up!

We all call her Aunt Mary because even though we are not related to her, it feels like there is that bond.

Last year when we were there she was up at her porch and saw a large rainbow.  She grabbed her camera and raced down to the shoreline in her sweatshirt and jeans and ran right into the water.  You know the kind of run where water is spraying up on all sides?  That was her, knee deep to get the shot.  I LOVE THAT! 

My sleepy husband also taken by Dad.

This was a full day we went to a large riverbed and spent the afternoon exploring.  Steve's Mom gave us a scavenger hunt, Steve and I as leaders and the kids split in half, we went in search of spiders and worms special strawberry blossoms and so on.

When we got back to camp "Uncle" John and "Aunt" Mary showed up with Jet skis and gave us each turns on it.  I thought Elvis was going to crack he was so excited.  Uncle John is so kind and generous, he came up to Elvis first and said softly "Do you think you would like a ride on the Jet Ski?"  He might as well have been asking him if he would like to play pro basketball!

Later when it was my turn I did not know if I should close my eyes or if I should watch the water passing by or the mountains and blurry shoreline, or the clouds. We went fast enough to bounce on the water and get sprayed.  The jet ski leaned with the curves, I smiled like and idiot the entire ride!

When the kids took naps Steve and I went exploring in the canoe alone together.

*Photo Dad took of me. Do you see Eti with his oreo on the edge?  I am wearing a hat made for me by my very talented and kindhearted friend Laura.

The chair I read and journaled and drank Dad's wonderful coffee in.

The lake, reflection of trees and sky above, the grass growing on the lake bed,  and the motion of us passing by.

One of the shorelines Steve and I explored

*Shot by Dad

After dinner we went to John and Mary's for a ride on what Elvis calls the "Party boat" John taught Elvis about the GPS system on the boat and let him drive for a long while.

Elvis acting like he owns it.

In the evening Dad did a study with the kids on the story of Joseph and we learned a verse together.  We all sang around the campfire, and then Dad Steve and Mom started to sing songs we all know like "This little light of mine" but in French and Zarma and Housa, I did not want it to end.

Clouds reflected in the water.

"Tonight Steve and I are sleeping in the tent, there are frogs at the waters edge they sound like they are 50 pounds. The loons are out.  The creek that runs into the lake is so loud from the tent.  An animal walked just past the wall of my tent, a skunk maybe.  And the coyotes, they are off in the distance, a whole pack of them"

Steve and I woke up before the sun, about 4:30 and took the canoe out.  We went to one of the islands and watched the sun rise.

A huge heron flew in front of us, in the path of the sun so it was only a silhouette.

Later that day the kids found a pet frog, when it died (from too much handling) they had a funeral service and took turns standing around the site where they buried it saying nice things about the frog.   Elvis was in charge of the service, it was his well loved frog and he was so dissapointed to not be taking it back in his backpack to the Bronx.