July 31st, 2016

 Happy Birthday Harry Potter!! ⚡️❤️

I am BEYOND excited to start reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I am super grateful for yet another installment in this wonderful series, a series we all thought had ended once and for all. Although I don't exactly have the cash to fly to England and see the play, I am just as thrilled to have the book to read instead. I feel like an excited little kid again. What a magical day it is indeed! ☺️ 

PS, I know it's Harry's birthday but Slytherin Pride all the way. Sorry not sorry. 💁🏼🐍

July 30th, 2016

White Lake Vacation: Day 8

So long White Lake; it's been a pleasure. Until next year. 😘

July 29th, 2016

White Lake Vacation: Day 7

"Friday Night Fish Fry"; "Our Last Night"; "The Final Family Dinner" 

 

Excuse me while I get sappy for a minute...

Some of us have been coming up to this place for as many as 49 years, while some of us were here for the first time this year. But, no matter the length, everyone is treated just like family. Because, that's what we are! I love my week together with all of these wonderful people (and with many, many more not pictured). I love all the memories we had made over the years together, and I love knowing there are many more to come in the years ahead. White Lake will always be one of my "home away from homes"...and it's all thanks to these people here. ☺️💕  

ANYWAYS... After dinner we enjoyed some fun in the garage arcade playing games together. I kicked Mike's butt in some old-school shooting game. ;)

Later, we made sure to sign the famous "signature wall" in said garage. Here's our first signatures together from last year, as well as the ones from this year. We actually remembered to bring a sharpie this year. ;)

Mike The Man made his mark! ;)

 

    Everyone had fun signing their names, writing silly messages, and just goofing off together.

PS, shoutout to our lamp in the Rancho cabin. We aren't sure what was supposed to be cooking over the cowboy's fire...but we may or may not have turned it into BB8. ;) #WhiteLakeBB8

July 28th, 2016

White Lake Vacation: Day 6

It was a bit cloudy and on the chillier side today, so that meant no swimming or beach time. Instead of just sitting around indoors, some of us decided to drive an hour away to the Canyon Creek Riding Stables to go horseback riding!

I got to ride on Dixie, who was the biggest horse on the ranch! She was very gentle and listened excellently to all my instructions. :)

Here's Mike and his horse, Cherokee. :)

Horseback riding turned out to be an excellent idea and was a great time for everyone! We trekked through a lovely trail through the forest and saw lots of wildlife! There were tons of adorable deer with their fawns, plus even a cute little fox family! After we'd finished riding, we decided to go around the back of the stables to the petting zoo. You could buy cones to feed all of the cute barnyard animals for just $1, which we all did.

On the way home we stopped at a beef jerky outlet and bought some of the tastiest jerky I'd ever had.

Just as we arrived back at the lake, we noticed something strange out on the water. Tommy, who hadn't come horseback riding, had apparently taken a rowboat out to fish when he noticed the resort's inflatable trampoline out in the middle of the lake. That champ tied the rafted to his boat and rowed it in to shore! We all ran out to the beach and cheered as he rowed in the last remaining distance. Tommy was then officially dubbed "Hero of the Lake". :)

After some dinner, we all excitedly went to get ready because tonight was karaoke night! We all had an absolute blast singing along to some favorites. Several of us from our group even got up and gave our own solo performances!   

July 27th, 2016

White Lake Vacation: Day 5

About ten minutes from the lake and cabins is this teenie tiny town called Montello. It's where we head to for gas or any other necessities you might be lucky enough to find at the Kwik Trip. The town is absolutely adorable. They have an old-fashioned theatre that literally only plays one movie a night (the movie changes every two weeks).



We usually always try to make it into town at least once to see a movie. Everyone was feeling pretty worn down from being out in the sun and on the water all day yesterday, so mostly everyone was taking afternoon naps when Mike and I went around to see if anyone wanted to join us in town. After we'd made our rounds, we didn't have any company. So! The two of us decided to head over ourselves to catch a movie. Although we had never seen the first film, we thoroughly enjoyed Independence Day: Resurgence.

We came back for another relaxing night by the lake with friends. Some of the boys went fishing for awhile.

Later, Rory (who is 6'3", keep in mind) bet all of us that he could climb on top of the fridge and fit in the tiny space above it. We all insisted it was impossible. He proved us all wrong, lol.   

July 26th, 2016

White Lake Vacation: Day 4

Today we rented one of the resort's pontoon boats for the afternoon. In addition, James's uncle Eric also has his own pontoon. We loaded both boats up with drinks and snacks and supplies for sandwiches...all the lunch necessities. :) Then everyone hopped in and we went out to the sandbar.

We anchored both boats and basically just hung out for the rest of the day! We played music, ate food, got some sun, and swam in the water. Some of the boys brought a frisbee so we started a game of catch. Eventually some of the boys started throwing the frisbee in a way so someone could leap off the boat and catch it in midair. It was pretty funny.

Overall, it was such a great time. Everyone came and was "trapped" together until the boats headed back in to shore, so lots of quality time was spent together with everyone from all of our cabins.

Later on in the evening we all just enjoyed another nice summer night hanging out, playing games, and being together! Gosh do I love being up here with all of these amazing people!!

July 25th, 2016

White Lake Vacation: Day 3

Today everyone spent the majority of the day out on the beach enjoying the sun. It was a beautiful, hot day and the water was nice and refreshing.

I got to enjoy some warm summer rays with my sweetheart. 😊☀️

For lunch Harlee made me the world's tastiest wrap. Seriously. It was to die for. 😍😋

Today was also National Merry-Go-Round Day (and riding carousels is literally like one of my favorite things ever), but unfortunately my current location prevented me from celebrating properly. So! I had to improvise. So here's me riding my makeshift "carousel" horse. 😆🎠