Higgin's Lake

Last week we spent the whole week at Higgin's Lake with my family. My mom and dad rented a house on the lake for us all to spend the week together. It was such a wonderful and generous treat from my parents. On Friday morning we got in the car and off we went- with what I felt like our whole house packed in the van with us. Right before we got there, my mom texted me and said she and my dad arrived and there were eight bed rooms instead of five. Although with five bed rooms we would have been perfectly fine, eight meant we could spread out a bit more! When we got there we unpacked, looked around and made ourselves at home. The house was nice, definitely a cottage, but very nice. It was straight out of the seventies, but no worries of sitting on furniture with wet bathing suits to ruin anything. It was just perfect for the week. Erin and her family was not getting there until Saturday so we got the first pick of bedrooms:) We took two of the rooms upstairs. Jackson and Aubrin were excited to share a room. It had two beds, but they were excited to bunk together for the week. The weather was not great when we got there, cool and a little rain. So we went to an outlet mall near by and did a little back to school shopping.
That evening when we got back grandma and grandpa decided to give Jack part of his birthday present early- a new fishing pole! Of course we had to head out right away and try it out. He was so thrilled.
The next day was cool as well, but it was sunny. Erin, Jayson and the kids came in the afternoon. All of the cousins were excited to see each other and I was equally excited to see my sister. It had been too long! That night we had a fire and made smores.
The next day Aunt Connie and Uncle Phil came. It is always so nice to spend time with them. Erin  and I spent so much time with them when we were little girls and even as we have grown up they have continued to have a special role in our lives.
We decided that it would be fun to rent a boat for the week. Todd was on a mission, so he went and rented a pontoon boat. It was so much fun for the kids to take rides around the lake, take it to the sunken islands go fishing early in the morning and even get pulled over! That's right, Todd got pulled over driving the boat. We were out one afternoon and Jackson was thrilled that he saw the police in the police boat. Then all of the sudden the police boat turned around, turned its light on and pulled up next to Todd. Jayson was not sitting in the correct spot on the boat, so they pulled Todd over. It was something to laugh about for the rest of the week.
Todd, Jackson and grandpa got up early two mornings and went fishing. My dad had never caught a fish before and not really the "fisherman" type, but Jackson asked him to go, so of course he did. My dad ended up catching his first fish...EVER! Jackson was thrilled he could be there to help grandpa reel it in. I think grandpa was equally as thrilled that he did it with Jackson.
The kids all had a great week playing on the beach, collecting rocks and just playing together. The four of them don't usually have that much time together, so to have a full week was the best!
On Wednesday it was Jackson's 6th birthday.  I'm not sure how our little guy turned 6, but he was up and excited to start his day. It started with a 7:00am fishing trip and continued with a great day in the water, on the boat and also the brave little guy jumped off a high dive on the middle of the lake. He said he would do it if, dad, grandpa, and Uncle Jayson did it. He was pretty proud of himself.
Of course Jackson wanted steak for dinner, so we made all of his favorites. After dinner we opened presents and had cake and ice cream. Jackson got the second part of his gift from grandma and grandpa- his own tackle box filled with everything he needs. Uncle Phile and Aunt Connie got him a few great lures and Erin and Jayson bought him clothes for school and an ANT FARM!!!! Oh boy!
Todd and I gave Jackson a few gifts throughout the day. He loved his Lego police station. After cake and ice cream I got out a surprise for everyone. I brought wish lanterns to celebrate our big guy. The kids colored theirs, but each couple got one and they had to write a birthday wish for Jackson on it and then a wish for themselves as well. Once it got dark went to the end of the dock and set them off. Of course Jackson's didn't make it all the way up and ended in the water, but at least it got a little lift off. All of the other lit the night sky beautifully.
My mom and dad had a great time spending time with all of the kids. It was interesting to watch... my kids never really have to share my parents attention because its only the two of them. Erin's kids never need to share attention either because when my parents go to Chicago it's just the two kids as well. I think my parents were both very tired at the end of the week. Everyone wanted A LOT of grandma and grandpa love!
On Thursday, our last full day there, it rained all day. It was cold out as well. So we had an indoor day of fun and trying to stay busy. There is not much to to in the area with kids when it rains. So we played a lot of games, watched a movie, took a walk in the rain and stated to pack up to leave the next morning.

Friday morning checkout was at 10:00am. So we got up, ate breakfast and packed the car up. It sounds silly to say, but I was so sad to leave. I loved having the week with my parents, with Erin and her family and making new memories together. I can't remember the last time I spend that much time with my sister. I got to play with Will and Emerson everyday and we all had a week where we didn't have to worry about anything. Thank you mom and dad for such a wonderful and memorable week.