Lake of the Ozarks

This weekend we went to the Lake with our small group from church.  Our church has a marriage retreat house on the lake for small groups to go for marriage enrichment.  We had a great time!!  At the moment we are the only ones with kids (although 2 other girls are pregnant) and the other couples were very kind to invite the girls to come with us.  We have only ever been to the lake in the summer so it was fun to go in the fall.  We were able to enjoy God's incredible creation as we looked across the lake at the leaves changing colors!  Beautiful!

Kevin and the girls on the dock from the house.

We had yummy food - we have excellent cooks in our group!  We went to Ha Ha Tonka State Park for a hike (Kelsey and I just went on the short one to the castle ruins).  The others went on a longer hike/trail down 316 steps (Kevin and Lucy ended up not making it - imagine that).  Norah wanted to keep going so she stayed with the rest of the group and walked ALL the way down and ALL the way back up.  I thought for sure Norah would need to be carried back up, but she toughed it out!!  We found out later that Norah told Jenny and Kristy some tall tales on the hike (like that she held a baby deer on her camping trip - what?)

Lucy seemed to think it was her job to entertain Dave and Kelsey by making up songs about "naked bodies" and "poopy diapers."  I'm sure she was just preparing them for becoming parents.

We ate a late lunch at Dog Days.  Our service wasn't great, but the view and the weather was great!!

We went miniature golfing after lunch.  Norah had a great time and did really well!  Lucy enjoyed walking on the bricks and dropping her ball into the hole.  The grown-ups all had a great time, too!  

The girls didn't have a nap so they were both very tired.  They were both in bed and asleep by 7:30 so the grown-ups could have a relaxing dinner without them.  We grilled out and had yummy sides.  We finished the evening with our own version of the Newlywed Game.   We laughed SO hard I thought Kelsey or I might go into labor right there!

Lucy woke Kevin at 5:30 this morning while the rest of us slept a little later.  After another yummy breakfast we packed up and headed out.

The girls did really well the whole weekend!  I was quite proud of them!  They had a blast with so much attention from all the grown-ups.  At one point Lucy asked if everyone was coming home with us.  And later she asked if "Mr. Aberle" was coming to our house.  

The girls are exhausted again - because they didn't nap on the way home and played outside for several hours once we got home.

We had a great time with everyone!  It was great to get to know everyone a little better!  We can't wait to go again!!

I guess being so well-behaved all weekend was a little much for Lucy.  Here she is on the way home.  She looks so pleasant, doesn't she?