We took our annual trip to Lake Eufaula in Alabama for the Memorial Day weekend. Daniel's parents have an RV so we all go camping at White Oak in Eufaula. It's a tight fit but we manage to sleep everyone (all 8 of us) on a bed somewhere. This year, family friends of Daniel's parents were able to join us...the Martin clan. So we were spread out over three campsites but luckily all right together thanks to some early reservations.
Daniel's parents headed to Eufaula on Wednesday and we joined them on Thursday. Daniel's sister and her family joined us Friday night. Most of the Martin clan came Friday night as well. Charlie made the trip fairly well. He slept for part of it and we sang lots of songs for the rest of the trip. The last 30 minutes of a trip is always the hardest so we were glad to arrive to say the least.
It rained most of the time we were there. It would come a shower and rain for a few minutes and then move on but it was cloudy the entire time. We maybe had sun all of 5 minutes. We were able to get in the water some but not like past years where we spend the whole weekend on the water. The temps were nice for the most part. We had a few cool spells.
Charlie took to the water well. He didn't like it at first. I walked him to the edge and let the water lap over his feet/shoes. He just screamed and cried. That was the first day. The second day, I tried it again...same response. This time though, I made him stay in it a little longer but he still wasn't amused. I picked him up and bounced him so his feet splashed in the water. This quickly changed his mind. I had him splash his hand in the water and he was hooked. He loved playing in the sand with the water. He would scoop some dirt up along with some water, with his shovel and dump it out in front of him. If it stuck to the shovel, Charlie would sling it so it would come off. Many times it landed right on top of his head. He would just reach up and feel of it and keep going about his business. He also loved wading out into the water. Charlie got a little uneasy if the waves picked up due to a passing boat/jet ski but quickly got over that with a little reassurance each time. He waded out one time to about chest high. He loved to bounce up and down in the water and you could tell him to jump and he would raise one foot and splash and then raise the other foot and splash. I figured out I could hold him up just a little so his feet were still in the water and tell him to kick and he would do kind of like a bicycle kick and just kick and splash and laugh.
Charlie's favorite things though were the jet ski and the innertube. No, he didn't ride them like the big boys...what kind of mother do you think I am? :) Charlie got to sit on the jet ski and steer. He also found the compartment in the front so it was open it, close it, steer, repeat. You can see better in the video but here is a picture as well...
Charlie loved to sit in the innertube and play. Papa would pull it out into the water, put him in the middle, along with some toys, and Charlie was set. It was a constant struggle to keep him from wanting in it all the time.
One of the Martin clan was Kaylee. She is a couple of months younger than Charlie. You'll see her alot in the pictures and in the video. She loved Charlie's Nemo bubble blower. Charlie, however, did not like her playing with his toys...any of them. So, if you see a crying picture, that's probably what he's fussing about. :)
Friday, the 22nd, was Daniel's and my 5 year anniversary. We left Charlie with the folks and went to eat in downtown Eufaula. We ate at a place called River City Grill. It was nice and had great food. (Thanks for the recommendation, Ms. Connie!) The service was slow but we were in no hurry. Plus, it was nice to have an adult conversation without a 2 year old needing all your attention.
There were lots of things that definitely made this trip memorable. Just to name a few...Matt's awning falling off his RV from the weight of the rain; both jet skis by the end of the weekend were broken; Matt having to move his RV to another campsite due to flooding; I heard something about Michael hitting Joel upside the head with a bean bag; the Martin boys paddled the boat out into the water in the middle of the night so the motor wouldn't wake anyone...only to find out that once they were out there, none of them had the key to start the boat. There's never a dull moment with the Martin clan around. I guess the rest of us are just boring. :)
One of my favorite moments was Branson, my nephew, riding the innertube for the first time. Papa pulled him behind the jet ski. I think he was a little nervous at first but took right to it. I distinctly remember hearing him say, "This is the best moment of my LIFE!" and many other things along that line.
Despite the rain, we still had a great weekend. It was nice to get away for a while. We ate alot and slept alot and lounged alot and pushed Charlie around on his tricycle alot. Thanks Gram and Papa for a great weekend at the lake!
But...to end out our trip...we headed back to ATL on Monday. Do you remember what Atlanta is notorious for...especially on holiday weekends? Traffic. Just as we got past Newnan, without an exit nearby (of course) we come to a complete stop...not a 5 mph creep...a parking lot. We sat there for about an hour. 
So, we made the best of the situation...mowing down Interstate 85!
Needless to say, we were glad to get home!
2 comments:
Looks like ya'll had fun in Eufaula! The pics are hilarious of Charlie and his mower on the interstate!
That sounds wonderful! Well, except for the Atlanta traffic part. But it seems like Charlie even made THAT fun!
I love the picture of the mud in his hair! Hilarious.
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