B's First Trip Up North

We packed up the Jeep (most of the items belonging to the youngest member in our family) and headed north for some good quality family time and cool weather...Owen can now check Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota & Wisconsin off his list of places he has visited...he wasn't real impressed by Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri or Iowa but he and Ella were troopers as we made the long drive.

Before heading up to the cabin, Owen got to meet several special people who have been patiently waiting for his first trip up north...

My dad's parents, Great Mimi & Great Grandpa Ben

My mom's parents, Great Grandma Marion & Great Grandpa Bob (Owen enjoyed his first big bear hug!)

My dear friend, Mackenzie

His "Aunt" Marissa & "Cousin" Mia (Mia is almost a month older than Owen)

Then we headed up to the cabin...it was so special to bring Owen to one of my favorite places in the whole world. My family has been going up to the cabin since my youngest brother, Jamey, was a baby. We have spent countless hours enjoying the lake, campfires and family meals around the table.

Many laughs have been and continue to be had around this table, let me paint a picture...there are usually anywhere between 1-3 dogs laying under the table as we eat, towels wrapped around wet swimsuits, half opened cans of soda (somewhat of a novelty), and everyone sitting in their own designated place around the table...

B enjoyed being invited to the table, even though it meant he was sitting in his stroller.

This is my attempt to take a "self take" with B...Jamey decided to jump in at the last minute...I love both B & Jamey's faces in this photo...B looks so curious almost like he can see Jamey's face behind him

B loves his baths and the water, but did NOT like his life jacket...we had to go tubing (the boat went at less than a mile or two an hour) and capture of photo for his baby book, he really did enjoy the tube...just not the life jacket!

My mom found this baby play pool for B to play in while everyone else played in the water and got towed behind the boat...Jamey's dog, Gatsby, was quite curious about the pool

This photo is a little shout out to the great state of Texas...well really more to Baylor...Owen is enjoying his "Big Kid" shirt (it doesn't have buttons between the legs), courtesy of his Uncle Jamey

B received another "Big Kid" shirt from his future Aunt Amanda and Uncle Jeff. (who hope he may be an Eagle someday)..He enjoyed a quick visit from Aunt Amanda and is really excited for his next big trip out to California to see Amanda & Jeff get married in less than two weeks!

While at the cabin, Owen slept in a crib that I used to sleep in as a baby. This is Owen catching some zzzz's after a big afternoon of playing outside...I love the baby size rash gaurd & board shorts (with his belly hanging out). This is a classic Owen pose, we call it the "touch down" position...it is how he sleeps the majority of the time.

Enjoying the swing as Ella fetched balls that Chad threw into the Lake...when we are at the cabin, Ella is swimming after tennis balls almost 100% of the time...she loves it!

Enjoying the hammock before a camp fire...

Just chillin' in the Bumbo chair, watching everyone play in the water...don't let the photo fool you...he did NOT like the sunglasses...

All packed up and ready to head home...it was a fantastic trip, we are so grateful for our time up north...we can't wait until next year to enjoy some more meals around the table, pulls behind the boat, tennis balls in the lake, cool weather, Owen enjoying the water more, time with precious family and friends (one of the hard realities of living so far away).