U/C Trip Day 3 - Sweet independence

Moon Lake has always had a special place in our Blanchard hearts. It's our Disneyland. It's our European vacation and our all-inclusive beach resort experience. It's the place we escaped Payson and where we built our childhood vacation memories. Even the ones when "we" were a 14 year old girl on the prowl for an unsuspecting boy to die a million deaths over. Is there any thing more delightfully excruciating? Absolutley, no.

I am completely happy that we are back here again. We are giving this legacy to our kids and helping them to immerse themselves in the joys of doting on a wiggly-worm of a wiener dog.  

Teenagers asserting their independence by embarking on their own kayaking adventures free of all parentals. (Well, Terrah is actually 22...but still...). They left unbeknownst to us and found their own fun and took their own pictures. Pretty flippin sweet!

I decided not to worry. And, yes, it takes a conscious decision not to freak out and picture their bodies at the bottom of the lake. And it takes another decision to zip m' lip and not lecture even a little bit. I would perhaps say that this part of parenting is the hardest of all...but I'm still pretty thrilled to be sleeping through the night, so....

Instead we just joined them on the beach when we were good and ready. Luckily we still had some offspring left to help pump up the paddle boards. Shawew!

The littlest pups spearheaded the construction of our beach-to-lake river. It's just so satisfying to haul buckets of water from the lake, only to dump it in a hole that funnels it right back to the place you just got it from. You know it is. 

Gump provided endless hours of fetching fun. He's got a one-track mind, that pup.

Terrah finally had an opportunity to blow up this beauty! Ivry and Everly were happy to put it through the paces.

Missa and Cheyanne watched their babies and I basked in their cuteness without having an ounce of responsibility! Pure heaven. I'm beginning to think being a grandma is going be pretty fabulous. 

We brought mom down and set her up in a shady spot. Her summer has been full of concerning medical issues and it's got us all worried and fussing over her....which she doesn't enjoy...but we love her! We fuss because we love. 

Megan took Uchtie for his beachfront walk...he was happy as a clam until his little tummy got bit by sandflies. They seem to save their worst for doggie bellies and the tender spot behind kids' earlobes. They are pure evil. 

Laney is getting pretty good at the paddle board! She'll be leaving on her own parentless adventures in the coming years!

The triplets took over the river design and development and things got pretty fancy. 

I was inspired to take an artistic photo of Gump through one of their arches. It's a high compliment!

Anna caught a baby fish! I mean, is there anything you can't do at Moon Lake?? Hands-on wildlife experiences can happen at any moment.

When everyone was tired, we loaded it all up in Jay's trailer and we engaged in the time-honored tradition of not giving a dang about rules or "safety"...because this most certainly will end up being the thing the kids remember as the funnest moment of their vacation! Few things beat riding on the back of a tailgate. 

Except maybe riding on the front of the trailer...with the added danger of being run over by it if you happen to fall off...it probably wouldn't actually "kill" you. After all...Jordan is a doctor!

Back at the cabins we admired the darling handpainted light switches....

And Mathew generously shared his virtual reality gear with the kids. He's always so willing to let them play and it's simultaneously maddening and endearing. Oh well...I suppose their memories of Moon Lake don't need to be identical to mine.  I'll get them later when I guilt them into helping me with a puzzle.

Oooh! And homemade ice cream!! Jordan brought up two ice cream makers for his dessert night. It was perfectly delicious and finicky...just like every other batch of homemade ice cream I've ever had. It's all about speed. Once it hits the cone, you need to get in there and get down to business before it drips down to your elbow. 

Not only did he bring the treats...he provided entertainment!

We moseyed on down to the lodge to say hello to the hummingbirds. This year they have little handheld feeders! It is magical. 

I love this place.  It really hasn't changed a bit. It looks exactly like this in my childhood memories.

One might think that we'd done all that could be done in a day...and to that I say...HA!

What about Zach's fully accredited Whittling School for Female Cousins? 

It's IN SESSION!

And we haven't even begun to dig all the holes that need digging. This one was dug expressly for the purpose of "tripping Uncle Jay". Shocking! Be careful, girlies...you might get a lifetime ban from "The Gettin Place".

But finally...the hours ran out and we retired to our cozy cabin. 

Now, turn that adorable light switch off!