Lake Gaston 2011

This weekend we took off for one last summer fling before Ry had to head back to school (which he did today-yahoo for year #2!). Apparently Lake Gaston (pronounced Gastin) is THE lake around here, so we rented a little cabin for 2 nights and camped there. Now let me tell you about Lake Gaston. It is a huge lake spreading out all over the place smack dab on the North Carolina border. We were on the northern shore so we were still in VA. But this is a place where the southern accents run thick, where confederate flags fly freely, and where you get some serious redneck exposure with people cranking up the country music at their campsites while sitting drinking their sweet tea all the whilst flinging horseshoes or "corn hole". We found ourselves, me included, talking to each other in southern accents too just to get in the spirit of things. We got some good laughs to say the least.

This was the first time we have camped as a family, just us. Lake Gaston is beautiful. Our cabin was small, but it had AC which made camping in hot, humid weather much more enjoyable. We really had a blast, and I seriously could have stayed there so much longer. We celebrated Pierce's 12th birthday there which made our vacation extra special. We mostly swam at the pool, but also rode bikes, played miniature golf, and dabbled in some fishing. Christian caught his first "big fish!" He was thrilled. He was the only one who caught anything, and a "biggun" it was! He didn't want to let it go, so we fried that catfish up with our dinner that night.

As we left, we all pledged we'd be back next summer, without hesitation. Camping just doesn't get any better than this!

Lots of beautiful homes on the lake. The second day we were there we woke up to smokey skies. There's been a large forest fire at the Great dismal swamp that has been burning.

Our cozy little cabin

Mountain Man Breakfast ala Pierce







Pierce was the talk of the pool. Other kids started to try to do this.



No fish that morning, but lots of turtles swimming around!





Christian totally digs fishing.


I love the look on C's face in this picture-this is when he was trying to reel in his big fish!

Here it comes!

Those slimy, disgustingly bloody chicken livers did the trick!
 
That smile is priceless.


What's camping without tin foil dinners? The boys were all over the whole cooking thing, so I gladly let them take over.


S'more time


S'more party in your tummy! (what movie?)

When I was a little girl we always played Bingo when we camped. I had to pass along the tradition.



The constant loud buzzing of the cicada's in the trees was a new addition to our camping experience.

Yes, those are Airheads in his hand. Taking after his Uncle Kevin!

Flapjack Man

Happy, happy birthday Piercie dear!