Fun at the Lake

This past Saturday, I was invited by Jackie’s Aunt Nina and Uncle Mickey to join the family for some fun at the lake. Nina and Mickey have a lake house on Wheeler Lake in Rogersville and it’s been four years since I last was able to go out for a visit. I was thrilled when Nina emailed me and asked me to come out on Saturday. In addition to Nina and Mickey, Jackie, Troy and Ashlyn and Jackie’s mom and stepdad (Jan and Tim) along with Jackie’s cousin Scott were also there.

Jackie and the kids came by and picked me up around 11:30 or so and we headed out to Rogersville. We arrived at the lake house around 1:00 or so, after stopping to pick up a quick bit from Wendy’s on the way, which was completely unnecessary because Aunt Nina had prepared all sorts of goodies to munch on.

Troy headed to the water immediately but was back inside the house soon after because he had been stung on the cheek by a wasp. After a few minutes of crying and a Benadryl and Fudgesicle later, all was well and he headed back to the water once again along with all the rest of us.

A Fudgesicle makes it all better!

Uncle Mickey pulled Troy and Ashlyn on the water raft to start off the day of fun. Then the two of them started swinging on the rope and into the water, only Ashlyn would just hold on to it and drop right it. It was kind of pointless for her to even use the rope, but it gave us all a good laugh.

Riding the Water Raft...

...pulled by Uncle Mickey

An hour or so after we arrived, Tim and Jan showed up to join in on the fun. Tim got in the water right away and Jackie then took the kids and then me out on the Jet Ski. I, of course, screamed about three times while getting on because I’m always afraid my big ole booty is going to make that thing tip over.

Jackie and Troy

Jackie and Ashlyn

After riding on the Jet Ski, I got in the water for an hour or so with the kids. I held on to a floating noodle and kept old tennis shoes on my feet because this city girl does not like the feel of the bottom of the lake on her feet. Ashlyn and I both wanted a snack and so we headed up to the house to chow down on some seven layer dip and salsa and, of course, brownies. Soon everyone else joined us and after we were all sufficiently stuffed, we headed back outside.

Round two in the water didn’t last long. I didn’t get back in and the kids only stayed in for an hour or so. I headed back up to the house to shower and change and not long after we all sat down to dinner. We had BBQ, salad, green beans, peas, a casserole that Uncle Mickey had made, rolls, slaw, mashed potatoes, fruit, the list goes on and on. Basically, I ate so much I ended up with a pain in my side. It’s been a long time since I put away that much food. It was well worth it though because Aunt Nina is a great cook.

After dinner, Aunt Nina, Uncle Mickey, Jan, Jackie, Troy and I headed out in the boat to see if we could find the lake house of some other folks that we know. We think we found it but no one was milling about to be sure. I really enjoyed the boat ride, I think it was one of my favorite parts of the day.

We had a really great Saturday at the lake. On the way home Ashlyn said that “sometimes it feels like Matasha is part of our family,” it was the best compliment. I told her I was an honorary member of their family and when I have kids one day they can call her Aunt Ashlyn. It was a great Saturday of fun with my other family; I hope we can do it again next year!

Ashlyn swinging off the rope

Troy - he got to be really good at it.

Ashlyn ready to jump off

Scott took this photo. I clearly had no idea.

Apparently me looking confused in photos is a recurring theme.

Me, Jackie and Aunt Nina

Me and Ashlyn

Me, Jackie and Scott

Tim, Troy, Ashlyn and Me

I am chilling in the back of the boat as we are about to head out,

clearly Aunt Nina did not want to have her photo taken.