Summer Vacation- Raquette Lake

Now that August is almost over, I guess I should finish a post from our July vacation!!

We spent the last week of July with Gram and BB at Raquette Lake, and were so fortunate to have wonderful weather for most of the week.

We started out with some book reading with BB- Kaitlyn's favorite, Old McDonald had a Farm.
Although I never got a full action picture, the kids made the canoe and kayak into a variety of items many mornings (I'm sure our neighbors enjoyed their activities at 9am!)- a garbage boat, the WW Durant, a delivery boat and more. Of course they had to check the engines, ropes and bring lots of items from the porch as well as mother nature (including a really big log!) on their adventures.
Wait? They were sitting quietly?! really.... this did happen.
Hanging out with Gram.
Paul and daddy spent some serious time completing a puzzle- and it was saved for the entire week.
This was a HUGE highlight of the trip- little Paul got to help Uncle Steve put in his catamaran.... this involved riding in the Mule, attaching it via rope to the catamaran, pushing it into the lake, riding in the skiff to get the catamaran, towing it to the buoy.... wow.... he was speechless for most of the activity!
Coming to get the catamaran......
Daddy helped a little too....
Off we go!
There was also a golfing adventure to the chip and putt. The three boys started off...
This little guy has quite a swing (if he gets the ball)- but we need to work on yelling "fore" when your ball is headed towards a family member....
The annual picture in front of the kids' trees- both Paul and Kaitlyn as well as their trees are getting so tall!
More golfing....
Watching Gram, Daddy and Mommy take a few swings...
My turn! Kaitlyn tried hard to figure it out.... and might have made a divot or two in the grass (shhh.... don't tell BB!)
Headed back home- both kids loved riding in the Gator- and BB drives nice and fast :)
Enjoying a lunch at the leantoo- Daddy and BB came directly from a big project in the woods digging and installing a 20' culvert pipe to help a stream travel under one of the trails (especially when it rains).... lots of rocks and dirt to be moved!
Check out this hard working guy- he definitely earned his lunch!
Ready for the lake... or a puddle....
Aren't I cute? Frog boots are definitely the right accessory for a polka dot bathing suit.
We also celebrated my 33rd birthday a few weeks early. There was lots of interest in helping me to blow out the candles.
One of the funniest events was when we gave the kids new moose pajamas which we bought while out on a "dinner date"- during which we dodged rain storms to make out rip without getting drenched! The pajamas say "I moose have a hug" and the kids LOVED them.
Paul and daddy also got to test out the 'new' four wheeler- they both really enjoyed it.
The grand opening of the new 'bridge' - thanks to BB and daddy's had work. We had to stage the picture with all of the "toys"- Gator, loader and 4 wheeler
Gram decorated with the flags as well. Kaitlyn and I were in the Gator.
Daddy and Paul showing the stream which will be 'detoured' through the new culvert pipe.
Ready to take off on my own!
Okay, now we can really take off!
Who let her drive?
We enjoyed a wonderful boat cruise one evening for "happy hour"
You might see this one on the Christmas card:
The little daredevil loved sitting by herself....
And then the silly face...
The whole crew in front of the newly built (and stained, thanks to daddy and BB) leantoo.

Summer Vacation- Lake Sunapee

We spent the second week of our vacation with the Redferns in New Hampshire. It was fun to spend time with Nana and PopPop, as well as getting to visit with Grandma T (or "TEEEEE" as Kaitlyn would yell). We even overlapped for a few days with Uncle Ryan and Lauren early in the week and then Uncle Chris and Aunt Megan (and their Baby Redfern who is due in February!! we can't wait to be an aunt and uncle ourselves :).

Kaitlyn's favorite part of our NH vacation may have been testing out all of Nana's flip flops... here she is trying to make a getaway with some up the stairs.Paul III also spent a lot of time digging in the backyard- he was digging some type of a trench or drain, and it was quite amazing how quickly he could work. PopPop was a great on-site supervisor for this project, and tried to encourage him to dig one on the other side of the stone deck which would help it drain..... somehow that project got tabled to next summer!
Of course Kaitlyn had to help too (at least not in her flip flops!)
We also spent ALOT of time at the beach and in the lake. The water was wonderfully warm (for a New England lake) and the beach wasn't too crowded. The kids became really comfortable in the water this summer. Kaitlyn had a blast 'swimming' with a noodle and would cruise around on her own. Paul liked going out 'deep' with daddy and Uncle Chris with the help of swimmies and a few times just the noodles!
Paul and Uncle Chris exploring 'out really deep'Of course, there was a lot of construction... Paul was into the pipes this year and his uncles (and father) tried repeatedly to make a really neat self-contained water system. Be sure to check Kaitlyn out in the background :)

Monkey see monkey do....

We also got to be with Pop Pop to celebrate his birthday!
The Elmo hats were for the 'kids'- young and old :)
There was also a lot of fun in the driveway- including some stroller rides....

And then back to the beach... Kaitlyn and Aunt Megan had such a fun time swimming!

And of course more building... what you may not be able to see is that Chris is actually sitting in a hole they dug....
This was a silly book reading adventure.... which Kaitlyn wanted to join wearing her silly (and large!) moose pajamas.