Laked, baked, bitten and loved

We're back home, and I can say with complete certainty that we enjoyed the heck out of our vacation. We swam; we ate; we played board games and lawn games; we visited with family and laughed a lot; we fished; we boated; and we explored the woods. Everyone got too much sun (even with many sunscreen applications) and too many mosquito bites. The boys learned how to bait a hook, remove a fish from a hook, and pick up a mayfly/fish fly by its wings. I finished four books, Reece read probably six of his level, and Greyson may have read as many as 15 while we were away - I'm sure even he lost count. We even managed to stop at an outlet mall on our way home to get pants for Greyson and tennis shoes for both boys (everything else they need I can purchase without their bodies present).

I can also say that although I am relatively tired today, I also feel very rested and relaxed. The combination of having kids who can do nearly everything for themselves and lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins around who volunteer to spend time with my kids gave me plenty of time to read and swim and nap. I would especially like to thank my uncles who patiently taught my kids how to fish (and Greyson to cast), took them fishing numerous times, built bonfires so they could roast obscenely large marshmallows (which, by the way, we don't recommend - the middle never gets mushy before the outside is burnt to a crisp), and answered their neverending questions about all things related to the lake and the grandpa they never knew.

But enough of my blathering - what you really want is to see the pictures, I'm sure:

 Reece getting great-uncle help with fishing off the deck. This was my view from the swing where I read.

 Caught something off the dock - a perch big enough for bait! Reece shows he is not squeamish.

Quality time with a great-aunt. 

Greyson demonstrates his mad kayak skillz. 

 Reece adds up his Yahtzee score while his cousin (really, my cousin's daughter) waits patiently. The specific relationships of people who were at the lake continued to confuse the boys throughout the visit.

Proof that I was there, and also that I know my way around a fishing pole and bait. 

I cannot figure out why some of pictures end up sideways here when they look fine on the computer, and I'm too tired to try to fix it so you'll just have to turn your head sideways.