Annual Priest Lake Escape

We returned a few days ago from a 10-day vacation to our paradise up north: Priest Lake. With the exception of two rainy, windy, and cold days, we were blessed with beautiful weather and some grand time with my entire family and alone with my parents after the group left. Lia had the time of her life playing with her cousins and Ron and I enjoyed some quality R&R time up there. We sure love Priest Lake!

Lia playing with her cousins Vivi, Riley, and Callie on the sand!

The two toddlers playing side by side.

Uncle Tip and big cousin, Spence, joining in on the beach fun.

Chris and Garrett paddling around out on the lake.

My brothers Eric and Brent introduced Ron to this passion of theirs while we were up there. They were able to go on two different adventures and Ron fell in love. Look at the smile on his face!

I was able to escape for the daily, morning water ski run for the two days that I overlapped with my brothers while up at the cabin. This is one of my favorite things to do with them and it is a rare event to sneak away with all three of them! We all had some beautiful water and some good laughs! Here they are attempting to look tough. Silly boys.

Lia enjoyed some quality girl time with the "triplets" including some messy crafts!

Lia discovered the art of hugging her cousins in the body tackle position. Not sure where this came from, but they were all kind enough to play along....especially Mae Mae who seemed to be the favored victim.

The whole gang (minus the grand patriarch who had to go home for a last-minute doctor's appointment) before the majority of the group departed on Sunday, July 11th.

We enjoyed a stop at the "Fairy House Beach" before Brent's family left later that Sunday. Lia enjoyed inventing a game with Spencer at her side that involved running in circles and splashing/crashing in the water. It's a good thing that 13-year olds have endless amounts of energy...

On her way down...

Stopping for a quick pic. Such a funny girl she is.

Ron and Lia and the glorious mountains in the background.

The Hartland fam enjoying some time back at "Fairy House Beach" later on that week.

We enjoyed a very relaxing cruise up the always-scenic thoroughfare to Upper Priest Lake later on in the week with my parents.

Like mother, like daughter. Lia has discovered that she likes real whipping cream as much as her mother. As a result, we now fight over the beaters each time it is made. Here she is in all her glory...