New England in a week!

What a busy fun week we just had!  Monday we were at the Breezy Waterslides in Douglas Massachusetts with friends and their families from our hometown.  Love this place!  Such a gorgeous location to hang all day while the kids are entertained by the slides and lake.  I read my book and wrote a recommendation for a good friend.  Then sat and talked with friends while the girls went on slide after slide with friends.  Can't imagine a better place to spend a summer's day!  

Tuesday found us in RI visiting with some of our favorite friends and heading to another set of waterslides.  Then we hopped in the car together and drove "convertible style" (all the windows down, sunroof open and music blaring) to Connecticut to go to Buttonwood farm for their Sunflowers for Wishes benefit for Make a Wish Foundation.  What could be better than a day spent with good friends amongst sunflowers and all for a good cause?  

Wednesday found us heading back to NH for our bonus days after our 3 week renter left early and before our 4 one week renters arrive.   We spent the day enjoying Tequila Day and getting ready for the same RI friends to join us for their first time at DuckHead on Thursday!  Love friends that can be spontaneous and join us at a moment's notice!

They came with their paddle board and black lab Cooper (Sadie's husband) in tow.  We had a great couple days together at the lake.  We got to see Chad's energy and enthusiasm for lake living.  He grew up on Lake Winnepesauke and was in his element trying out every toy on the lake.  We joked that he was doing his own triathlon on Crescent Lake although his included swimming across the lake,  paddle boarding around the entire lake, kayaking, canoeing, floating,and ball throwing.  All repeated many times.  The dogs were in heaven and so were the girls.  We spent two late nights laughing around the campfire.  The first night was a little smokey but the second night was perfect.   My friend Kirsten kept stopping to say "I know I've said this before but I LOVE your cottage!"  It was so fun to have a family that loves being outdoors as much as we do.  We literally went outside on Friday at around 8:30 with the dogs and didn't come back in till it was time to make supper.  Kirsten's kept saying the cottage provided all the best parts of camping: nature, being outdoors, boating, swimming, not showering,  while staying in a cottage with the luxury of having beds and bathrooms and running water!

Spent the day trying out all the toys!

The girls made lunch and called their operation "Five Girls Grill".  They waited on us from start to finish.  Created menus by looking at what was available in the fridge and pantry.  Even had sides. Took orders.  Served drinks.   Even cleaned up the dishes and had a bell we could ring when we were finished so they could bus our dishes and bring dessert.  Grownups were NOT allowed indoors.   They were beaming from ear to ear the entire time.  Two sleepovers and a couple days spent with some of their besties.  I think they were trying to say "Thank you!"  We were all sitting around very relaxed and drinking beers at lunchtime and thinking we could get used to this.  So nice to have our kids at ages where we are not always waiting on them!

Borrowing her hubbies new bed and showing him how to use it!
We all wanted to take a nap but I think Sadie was the only one
who actually did. 

Dinner with friends!

After dinner yoga on the paddle board and dock. 

A paddle out to the middle of the lake to enjoy the sunset!

Toasting a gorgeous sunset!  Happy 17th Anniversary friends!

Remember to turn the lens away from the sunset!

Paddling back to the cottage for another night of
gathering around the fire and s'mores!

So fun to enjoy coffee with friends and this view.  To catch up and finish conversations.  For Chad and Rod to see each other for the first time in years.  I repeat, they have so much in common!  Thanks for the visit friends!!  

Tonight the girls and I are home while Rod goes to Men's Night on the lake with his brother.  Hope they have fun!  Just don't go too late.  If you do you might miss it.  Tomorrow will be spent at home doing laundry and catching up around here.  Monday we head to Maine if my sister-in-law feels better for a few days with Grandma and Aunties and kids enjoying Peaks Island.  If we had just driven 20 minutes west of the cottage to Vermont for dinner the other night we would have hit all 6 New England States in one week!  I think 5 is enough!  Our dogs would all agree!

Nola and Sadie barely moved on the car ride home and
have looked something like this since we arrived.  

Cooper was way too excited to sleep at the lake!
Too many balls to fetch and smells to enjoy.
This was a picture taken of him when he arrived home
after a 4 hour car ride spent mostly sleeping.  Have a
feeling he'll be konked out like this
for the next few days!