Pontoon Poker Run

 In all the years we've lived on this lake, we've never participated in the yearly pontoon poker run.  Well, at least, not in the "on the lake" part.  I'd went to the base (resort) and purchased a poker hand in the past, but that was it.

My bestie (Shana) had invited us to go with her, her husband, and their friends that they camp with.  Eric stayed back with Ramsey and Jango.  They picked me up at our dock and off we went!

There were a number of dock stops to make on the lake.  Each one, the hosts doled out specialty keg beer or shots.  I declined the beers, but admittedly, I had a few shots.   One of the dock stops had a picture frame for the current year.  Everyone who had a boat got their mug shots taken and posted on Facebook.

After docking and playing our poker hands (I struck out, but Shana got a flush!), we enjoyed the DJ, socializing at the resort, and having a few toddies.

Super fun afternoon with great company!  I needed a NAP afterwards, but I'm old so...

Not a "One Book" Kind of Kid

 During the summer, in order to earn Kindle/screen time, Ramsey would read books, do writing or math in his 2nd and 3rd grade workbooks, complete STEM activities, etc.

Today, he decided to read... a lot.  And work in his Star Wars workbook.   Apparently one book at a time just isn't sufficient!   Two books and a workbook.  Whatever works!

Little Eagles Soccer Camp

 The yearly Little Eagles Developing Champions soccer camp was a success once again.  

Ramsey had so much fun!  They played "Sharks & Minnows", worked on ball handling, plus practicing and completing drills for all facets.

The three-day event was an hour long practice each day.  While Ramsey participated, I chatted with friends/acquaintances that I hadn't seen since last soccer camp... or longer!   

Ramsey is in the second row, just left of middle, one of two little boys with glasses.  (My friend Teri's little boy is the guy next to him.... also with glasses.)

Fabulous at 50!

 Eric turned the BIG 5-0 this year!  Fifty never looked so good!

The day was rather low-key.  Eric did his usual "day stuff", I worked, Connor worked, and Ramsey had soccer camp that evening.  

In the evening, Connor had left after work to "help a friend in need" who had to move (a few hours away).   We will have a yummy supper and spoil Eric more this weekend.

A Fruitful Day of Fishing

 Now that Eric is semi-retired, he can do just about anything he wants, just about whenever he wants!  So, when one of his buddies calls him up on a Sunday to go fishing on a Monday, there are no reservations!

After a jaunt to one of the week's "hot spots" a few lakes away, Eric came home with his limit.  They had actually caught their limit quickly.  

Eric wouldn't pose for a picture, but Ramsey was more than happy to! 

Check out the shirt.  hehe!!

First Time @ the New Library

 So... we've had a new library in town for a few years.   Previously, Ramsey had been there on a field trip with his Pre-K class.   Admittedly, I'd never been.   But, with Ramsey's love of reading (and books getting incredibly expensive!!!!), it was time to go in and get him (and me too) a library card!

I was amazed when I walked in - what a fun place!  - Tons of books (of course), games (inside and outside), drop-in rooms, and everything is electronic (you can check your own books out).  

After playing on the "bubble wall", we learned more about the library and then found all kinds of amazing "graphic novels" for Ramsey.  Since getting a set of Dog Man books for Christmas, he's been obsessed with this particular author.  So... we got more Dog Man books, "Cat Kid" by the same author (Dav Pilkey), "Captain Underpants" (again, same author as Dog Man), and also some Star Wars Jedi Acadmy books.

Above: Happily posing with new library card and one of the new treasures he found.

When we got home, he couldn't wait to read his books.  So, he found a nice spot on the steps (?!?!) and started his reading adventure for the evening.

We go back weekly for more books to read!  What an awesome place!

A Boy and His Dog

 Beautiful evening on the lake.... 

Ramsey learned to play Cornhole.  He's extremely competitive, so he wasn't pleased if he had a complete flub.

This summer (at The Girls' bonfire), he finally tried roasted marshmallows.  He loves them!  He still won't eat the marshmallow with the chocolate and graham cracker for the s'more though. 

I love this picture; "A Boy and His Dog".  :-)

A Last Hurrah

 As noted in a prior post, Connor's Mom, stepdad (Kevin), and brother Bridger are moving in August.  (Connor's Mom and Bridger had been in the new town for about a year already, awaiting Kevin's job transfer.) We hadn't seen Bridger much this last year since he was gone.  But, when we do, Ramsey treasures the time and covets another trip.

Bridger stayed with us for three days.   Connor had to work during the day, but Ramsey and Bridger had a ton of fun.

This was the sweetest picture.   :-)

Since the big move is August, this will probably be the boys' last hurrah this year.  :-(

Cabin Family Vacay

This year, we were one family member short for our yearly family vacation at Nana and Bumpa's cabin; Connor had two summer jobs and was unable to take even one day off.  We missed him!!!

We stayed for about a week and enjoyed time with Nana, Bumpa, Uncle Troy and Auntie Sarah, Uncle Cory, Sadie and Isaac, and the puppies (Max, Bailey - hiding during every photo opp, and Riley).

So first... the puppy pics!

It took a little while for Jango to get acclimated with the other pups again, but once he did, they played quite a bit.  And... when they got tuckered out, they laid like broccoli.

Now... onto pics of time spent with Nana and Bumpa!

Chillin' out on the back patio, playing with Kinetic Sand.

And inside, sitting on Bumpa's lap, playing Star Wars and chatting about heroes.

Bumpa has a nice raised garden out back with lots of delicious raspberries and strawberries.  The strawberries weren't ready to pick, but there were a ton of ripe raspberries.

And... lots of swimming of course!

Jango retrieved his duck while we swam.  And, if Ramsey got too far out, Jango would try to "rescue" Ramsey.   This is actually how Jango jumped off the dock for the first time; he thought Ramsey needed help and jumped right in!   We continued to throw the duck for him while he plopped off the dock to retrieve it.  Sidenote: He did this for ONE DAY.  The next day, he had decided he didn't want to jump off any longer (most likely because he hadn't quite gotten the hang of it and sunk right away before coming back to the surface).

I blew up the water trampoline (OMG that took forever!) and Daddy sandbagged it and put it in the water.

Ramsey and Eric played a game of "Swamp Monster" too.  Incidentally, Ramsey wasn't as thrilled when lake weeds were placed on his noggin!

While Isaac and Sadie were still at the cabin, we had to go tubing!  This was Ramsey's FIRST TIME tubing.   I was grateful that his nice cousins were there to help Ramsey be brave.  :-)

We promised Ramsey we'd go really slow. 

We trolled for a little while.  Bumpa gradually bumped the speed up.

When Ramsey would do "thumbs down" as to ask to decrease the speed, we'd all just wave at him and smile. hehe  

After a nice long ride, Ramsey seemed to be about "tubed out", so we reeled him in and let Isaac and Sadie go for a speedier ride.

They did everything in their power to try to get dumped.  The Big Mable isn't a "dumping" kind of tube though!

And now for some fishing pics....

A cold front had come through over the weekend.  It finally started to warm up more on Wednesday.  Eric, Bernie and I went out and caught some nice keeper fish.

In the evenings, Eric and I went out to try to slay during a night bite.  The views were gorgeous!

Evening 1 was beautiful and proved to be productive, given the weather was just starting to turn around.

The next evening, storms were rolling in around us.  The picture doesn't show it (at all - weird), but there were two rainbows behind me.  Stunning!

Admittedly, as the sky was dark, I was a bit uneasy, but Eric assured me we wouldn't get strike by lightning and die (ha!), so we stayed out.  And, we hauled in with a nice catch.

Our time at the cabin always seems to fly by so swiftly.  It's wonderful to be able to see family and spend our much-needed time away with loved ones.