Summer in NY

Our week in New York. What a fun time we had. There were too many good pictures to choose from. Here are way too many. We ended up renting a cottage that was about 15 minutes from Tim's parents. It was on Rushford Lake. If you've never seen a Western New York lake, you will be amazed at how beautiful it is: so green and lush, all surrounded by trees. It was so fun to have a place where we could host everyone for big family dinners and cousin sleep-overs. Uncle Kevin was nice enough to get his jet-ski fixed so we got to do that and tubing, etc. It was fun. The pictures will show the highlights of the trip better than I can say them...

The Cottage on Rushford Lake

the view of the lake from the cottage. We had our own private dock and beach area. So fun!

The first night we were there we just sat on the front porch and enjoyed the summer evening together. Somebody on the other end of the lake shot off some fireworks, so we enjoyed the free show.


Another reason for our visit was for Tim's Grandma Shirley's Memorial Service. She died in February of this year, but Tim's family waited for all of us to get out there to do her memorial service. I'll hopefully someday do an entire post on Grandma Shirley. She was quite a lady. Let's just say that after knowing her, I'm glad to not have to take all the blame for Lindsay's spunk!! Anyway, here's Lindsay wearing some gems that she chose from Great-Grandma Shirley's closet.


Miles on the front porch swing

Mom snuggling with Samuel on the front porch

Nathan and Wesley starting what became the perpetual fire. There was just enough wind most days to keep the fire going. It was the perfect way to warm up after a dip in the lake. Also, it made the whole trip seem more like camping. You could hang out by the fire, roast marshmellows, and then go inside and sleep in a comfortable bed. Nice. Just as close to camping as I need in my life right now.

Ryan, Wesley, and Miles at the fire

Ryan, Grandma Helen, Miles, Lynette, Samuel, Caroline, Tristen, Mariah, Nathan, Grandpa Joe, Julia, and Raymond

Jubee on the dock

Julia and Wesley in the kayak

Nathan, Samuel, and Ryan on the jet ski

Julia with Grandma and Grandpa in the cottage

a calm morning on the lake

an evening jet ski ride with Miles, Wesley, and Mom. We got out about 200 feet, and Wesley was ready to go back in. I think his face in this picture is showing that he wasn't so sure about the jet ski from the get go.

Even easy-going and nice cousins like Nathan and Ryan can get sick of their little 9 year old cousin pestering them and hyping out 24 hours a day. Here, Ryan finally decided to throw Miles in the lake. Wesley and Tristen were cheering him on. (Ryan is too nice to actually throw Miles in, but he almost did.)

another fabulous hair-do by Lindsay

Julia loving her cousin, Ryan

Monday, we made "The Buoy Pact". We promised each other that every day, rain or shine, we'd swim out to the buoy. It was a couple hundred feet from the dock. It was the perfect thing to make sure that we didn't let a day go by without enjoying a swim.

Mariah, Lynette, and Caroline jumping off the dock, heading for the buoy

We made it. Mariah, Lindsay, Caroline, Lynette, Sandi

Wesley even jumped off the dock. At Grandpa Call's house, it took him almost two weeks to get the courage up to jump off the diving board, but here, he jumped off the dock on the first day. Tim and I were amazed.

Samuel in the tube

Lindsay, preparing for launch

The front room became the cousin's sleep-over area. Every morning it was wall-to-wall sleeping cousins in there. Samuel somehow always ended up with this comfy couch. Lucky guy.

The kids loved this hammock that was in the side yard. Here, Shaylyn and Julia enjoy a ride.

This was the hammock on the other side of the house (that we found out was only for adults...oops). Samuel, Lindsay (in some more vintage clothing from Grandma Shirley) and Tristen (also in some dress-up from Grandma)

An Owens' Family Reunion Tradition: Jelly Bellies!!

a night-time swim to the buoy. Here are the survivors: (clock-wise from middle top) Caroline, Miles, Nathan, Sandi, Kevin (who had a slight panic attack out at the buoy - I guess he started thinking about the scene in "Jaws" that he was taunting us with before he decided to take the swim), Natosha Miess, Danny Miess, Isaac Miess, Lynette, Mariah, Ryan

We also got to go out to Palmyra for the Hill Cumorah Pageant. Here the kids are in The Sacred Grove. Julia, Wesley, Samuel, Miles, Lindsay

the boys outside The Sacred Grove

How adorable is this picture of Wesley? Couldn't you just eat him up?

the whole gang just outside The Sacred Grove

Another real highlight of our trip was getting to be there for Ryan's Eagle Court of Honor. This was a real achievement for Ryan. He amazes us with his tenacity and hard work. What a great kid. It's so nice for my kids to have older cousins that they can look up to. I'm so grateful to Ryan and his good example of hard work and kindness.

Lynette, Kevin, Tristen, Mariah, Ryan, Sandi, Shaylyn, Nathan

a ride on the jet ski with Dad: Tim, Miles, and Lindsay

Julia watching all the action from the dock

a friend of Grandpa Joe who is a native of Rushford took us on a fun boat tour. It was a beautiful night.

a sunset on the lake

Anyway, if you've made it this far, you've survived too many pictures. It was just such a fun, idyllic week. We are so grateful for our extended family and feel so blessed that we've been able to maintain strong relationships with them even though we live far away from them. We love you guys and can't wait 'til next summer!!!