10 days in Tennessee!

We all look forward to our annual trip to Tennessee so very much.  It is one of the best family vacations. This year was our first year staying together in the new lake house and it was amazing.  Our entire trip was spent at this house, and there was never a need to go anywhere else.

This was our first lake trip since Eden's trach has been out too and it was everything she hoped it would be!  Finally, Eden could get in the water and swim around like the rest of the kids. She was having trouble with her ears so she had to wear a band to help keep them dry, but she was such a happy little girl that she wasn't restricted by a trach.  It felt so good to see her play and enjoy the water.  The private swimming lessons we did with Eden and Bentley earlier in the summer were worth every penny because they were both enjoying jumping in, going under, and getting crazy with their cousins. It was the best.

Eden LOVED the jet ski rides. She also got to drive it and she thought that was awesome. Any time a jet ski was available, she was trying to convince Brad or I to go out with her.

Bentley liked the jet ski rides too, but he really loved going out on the boat. He would tag along for any rides that he could.  He also loved playing "king of the hill" on top of the big tubes with his cousins. It was tied off to the dock and those boys would wrestle and throw each other off over and over again. He loved that, and also doing cool tricks off the dock that he cousins taught him.

Grandpa got the dock all fixed up and it was awesome!  There was plenty of room for us to sit and lounge and watch all the action, and it even has a water slide that goes off the roof which was super fun.  Eden tried it once, and Bentley a couple times. I thought it was very brave of them because there's a pretty good drop off from the bottom of the slide until they hit the water.

Olive was a little more timid with the water. She would get in if either Brad or I held her, but it would never be for long periods at a time. She enjoyed hanging out on the dock and watching everyone play though.  She liked the boat rides and thought it was very funny that she could go potty in the lake.

Karly only got in a few times and she wasn't really sure what to think. The beauty of being at a lake house though is she could be inside napping, or hanging out and we didn't have to worry too much about her being near or in the water.  She was a very happy and content baby which made it pleasant for everyone.

The fireworks were AMAZING!  On the 3rd, the neighbor did a ton of fireworks off of his dock. Then the following day on the 4th, Brad lit a ton as well as the neighbor on the other side. It was an incredible show, and even more beautiful that the fireworks reflected off the water. It was awesome.  The big kids thought it was pretty cool that they could bob around in the lake while watching the fireworks. I'm excited to do that with our kids when they get older.

The entire Justice family was together this year, and Keegan brought Kaeli and proposed to her on the morning of the 4th. It was very fun to meet her and I'm so excited for those two cute lovebirds.

We also celebrated grandpa's birthday, and grandma and grandpa's 50th wedding anniversary (even though this year was actually their 51st anniversary).

The new and exciting thing to try this year was wake surfing. I absolutely loved it.  I wasn't too good, but I was determined to get up and surf for a little and I did! It was so much fun. Brad wasn't too much of a fan - it was a little too close to the back of the boat for his comfort. He did find his new enjoyable activity was going down to the dock after dark with the big kids and playing some sort of creepy tag game under the dock and in the water.  No thanks for me!

Overall, it was an incredible trip. One of the best, most anticipated vacations. Just looking through the pictures as I post them makes me long for our return!!

And now.... tons of pictures...

 

Thank you grandma and grandpa Justice!! We appreciate all you do to provide amazing family reunions!  We cherish the memories we are able to make with family.