Crest Lodge Resort 2008! It is our 11th year vacationing at this small family owned resort. Bob and Mary really make us feel like part of their family whenever we stay. It's what keeps us going back year after year. As a matter of fact, we already know the dates of next years vacation. We also have been vacationing with the same group from the Urbandale area for about 9 of the 11 years. Even though we live so close we love the opportunity to "catch up" each summer. This year Dana's brother Dale, his wife Deanna, her sister Debbie and our nephews, Kyle and Kody joined us for the week which made it even more fun. Dale is stationed in Fort Hood, TX and has done 2 tours in Iraq and was injured on his last deployment. We haven't seen him for two years and it was really great to spend time with them.
Most of the week was spent on our boats or in the water. The weather was extremely hot with the heat index in the 110's so we were all thankful for that water(even if it was 96 degrees). Here is a run down of the highlights for each of us.
Jordan spent his week working on his tan, spending time with Kyle and Kody, talking with Danielle, tubing, and mastering the wakeboard! Yes, you heard me correct!! On the last day of his vacation he conquered the board. Wait until you see the pictures. He is smiling in almost all of them. Having Uncle Dale give him the pointers really helped. (Even if they were some of the same things we were telling him.) Plus, Kyle and Kody were both already doing it and that was great incentive. He was not going to be outdone. Jordan's vacation was cut a day short by the Cross Country camp. He and I left Table Rock at about 1:00pm on Friday so he could get home to catch the 12:00am bus on Saturday. He spent all Friday morning wakeboarding, stayed awake on our drive home picking music for us to listen to, and texting his friends. The resort has basically no cell reception so he was trying to catch up with his posse! We were home long enough to do laundry, go buy more food for the trip, and update his Facebook page. I put him on the bus hoping he would sleep but knowing that he probably wouldn't. I haven't heard from him yet. I guess no news is good news.
Our Abbey celebrated her 13th birthday on vacation! Blows me away that she is a teenager already. We spent her special day anchored in a cove and enjoying the day with family. She received the Nintendo DS that she had been begging for since spring break and a few games for the system. She could not have been more happy. We topped off the day with fresh from the oven brownies with ice cream and chocolate dumped on top. Not a lot of fanfare but just what she wanted. She spent her week in her swim suit (like the rest of us) enjoying the water. She did a lot of tubing and after I left on Friday Uncle Dale talked her into attempting to ski. Dana put the stabilizer bar from our trainer skis onto our big skis and on the 3rd attempt Abbey skied for about 20 yards before she walked right out of the skis. She needs an in between pair. She was so proud that she had done it and I was very sad to have missed it. No pictures to document it. Abbey also loved the trip to the Go Karts and our very rain shortened day at Silver Dollar City. I guess getting to ride only two roller coasters was good enough. The sprint back to our vehicle in parking lot D wasn't.....right guys?
Carson was happy all week if it involved anything with the water. That kid just loves to swim and jump. As you have seen in previous photos that the little kids have these really cool life vests called puddlejumpers (which were the talk of the resort) and Carson's has a shark on the front of his. We had lovingly started calling him "shark bait" when we bought it for him. Somehow, that morphed into "shark bait..ooh,ah,ah" (like on Nemo) during our vacation. He would even yell it just before he would jump into the lake. Carson and Kody teased each other back and forth about that all week. He hasn't been on the tube since I dumped him in Clear Lake in June, but Kyle and Kody talked him into it after Jordan and I headed for home. No photos of that either. Carson had a great time Go Karting and riding the few rides he got to at Silver Dollar City before it poured.
Emma was all about swimming or riding in the boat. No tubing for her yet but Abbey did talk her into jumping off the dock with her while holding hands. A major step for her. We were all in that water cheering and she smiled so big. She also entertained much of the resort (remember it's small) with her singing while on the deck of our cabin. I secretly tried to take some film of her show while sitting on the sofa. You will see in the montage what looks like a bad shot but if you listen and watch carefully you will hear her and occasionally see some dance moves as she passes in front of the deck doors.
Dana enjoyed a week of no Blackberry, tubing and skiing, but mostly it was spending time with his brother that made this vacation so special. He got an occasional nap when he could. I think his least favorite thing about the week was hauling a full large cooler up and down the hill from the cabin to the boat and back. And probably when one of the boat trailer tires blew on the way home and neither Jordan or I were with. Thank goodness for Kyle and Kody who were traveling with them. He did have some strapping lads (hee hee) to help out. And thank goodness for his sharp as a tack wife...without her mind like a steal trap...he might never have remembered that he put the spare tire key on the boat key ring! Anytime, honey. :)
I just enjoyed being with my family. Not worrying about laundry, cleaning, and schedules! I got two books read, floated most of the week away on the lake, took lots of pictures of the kids doing their stuff, and drank my fair share of the Miller Lite that traveled with us! (With lots of help from the 4 other adults with me!) I had about 16 hours completely alone in our home after I dropped Jordan at the bus for camp and before Dana got home with the kids. It was the longest I had ever been alone here and it was quite strange. I didn't sleep well or even sleep in. Which was ok because Dana lovingly sent home most of the dirty laundry with me so I could get a head start. I know, I am one lucky girl! :)
Dana wasn't home with the crew but 10 minutes and Emma had stripped down and put on one of her princess dresses, Carson had started the Wii, and Abbey was stashed safely away in her room catching up on the latest Jonas Brothers music and any Miley Cyrus news. 10 minutes after that was the sound of Carson and Emma arguing and Dana asking me "Do you know where the......went?". Welcome home!
This week will mark the end of the summer as we start school on Monday. Lots of things to do. More on that with our next post. For now...vacation memories!
