Thursday, July 12, 2018

2018 Trip to our Cottage in Laporte, PA: Day 1-3

Last Tuesday, July 3, Todd, the girls, and I packed up and headed out east to our family's cottage in Laporte, Pennsylvania.  I had to go into work for a few hours in the morning so we left for the 7 hour drive around noon and after a couple stops along the way, we made it to the cottage shortly after 8:00 PM.  My dad, brother, sister-in-law, two nephews, and uncle were there to greet us.  We quickly unloaded the car and got the girls to bed while the adults hung out until almost midnight.

Cece was excited that we flipped her car seat to forward facing

After Cece took a nap, we hung the iPad up with bungee cords between the headrests so they could watch a movie

For the most part, the car ride was fairly smooth (the girls both did great on the way there and on the way home) so I was able to read a book

Our first full day there was the 4th of July and by some miracle, Cece slept in until after 7:30 AM and Lucy slept in until 9:30 AM (!).  It had stormed a bit over night and while it rained some more at the cottage that morning and afternoon, it was only overcast in Eagles Mere, a town just a few miles away where we went for the 4th of July parade.  Unfortunately, we were pretty much stuck inside the cottage most of the day after we got back from the parade in the early afternoon but we did have a great cookout with everyone, including another aunt & uncle who arrived, that evening.

Our cottage, Wake Robin

Todd & Cece on the porch watching the rain

Cousins ready to celebrate the 4th of July (baby Jack was napping and missed the parade)

The sweetest thing

Waiting for the parade to start

Just your typical kazoo band!

This is the epitome of a small town parade and I love all the people in it...so funny!

Lucy hoping to get some candy

Somewhat "candid" shot of the family (my dad, brother, and nephew are next to Todd & the girls)

Picking up candy

Family pic

Afterwards, we walked around and went into a couple of the shops

Lucy helping Jack roll over

Working on a puzzle while the 3 younger kids took naps

Cheers!

There were 12 of us in total for our 4th of July cookout

After dinner, the kids had fun popping their confetti

Thursday was our best day there since the weather was nice and we were able to spend a good chunk of the morning and afternoon at Lake Mokoma.  The kids had cabin fever after being stuck inside the day before and they had so much fun going out in the canoe, playing in the lake and on the playground, and making sand castles at the "beach" area.  We made it back to the cottage mid-afternoon for naps and then headed out to Hillsgrove for dinner at High Knob Inn with all 12 of us.  Once we were back home, the kids went to bed, and the adults stayed up to watch The Warriors and have s'mores.

I worked out two of the four days we were there; on Thursday morning, I set up my mat & dumbbells up at the park that's about a quarter mile from the cottage and did a 40 min circuit

Heading to the lake!

First stop was the playground

Getting some baby snuggles

Lucy's 1st canoe ride with Grandpa & daddy

She said she loved it!

I stayed back and played in the sand with Cece

Once they were back from their canoe ride, Cece swapped with Lucy and Meghan & William also joined them; they only lasted about 5 minutes though

This girl loved the lake

Lucy went down the slide about 20 times

and then Cece took a turn going down with Todd

  The girls swimming back

Cece relaxing in the water

William & Cece attempting to dig a hole

Lucy loved making this whole and making "chocolate water" as she called it

Todd helping the kids make little sand castles to go around the water

Girls enjoying their snacks from the snack bar in the boat house

Late lunch for my dad & Lucy once we got back (the other kids were napping)

Dinner at High Knob Inn on Thursday night with everyone

Traditional cutout picture

Todd & Cece

The whole gang

Uncle Phil, Lucy, and the rhino

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