Lake City...part dos

***Disclaimer:  This is really picture heavy, but most of my blog posts are.  I find such joy in photos and capturing moments of time in the life of my little family.

Last week, we were back in Lake City.  It takes about 9 hrs when we factor in stops for lunch, stretching, gas, bathroom breaks, and the grocery store.  We are super duper lucky that the boys are both pretty good travelers!  

This is the morning sky close to Vega.  Beautiful! Don't you love summer mornings?  

Sunday was Father's Day AND JT's birthday.  We always seem to time it just right so that we are in the mountains for his birthday.  L.U.C.K.Y.  I have a hard time putting into words how lucky blessed our boys are to have JT as their daddy.  He is sweet, but firm with them.  He is so, so, so protective of them.  I've always said that he is the "mother hen" in our little family.  He has high expectations for them.  He doesn't let them get away with crazy nonsense.  I read So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore last summer and part of it talks about how mamas who have girls better deal with their "stuff" before passing it down to the little girl who is watching and learning from them.  Being a daddy seems to be such a crazy balancing act too....and I think he's got it down pretty well.

We had a fun, relaxing day and part of it included ice cream for his b-day treat.  He loves cinnamon ice cream more than ANY cake that I could've made for him. 

We took the boys up to Deer Lakes for a little fishing action.  We hiked about 10 minutes up to the top lake and when we got there, a "smallish" bull moose was standing on the other side of the lake.  He gave us the stink eye for about 10 minutes before finally roaming back into the forest.  That's a little bit nerve racking...it's not like we could run back to our car. :)

 Last year, Grey JT caught a fish and Grey screamed and cried so loud that I'm certain he scared any moose within earshot!  He told us that the green fish bit his leg and that's why he cried. Ha! 
This time, the boys took turns catching fish.   JT would cast and they would reel it in.  Grey did so great...he caught maybe 3 fish and didn't cry once.  But, he DID NOT want to touch the fish.  

Parker was in charge of getting a fresh worm after each catch.  YUCK YUCK YUCK!!! 

I love this picture.  Just a sweet moment caught between brothers who aren't always so sweet to each other.

We played at the park of course, where JT tried to show off his strength and prowess on the bars.  Hahahaha!

We tried to teach Parker to play dominos and Grey was being silly doing what ever he normally does.  He happened to glance up and say, "Look!  That's where Jesus died."  If only I could see the world through the eyes of an innocent 3 yr. old!  His perspective is so precious sometimes.

The weather this trip was a bit warmer than our first time.  We took the boys swimming at the lake.  They started out with their clothes on...

Then, they took of their shirts to do some serious swimming. :)

And...eventually Grey took his shorts off too.  Because, that boy can find an excuse to take his clothes off in ANY, and I do many ANY, situation!  He was playing the drums with these two sticks.  He calls a stick a doggy fetch.  Does that get anybody else like it does me?  

During our "in between" days, our days at home, I have done mounds and mounds of laundry, we have busy-ed ourselves inside (since it's 836 degrees outside), and played with friends.  In other words, we've had no schedule at all, and that's the beauty of summertime!  I walked around the corner one day to find Grey laying in Parker's lap while P read a book to him.   Another sweet moment.  Gotta take them when you can get them!