Camping at Detroit Lake

Since we had been gone all summer, we didn't have any opportunities to go camping.  We made sure that we had a reservation at our favorite place, Detroit Lake, when we got back.  We headed out on Aug. 24th, in the afternoon.  As soon as we got there and got things set up, the kids wanted to go down to the lake to swim.  

A lovely view on our way down to the lake.

It's so gorgeous here!

Having fun in the inner tubes!

Noah deciding if he wants to go in or not

We stayed for about an hour or so and then headed back to camp to have dinner, then s'mores, then off to bed.

August 25th

Usually when we come here, we just play in the lake with our inner tubes and blow up raft.  This time, Garrett decided to rent a pontoon boat for the day so we could "cruise the lake in style".  We loaded a cooler with our lunch and snacks and took off around 10.  I have to say it was the funnest and most relaxing day!  We absolutely loved it!

Three cuties

Garrett really liked the pontoon, but was wishing for a little more speed now and then.

Mag and Lyd

Of course they brought their barbies in case they got bored.  They soon lost interest in those.

Me and my scooter

We cruised around for awhile

We came upon some ducks and fed them some bread.  My kids giggled and laughed and had so much fun.  I guess I've never taken the younger ones to feed ducks.  We used to do it all the time with M&L.

Another great view

We finally found a place to stop for swimming.  Lydia was the brave one and jumped in first.  It was REALLY cold!  She's so cute with her puffy cheeks!  They were still swollen from her surgery.

Paige and Lydia

Noah and Bella thinking about getting in

then Maggie

and Bella

Noah didn't ever get in.  It would've been too cold for him anyways.  I stayed on the boat with him.  It was still quite cloudy and was too chilly for me.  

We cruised around some more and ate lunch, then found a different spot.  By then it was warming up more, so I got in the lake too.  It was still pretty cold, but I stayed on the inner tube the whole time. I'm not much of a swimmer. 

Noah kicking back in style

Drying off and warming up

Found one more place to swim.

We had to have the boat back by 5, so we started heading back--giving Maggie an opportunity to drive.

The boys

Garrett dropped us off at the dock closest to our campground and then took the boat back to the marina where our car was parked.  It was such a fun day.  I think we'll have to rent one of those every time we go to Detroit Lake!

August 26

We were supposed to stay 2 more days, but the Youth in our ward were having a lake trip at nearby Hagg Lake for an activity that evening and Maggie really wanted to go to hang out with her friends.  So, before we even came out, we decided to leave Tuesday afternoon.  I found out Tuesday morning that they had to cancel the activity.   They closed the lake because 4 members of one family had drowned in the lake the day before.  They had closed the lake to search for the bodies.  It was so so sad.  None of them were wearing life jackets, which is so awful!  Despite the activity being cancelled, we still left in the afternoon because we had appointments for Maggie and Lydia the next day for a check-up for their wisdom teeth.   

So, we spent the morning playing around with toys and cleaning up breakfast.  

Then we took the kids to the park to play for a little bit before leaving.  

It was such a fun trip, but too short.  Sadly, that was the last time that we have been camping.  

Aug. 17-23rd

August 17th

Today was a Sunday and we were getting back to normal and going to church again.  Maggie was called as the 1st counselor in the Mia Maid Presidency in young women's today.  That was exciting!  Jim and Georgia had us over for dinner, which was nice because we had nothing in the house to eat.  

This week Maggie. Lydia and I had lots of appointments for dentists, orthodontists and oral surgeons for check-ups, cleanings and getting wisdom teeth out.  

On Aug. 19th, Maggie was scheduled to get her wisdom teeth out and Lydia went in to make sure hers needed to come out.  They did.  Both of their wisdom teeth were impacted and keeping the molars next to them from coming out of the gums.  They were in such a weird position that they were placing pressure on the adjacent molars and causing them to come in sideways.  

 This is Maggie pre-op.  She was SO nervous.  When they gave her the IV, she got really pale and lightheaded so they had to give her oxygen.  Maggie does not like needles and she doesn't handle pain very well.  I had Garrett take them both, so I only heard about what happened.

 This is her post-op.  Sleeping it off for a little while.

 This is her on the way home.  I'm sure she'll kill me for posting this, but she's just so funny.  We must not have gotten her pain medicine from the pharmacy fast enough because her meds were wearing off and she was in a lot of pain and it took awhile to get it under control again.  Poor girl, she was miserable!

 Lydia went back on Thursday the 21st at 8 in the morning to get hers out.  They both got all 4 removed.  This is Lyd pre-op.  As far as I know, everything went OK for her.  

 Lydia post-op

 And leaving the oral surgeon's office.  She seemed to do great--lesson learned from Maggie and getting her medicine into her faster.  They both got ice cream shakes after.  

 During this week, Garrett decided to redo our back yard.  Our grass has never come in very well, it's full of weeds and it's always bugged Garrett that our yard slants.  So, he decided to build a retaining wall and fill it with dirt and then plant new grass.  So, in between taking the girls to their appointments, he spent time doing this.  And Noah was his helper some of the time.  

 Cutting out some black berry bushes--very thorny!

 This was on the 21st.  I love this picture of the girls with their puffy cheeks holding ice packs on their faces.  We are so glad that this is over!  Maggie especially!  I'm just glad that neither one of them had any complications like dry socket or any reactions from the anesthesia. 

 On the 22nd, both Garrett and Maggie participated in the ALS ice bucket challenge.  I made them promise that neither one of them would nominate me because I had no desire to do it.  

But then my friend Tonya nominated me and so I decided to do it the next day because we were planning on working in the yard. It was absolutely freezing and Garrett took his sweet time pouring it over my head!! It was so not funny!

 On Saturday the 23rd, Garrett had some dirt delivered and so we shoveled dirt and filled up the back yard.  We didn't make Lydia help since she was still recovering.

 Cooling off with some water.  

 Jim and Georgia came over and helped, too.  Georgia even helped shovel dirt when her back and knee allowed it.  We were grateful for their help!

 Taking a break--it was hot!

 This was all the dirt that came today, but he had more delivered the next week.  

 It was a great place for the kids to play!

 We brought out the dump trucks and tractors.

 I helped them make a race track and we raced back and forth.

That night, Maggie went to her best friend's birthday party and we just hung out.